Amman, Jan. 7 (Petra)-- Chairman of the Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA) Ayman Alawneh on Wednesday discussed prospects for economic cooperation with Saudi Ambassador to Jordan, Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan Al Saud, and ways to strengthen Jordanian-Saudi trade and investment partnerships.

In a statement, Alawneh said Jordanian-Saudi relations are "historic and deeply rooted," marked by joint cooperation in investment, trade and economic fields.

Alawneh also stressed the need to boost Saudi investments in Jordan in technology, the digital economy, tourism, agriculture and industry, and support Jordanian investments in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the Hajj and Umrah sectors, to help develop joint projects and create new job opportunities.

Additionally, he called for maintaining validity of the Jordanian driver visa throughout the year to facilitate freight movement and increase trade volume.

He also urged continued follow-up by joint technical committees, enhanced communication channels between business communities, and updates to investment laws and procedures to facilitate commercial initiatives.

For his part, the Saudi ambassador emphasized the importance of strengthening economic, trade and investment cooperation, affirming Saudi Arabia’s support to launch joint investment initiatives and encourage increased trade and investment exchanges between the two kingdoms' public and private sectors.

The envoy highlighted the need to develop joint projects and enhance infrastructure and tourism programs.

The ambassador reiterated Saudi Arabia’s keenness to facilitate procedures and provide a conducive environment for Jordanian investment in the Kingdom, particularly in vital sectors, and to reinforce strategic partnerships between Jordanian and Saudi businessmen.

Meanwhile, members of the JBA board stressed the importance of expanding joint tourism programs, especially between Aqaba and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ula, under integrated programs, expertise exchange, and support for infrastructure and related services to increase tourist flows and enhance cultural and economic integration.

They also highlighted the need to establish a joint border economic zone to develop shared investment projects, strengthen economic integration, create jobs and achieve sustainable economic development.

According to official data, trade volume between Jordan and Saudi Arabia reached approximately JD3.517 billion in 2024.

Jordan’s exports to Saudi Arabia totaled about JD1.048 billion, while imports from the Kingdom stood at around JD2.517 billion.

//Petra// NQ