Jordan Times
Monday, July 16, 2007
Jordan keen to sign free trade agreement with Canada — King
King Abdullah on Sunday told Canadian businesspeople that Jordan is keen to sign a free trade agreement with their country to enhance bilateral trade exchange and investments.
The King was speaking at a meeting in Ottawa with representatives of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, who said the agreement would benefit both countries.
“Signing a free trade agreement between Jordan and Canada is expected to have a great positive impact on the trade volume… direct investment is one of the most important things Canadian businesspeople can begin with,” Chief Executive and President Thomas d’Aquino was quoted as saying by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
“Jordan offers several investment opportunities for Canadian businesspeople.”
The King, who arrived Thursday in Canada for talks on Middle East issues and bilateral relations, has agreed with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to begin talks next year on a possible free trade agreement.
The Monarch yesterday urged Jordanian and Canadian businesspeople to set up joint ventures and boost bilateral trade exchange. He also spoke about Jordan’s investment-friendly climate.
Jordan's gross domestic product grew to around 7.4 per cent between 2004 and 2006.
The King underlined projects like the Mafraq and Irbid special economic zones, designed to boost development in areas outside Amman and attract more foreign investments.
King Abdullah also reviewed the country's economic achievements over the past years, including the signing of key agreements with the US, the EU and Arab countries, in addition to Jordan’s accession to the World Trade Organisation in 2000.
“All of this ensured Jordanian exports entry into major world markets with around one billion customers,” he said.
Renewing commitment to economic reform policies, the King said Jordan seeks to benefit from Canadian expertise in the field of nuclear energy.
King Abdullah, meanwhile, met with William J. Doyle, CEO and president of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc., which own 28 per cent of the shares of the Arab Potash Company.
On Friday, the King and Harper announced accords on air transport and foreign investment protection and promotion.
They also held talks on Middle East issues, calling for a resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks and saying only a two-state solution would end decades of violence.
During his trip, the Monarch told a gathering of more than 250 politicians, economists, journalists and intellectuals that regional peace can only be sustained if people in the Middle East have the opportunity to “lead a productive and satisfying life”.