Jordan Times
Saturday, December 12, 1998
Jordan, Egypt agree to abolish customs
By Tareq Ayyoub
AMMAN — Jordan and Egypt signed several agreements over the weekend to bolster
political and economic ties during a visit of Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri.
During a two-day visit that ended yesterday, Ganzouri, who heads Egypt's economic portfolio, met with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hassan, the Regent, on Thursday, and Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh.
The premier chaired the Egyptian delegation to the Jordanian-Egyptian Higher Committee meetings that reviewed political and economic cooperation between Amman and Cairo.
On Thursday, Jordan and Egypt signed agreements to enhance cooperation in post and telecommunication, power projects, transportation, agriculture, health, education, tourism, sport, media and scientific research.
The two sides also agreed to encourage investments in their respective stock markets as well as the establishment of a free trade zone.
During a joint press conference with Tarawneh, Ganzouri said his country is prepared to supply the Kingdom with Egyptian natural gas, adding that more talks will be held between the two countries on this subject.
The project will serve not only Jordan and Egypt, but also other states in the region such as Syria, Palestinian self-rule areas and Iraq.
Tarawneh on his turn, described the linkage of power grids project between the two countries as an “important” step to enhance cooperation in energy ventures between the two sides.
The multi-million project is expected to be inaugurated next year by His Majesty King Hussein and Egyptian President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Taba.
Tarawneh said other projects, such as telephone linkage and gas transport will be examples of regional cooperation.
The premier invited Egyptian businesspersons to launch investments in the Kingdom's mining industry, particularly cement and phosphate and potash mining projects.
One of the signed agreements gradually abolishes custom duties and taxes to facilitate trade flow between the two states.
The agreement stipulates a 25 per cent reduction in taxes and customs as a fist step, which becomes effective in January 1999. Another 15 per cent will be shaved off over the coming three years, and in the following three years, an additional 10 per cent will be dropped.
Tarawneh expressed the Kingdom's appreciation to the Egyptian government for its decision to reduce the fees levied from Aqaba-bound ships which cross Suez Canal.
Ships carrying wheat to the Kingdom will be the most to benefit from this decision.
Ganzouri blamed Israel for blocking trade between the Palestinian self-rule area and Arab states, trade which he said “could ease the economic difficulties of the Palestinians through the exports of their own products to these countries.”
Jordan has repeatedly criticised Israel for blocking trade with the Palestinian self-rule areas and urged Tel Aviv to ease its restrictions on the flow of goods from and to Palestinian territories.
The two sides called for announcing the Middle East an area free of weapons of mass destruction, and urged the international community to maintain pressure on Israel to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.