Jordan Times
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Saudi King’s visit to focus on Mideast issues, enhancing ties
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is scheduled to start a two-day visit to Jordan today for talks on bilateral ties and regional
issues.
Talks between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and King Abdullah will focus on Palestinian, Lebanese and Iraqi
developments, senior officials said.
The two leaders will also discuss means to revive the Middle East peace process in line with the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative,
which received a fresh boost by the Riyadh Arab summit in March.
Saudi Ambassador in Amman Abdul Rahman Ohali said the King’s visit, his first to Jordan since ascending the throne on August
1, 2005, upon the death of his brother King Fahd, “acquires added importance as it comes at a time when the Arab and Muslim
nations are facing major challenges”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
A Royal Court official underlined the importance of the visit in view of “Saudi Arabia’s significant role in the region, the
very close ties between the two brotherly countries and the potential for enhancing them at all levels”.
In preparation for the visit, Amman was bedecked with Saudi and Jordanian flags, portraits of the two leaders and signs
welcoming the visit of the Saudi King.
Hundreds of tents were also erected across the main streets for the public to welcome the Saudi leader.
The visit is also designed to enhance economic cooperation in various fields.
Chairman of Jordan Chamber of Industry Hatem Halawani told The Jordan Times yesterday that the trip is likely to reflect
positively on the industrial sector in the Kingdom.
“We expect the visit to boost Saudi investments in Jordan. And we also hope that joint projects between the private sector
in both countries in the industrial domain will be implemented as a result of the visit,” Halawani said.
Saudi investments in the Kingdom exceeded JD850 million at the end of the first five months of this year, according to
Halawani.
In 2006, Saudi investments in Jordan represented 31 per cent of the total number of projects in the country, while joint
ventures in the Arab Gulf Kingdom amounted to $787 million, with the Jordanian share constituting 33.4 per cent, according
to figures released at the Jordanian-Saudi Economic Forum in April.
Jordan Investment Board CEO Maen Nsour was quoted by Petra as saying that the JIB is planning to open a representation
office in Riyadh to boost the volume of Saudi investments in Jordan.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is also the 6th largest market for Jordanian exports, and is among the eight major markets for
imports to Jordan, former Chairman of the Amman chamber of Commerce Othman Bdeir said in a statement received by The Jordan
Times.
Imports from Saudi Arabia stand at around 26 per cent, while exports to the Saudi markets amount to 9 per cent of the
Jordanian exports, according recent Ministry of Finance figures.
Not taking oil exports into account, the Saudi-Jordanian commercial volume in 2006 totalled around $906 million, the
figures indicated.
‘Abbas meeting’
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials said the Saudi King was expected to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on
Thursday in Amman.
The officials told Al Rai daily that the two leaders will review the situation in the Palestinian territories.