H.E. Dr. Marwan Muasher
Ambassador of Jordan to the U.S. & Mexico
Ceremony to designate New Qualifying Industrial Zone
Washington, D.C.
March 15, 1999
Ambassador Barshefsky,
Minister Sharansky,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, it is indeed a privilege to be here with you today to sign another important agreement marking continued cooperation between Jordan and the United States. The agreement by the U.S. Trade Representative's Office to designate the Jordan Gateway Project as a qualified industrial zone is yet another step towards fulfilling part of the potential of the QIZ initiative. The potential benefits to both Jordan and Israel are indeed enormous and must be realized if we are to sustain peace and security in our region.
Indeed, the U.S. efforts geared to encourage joint cooperation and to help promote exports from the qualified industrial zone are very much appreciated by all sides. It is within the same spirit that we have agreed with Israel to also apply for additional areas in Jordan to be designated as QIZ’s. This will enable more private sector entrepreneurs to cooperate across the river in order to manufacture products and target U.S. markets for their exports, thus helping us reach our goal of export-oriented growth.
On this occasion, it is only appropriate to thank those entrepreneurs who had the vision to invest in such an ambitious project and who believed that peace could only be sustained through such initiatives. The cooperation and understanding of the U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Barshefsky, are very much appreciated by all Jordanians. I also wish to take the opportunity to thank Secretary Daley and Secretary Albright and Minister Sharansky for all the efforts that they have exerted on our behalf. I also would like to acknowledge the presence of two prominent Jordanian-American businessmen amongst us today, Mr. Khalil Karjawali and Mr. Mohammad El-Rashed.
The QIZ initiative has established a new mode of cooperation between Jordan and Israel. We look forward to establishing a new framework of relations between Jordan, the Palestinian areas and Israel so that the potential for economic cooperation and development can start to be fulfilled. We also believe in the full implementation of agreements signed, as we have always done. We are extremely appreciative for the U.S. sincere efforts, and trust that the near future will mark a new beginning in this regard.
Let me again express our pride in signing this agreement, and our hope that this will mark a successful start to the ambitious project that spans the boundary between Jordan and Israel.
Thank you very much.