Amman, June 22 (Petra) -- Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad Mohamed Ali Nafti on Monday underscored his country's commitment to advancing economic relations with Jordan to broader levels, in line with the directives of both countries' leaderships to strengthen and diversify bilateral ties.

Speaking during a meeting organized by the Jordan Chamber of Commerce in Amman, Nafti highlighted the private sector's role in translating the longstanding historical relationship between the two countries into tangible economic outcomes through joint projects that serve mutual interests. He noted that diplomacy remains a key driver in advancing bilateral economic cooperation.

Nafti said economic relations between Jordan and Tunisia are built on a solid foundation established over decades, stressing that chambers of commerce and the private sector have played a pivotal role in promoting the products of both countries and opening channels of cooperation between their business communities.

He noted that bilateral trade exchange, which saw Jordanian exports to Tunisia reach JD10 million and imports from Tunisia stand at JD13 million last year, remains below the aspirations of both sides and does not reflect the opportunities and capabilities of their economies. He cited Tunisian olive oil as an example of a product that has successfully met demand in the Jordanian market in recent years.

Nafti called for injecting new momentum into Jordanian-Tunisian economic relations by accelerating the reactivation of the Jordanian-Tunisian Joint Business Council, holding regular meetings between business leaders, and organizing reciprocal economic forums in Amman and Tunis to capitalize on available opportunities and boost trade and investment flows.

He also stressed the importance of leveraging Jordan's and Tunisia's strategic locations as gateways to the Levant, North Africa, and African markets. He called for strengthening air and logistical connectivity and expanding cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, and services to create new opportunities for the private sector in both countries.

Nafti further highlighted the need to keep pace with digital transformation by establishing a joint digital platform for trade-related institutions in Jordan and Tunisia to facilitate information exchange and communication among businesses. He also called for updating regulatory frameworks governing the movement of goods and the mutual recognition of conformity certificates to facilitate trade and broaden economic cooperation.

The Tunisian minister invited the Jordan Chamber of Commerce to participate in an investment forum that Tunisia will host in the coming days, describing it as an opportunity to hold direct business meetings with companies, institutions, and economic stakeholders from participating countries and to strengthen Jordan's presence at Tunisian economic events.

For his part, Jordan Chamber of Commerce President Khalil Haj Tawfiq said the next phase requires translating the deep-rooted ties between Jordan and Tunisia into practical and institutional measures that enhance economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

He announced plans to launch a program positioning Jordan as a gateway to the Levant and Tunisia as a gateway to the Maghreb, enabling Tunisian companies to access markets in Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf states through Jordan, while allowing Jordanian companies to expand into Maghreb and African markets through Tunisia.

Haj Tawfiq added that the Jordanian-Tunisian Joint Business Council, established in 1996, will soon be reactivated and restructured, providing a comprehensive framework for private-sector cooperation and helping identify opportunities and address challenges facing businesses and investors.

Tunisian Ambassador to Jordan Mufida Zaribi said her country attaches special importance to economic cooperation with Jordan and seeks to expand it in ways that serve mutual interests. She stressed the embassy's commitment to strengthening engagement with the private sector to support this goal.

Zaribi expressed hope that the coming period would mark a new phase in bilateral economic relations, enabling both countries to capitalize on available opportunities and increase trade exchange.

During the meeting, members of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce board and Tunisian importers presented proposals to strengthen economic cooperation, including utilizing industrial cities and free zones for joint investments, enhancing cooperation between exchange companies, expanding tourism partnerships, and addressing obstacles facing Jordanian pharmaceutical exports.

Participants also highlighted opportunities for cooperation in reconstruction projects in Syria, medical tourism, information technology, education, and healthcare, while calling for lower airfare costs, broader trade diversification, and initiatives to strengthen ties between young people in both countries.

//Petra// AJ