Amman, Jan. 6 (Petra) -- The Jordanian economic sector is focusing on the upcoming Jordanian-European Summit, set to take place next Thursday in Amman, which is seen as a crucial opportunity to advance economic relations from traditional partnerships and agreements toward deeper integration.

The summit will explore ways to strengthen political and economic cooperation between Jordan and the EU within the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership signed last January. It will also address current developments on regional and global levels.

Economic experts note that the summit provides a genuine chance to recalibrate Jordan’s economic strategy, moving from conventional aid toward an approach focused on exports, industrial integration, and sustainable access to European markets.

The remarkable growth in Jordanian exports to the EU last year demonstrates the increasing competitiveness of national products. At the same time, experts highlight the challenge of turning this momentum into sustainable progress by addressing compliance gaps, lowering production and export costs, diversifying partners, and maximizing the benefits of existing trade agreements.

According to data from the Department of Statistics, Jordan’s exports to EU countries increased by 45.7 percent in the first ten months of 2025, reaching approximately JD 520 million, compared with JD 357 million during the same period in 2024.

Imports from the EU also increased by 12.4 percent during the same period, totaling JD 2.647 billion, compared with JD 2.355 billion in the same period of 2024.

Key Jordanian exports to the EU include clothing, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, chemical products, and selected agricultural goods. Major imports from the EU consist of vehicles, industrial machinery, medical and pharmaceutical products, chemicals, electrical equipment, electronics, and food items.

Ayman Alawneh, President of the Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA), said the Jordan-EU Summit could mark a turning point in bilateral economic relations. He emphasized the need for actionable plans to transform ambitions into tangible benefits for Jordan’s economy.

He noted that one of the summit’s key outcomes should be an increase in Jordanian exports to the EU, achieved through a clear strategic vision, strong public-private partnership, continuous product innovation, and marketing strategies aligned with European market demands.

Alawneh stressed that while exports to the EU grew significantly in 2025, reaching JD 520 million, there is potential to further expand and diversify exports if Jordan improves the Free Trade Agreement conditions, increases preferential quotas, expands the list of tariff-exempt products, and focuses on high-potential sectors such as organic agriculture, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and IT services.

He also emphasized the importance of institutional and financial support for exporters, including programs for export assistance, participation in European trade fairs, covering EU certification costs, developing a unified digital platform for Jordanian exports, establishing a unified Jordanian brand in Europe, and implementing early-warning systems to respond to changes in EU trade policies.

Ali Murad, President of the Jordanian European Business Association (JEBA), said that the increase in exports reflects the competitiveness of Jordanian products and their acceptance by European consumers. He stressed the importance of identifying the industrial sectors with the strongest competitive advantage, such as food, chemicals, fertilizers, and certain industrial products, to fully leverage market opportunities. Compliance with EU standards and close networking between Jordanian and European business communities are essential for sustainable growth.

Mohammad Samadi, Vice President for Business Development at Al-Emlaq Industrial Group, said the summit provides a pivotal opportunity to translate political will into concrete economic results. He emphasized the need to implement actionable programs targeting high-value production sectors and linking EU support to measurable export performance.

Economic expert Hussam Ayesh highlighted that the EU is Jordan’s third-largest trading partner and provides significant financial and investment support, including grants, loans, and direct investments. He noted that last year’s export growth, four times higher than imports, signals positive momentum toward building a competitive, export-oriented economy.

Ayesh also stressed the importance of leveraging digital platforms, participating in European trade fairs, utilizing EU-based trade agents, improving logistics and supply chains, and creating smooth export processes to enhance Jordanian products’ presence and competitiveness in European markets.

The summit is widely seen as a decisive moment for Jordan to strengthen its position as a reliable and strategic partner of the EU while expanding sustainable economic ties and increasing Jordanian exports to European markets.

//Petra//WH