Jordan Times
Friday, June 11, 2004
King promotes US-Jordan
business in Chicago today
Chicago (JT) — Under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah, the embassy of
Jordan in cooperation with the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations will hold in
Chicago on Friday a trade and investment seminar entitled “Jordan: Your Business
Portal to the Middle East.”
Following his participation at the Group of Eight
Summit at Sea Island, His Majesty will address the Chicago Council on Foreign
Relations and the Economic Club of Chicago at a Palmer House dinner on Friday
and will meet with key American business leaders in Chicago to help promote
US-Jordan business.
Ted Kassinger, designated deputy US secretary of commerce, will be delivering
the keynote address.
Jordanian officials together with Mayor Daley, Jordanian and American business
leaders such as Motorola president and COO Mike Zafirovsky and others will be
present for a discussion of Jordan's successful model of economic reforms and
the economic growth the Kingdom has witnessed in the past four years.
They will also address the untapped investment opportunities in Jordan and
through Jordan to the region. Jordanian businessmen will represent various
sectors including pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and real estate development.
Jordan is the first Arab state to sign a Free Trade Agreement with the United
States. As a result, Jordan's exports to the United States reached an
unprecedented $673.4 million in 2003 up from $16.4 million in 1998.This
partnership is seen as a vote of confidence that reflects Jordan's commitment
and success in social and economic development despite difficult regional
conditions.
“Foreign investors in Jordan stand to reap the benefits brought by the Kingdom's
young, innovative and successful policy makers,” said Jordan's Ambassador Karim
Kawar.
“Together, the people, business community and the government of Jordan are
working speedily, setting a new standard for the Arab Middle East in economic
liberalisation and economic empowerment, all in the context of our growing
integration with the global economy,” he added.