Jordan Times
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
Finance minister attributes increasing exports to economic accords with US
AMMAN (JT) — Finance Minister and Acting Minister of Industry and Trade Mohammad Abu Hammour on Tuesday highlighted the Free Trade Agreement and the Qualified Industrial Zones agreement as being the driving force behind the growing Jordanian exports to the US markets.The minister was speaking during a meeting with visiting US Deputy Commerce Secretary Kenneth Jester and his accompanying delegation in the presence of American Ambassador to Jordan Edward Gnehm.
Jordan's booming trade relations with the US constitute one of the most important factors for boosting the investment climate in Jordan and helping the country to create job opportunities for Jordanians, the minister said.
According to the US ambassador, Jordan's exports to the US markets rose from $10 million in 1997 to $600 million in 2003.
Referring to Jordan's steps to increase trade, Abu Hammour said Jordanian governments have carried out a series of steps to modernise the customs procedures noting that the Customs Department will soon be supplied with modern equipment to further facilitate import-export operations.
The US delegation expressed appreciation of Jordan's ongoing development process stressing the importance of Jordanian-US free trade exchanges which they said contribute to the Kingdom's stability and security.