Pakistan-Jordan Joint Business Council to be inaugurated next month
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan-Jordan Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) signed four Memorandums of Understandings (MoU) on cooperation between Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and Jordan Investment Commission (JIC) to strengthen the economic relations.
Minister for Commerce Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan on Thursday urged Government of Jordan to set up a Pakistan specific Special Economic Zone in Aqaba.
He also called for relaxing visa procedures for businessmen besides encouraging Jordanian private sector to enhance exchange of business delegations.
Minister for commerce said this while leading an official delegation to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for the 9th Pakistan-Jordan Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), held in Amman.
Maha Ali, Minister for Industry, Trade and Supply led the Jordanian delegation. This was the first JMC to be held since 2006, according to statement issued by Ministry. Both sides agreed to enhance their economic and trade relations to complement the historical and extraordinarily positive political, diplomatic and defense relations.
It was agreed to begin negotiations immediately for a preferential trade agreement, leading eventually to a Free Trade Agreement between the two brotherly nations.
He highlighted the potential of Gwadar Port as the gateway for Jordan’s trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian states.
He welcomed the fact that Jordan Chamber of Commerce will lead a delegation of prominent business leaders to Karachi next month for Inaugural Session of Pakistan-Jordan Joint Business Council.
Jordan’s Trade Minister invited Pakistani industrial sector to set up facilities in Jordan to capitalise on Jordan’s free trade agreements with United States and Canada.
She also expressed interest in purchasing wheat from Pakistan.
JMC was concluded with signing of four Memorandums of Understandings on cooperation between Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and Jordan Investment Commission (JIC), strengthening of Cooperation in all Sectors of Investment between Pak Board of Investment and JI.
It also includes Standardization, Metrology, Certification, Accreditation and other Related Activities between Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization and Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Organization and Recognition of Training and Certification of Seafarers’ between Jordan Maritime Authority and Pakistan Ministry of Ports and Shipping.
During his visit, Commerce Minister Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan called on Prince Hassan Bin Talal and Jordanian Prime Minister Dr. Abdalla Ensour to discuss current crisis in the Middle East and economic integration between Islamic countries.