Amman, Feb. 15 (Petra) -- Participants at the Jordanian-Italian Business Forum on Sunday underscored Jordan’s growing role as a regional hub for trade and investment, a center for reconstruction initiatives, and a strategic gateway to Arab and African markets.

The forum, organized by the Jordan Chamber of Commerce in coordination with the Joint Italian Arab Chamber of Commerce, brought together public- and private-sector representatives to explore avenues for expanding bilateral economic cooperation and strengthening long-term investment partnerships.

Speakers said the next phase requires consolidating joint action frameworks and deepening trade and investment linkages to unlock broader opportunities in regional and international markets.

Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Azmi Mahafza said the educational partnership between Jordan and Italy constitutes a strategic pillar for investing in human capital development and equipping youth with specialized competencies aligned with the requirements of the modern economy and global labor market.

He noted that Jordan offers a skilled workforce of university graduates in engineering, information technology, business administration, design, and applied sciences. He added that expanding access to training programs, scholarships, and international academic pathways enhances professional readiness and strengthens regional and global competitiveness.

Chairperson of the Jordan and Amman Chambers of Commerce Senator Khalil Haj Tawfiq said the forum translates longstanding bilateral ties into actionable and sustainable economic partnerships.

He described the forum as a direct platform for fostering private-sector connectivity and launching joint ventures based on shared interests and a long-term strategic outlook.

Haj Tawfiq said discussions focused on strengthening business-to-business engagement in priority sectors, including industry, construction, infrastructure, education, and vocational training. He added that such engagement will facilitate Italian companies’ entry into the Jordanian market and enable exploration of partnership opportunities in reconstruction projects in Syria.

He highlighted Jordan’s comparative advantages as a stable and secure business environment, positioning the Kingdom as a strategic logistics and investment base for Italian companies seeking regional expansion.

Haj Tawfiq also invited Italian firms to participate in the Jordanian-European Investment Conference scheduled to be held in Amman next April, expressing optimism that the forum would yield high-value partnerships benefiting both economies.

For his part, President of the Joint Italian Arab Chamber of Commerce Pietro Paolo Rampino said the forum represents a significant step toward establishing resilient and sustainable economic linkages between the business communities of both countries.

He noted that Italian enterprises are increasingly viewing Jordan as a strategic entry point to regional markets, citing the Kingdom’s stability and conducive investment climate capable of accommodating industrial, technological, and educational investments.

Rampino stressed the importance of advancing vocational education and training programs and strengthening collaboration between training providers and economic institutions to develop a workforce responsive to evolving market demands.

Established in 2015 with the support of Italian institutions and recognized by Arab embassies in Rome, the Joint Italian Arab Chamber of Commerce serves as an institutional platform to promote trade and investment relations between Italy and Arab countries. The Chamber facilitates economic events, supports joint ventures, and promotes technology transfer to enhance private-sector cooperation.

//Petra// AJ