Jordan Times
Sunday, March 6, 2005
Ambassador Kawar to promote
Amman-Chicago relations
AMMAN (JT) — Jordan's Ambassador to the US Karim Kawar will visit Chicago this
week to promote economic and trade relations and foster cultural and educational
exchanges in light of the Amman-Chicago Sister City agreement.
During the March 10-11 visit, Kawar is scheduled
to meet with the Amman-Chicago Sister City Committee, as well as key Chicago
business leaders, according to a statement by the Jordanian embassy in
Washington, DC.
He will also attend a luncheon hosted by Jordan's Honorary Consul Ihsan Sweiss
and attended by representatives from the Chicago Executive Club, Chicago
Economic Club, Chicago Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Council on Foreign Relations
and the Jordanian and American business communities. Other guests include
bankers, realtors, investors and members of Arab and American professional
associations.
The ambassador will also address the Jordanian-American community and the
various Jordanian-American organisations in Illinois to discuss Arab-American
issues, US-Jordan relations, as well as economic and political developments in
the Kingdom and the Middle East.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Amman Mayor Nidal Hadid signed an agreement in
June 2004, in which Amman and Chicago were declared “sister cities” under the
terms and regulations of Sister Cities International, Town Affiliation
Association of the United States, Inc. His Majesty King Abdullah presided over
the ceremony.
Amman Week to be held in Chicago this year
Meanwhile, the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) announced on Saturday that the
follow-up committee of the Sister City agreement would organise an “Amman Week”
in Chicago later this year.
The event seeks to present a comprehensive picture of the Kingdom, notably its
tourism, cultural, economic, sports and social aspects.
At a meeting held recently, presided over by GAM Secretary Falah Omoush, the
committee decided to coordinate its efforts with local commercial and industrial
institutions to encourage them to participate in the Chicago event.
Such participation, Omoush said, would demonstrate the rapid developments that
have taken place in Jordan, and Amman in particular, over the past decades.
Several agreements are to be signed at the event, where representatives of Amman
and Chicago will exchange know-how to present the development of business
environment in Jordan. Amman Week seeks to promote the efforts of the Jordanian
community in the US, estimated at 70,000, and enhance their relations with their
homeland, Jordan.
Omoush noted that a committee titled “Friends of Amman” will be formed from the
Jordanian community in the US, to follow up on efforts to strengthen mutual
relations
Documentary films, seminars photo exhibitions and art shows that present the
Kingdom's culture and heritage are planned for the event.
The follow-up committee comprises representatives from the Ministry of Tourism
and Antiquities, GAM, the Jordan-US Business Partnership, the Chambers of Trade
and Industry in Amman, and Al Hussien Sports City.