Amman, July 7 (Petra) -- Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yarub Qudah and UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East Hamish Falconer co-chaired the second Jordan-UK Partnership Council in London.
The two sides reviewed progress in implementing the bilateral partnership agreement and discussing ways to expand economic, trade and investment cooperation.
According to a ministry statement issued Tuesday, the meeting, held at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, reaffirmed the "deep strategic and historic" ties between Jordan and the United Kingdom, noting bilateral relations have entered their second century as a "model of sustainable" economic cooperation.
The council reviewed bilateral trade indicators, which showed Jordanian exports to the UK rising 88% during the first four months of this year to $37.2 million, up from $19.8 million in the same period last year.
Jordan's imports from the UK fell 17 percent to $115.2 million, reducing the trade deficit to $78.1 million.
Talking at the discussions, Qudah said the meeting's outcomes reflected the "strength" of the economic partnership and both countries' commitment to advancing it in line with evolving economic conditions and shared interests.
He said Jordan remains committed to implementing the Economic Modernization Vision and maintaining a "competitive" investment environment, adding that Jordan's proposals to streamline rules of origin are intended to expand capacity of national industries to benefit from preferential trade arrangements, increase exports, create jobs and attract high-value investment.
Qudah said Jordan is "well positioned to serve as a regional hub" for industry, logistics and reconstruction, citing the Kingdom's stability, advanced infrastructure and investment incentives, and invited British companies to capitalize on investment opportunities across multiple sectors.
He also called for reaching a bilateral agreement to extend the existing rules of origin simplification decision under the partnership agreement for an additional 15 years beyond 2030.
Jordan proposed expanding the arrangement to cover all products manufactured in the Kingdom without requiring employment of Syrian workers within production facilities, following Jordan's issuance of more than 60,000 valid work permits for Syrian nationals.
The proposal also calls for extending coverage to processed agricultural and food products. The two sides agreed to establish a joint technical committee to develop practical solutions on simplifying rules of origin within three months.
The council approved recommendations to restructure the agreement's governance framework by replacing its four subcommittees with a new structure comprising the ministerial-level Partnership Council and a unified Partnership Committee to oversee technical matters and accelerate implementation.
Qudah also welcomed UK support for the Trade in Services Development Project, funded through the UK Trade Partnerships Programme in cooperation with the International Trade Centre, which aims to develop studies and a roadmap for advancing Jordan's services sector and its regulatory framework. He underscored the importance of expanding future cooperation, particularly in engineering and education services.
The Jordanian delegation outlined key initiatives under the Economic Modernization Vision, including the industrial policy aimed at strengthening "competitiveness of high-value" sectors, reducing production costs, promoting innovation and supporting the transition to a green economy.
The delegation also highlighted the National Export Strategy, which has enhanced export competitiveness and diversified export products, as well as the role of the Industry Support Fund in boosting productivity and creating jobs.
Both sides also praised the successful exports of phosphate and potash products to the UK market, which are a "model" that could encourage more Jordanian companies to enter the British market and build private-sector partnerships.
For his part, Falconer reaffirmed the United Kingdom's commitment to strengthening its economic partnership with Jordan and building on progress achieved under the bilateral partnership agreement.
He said the UK views Jordan as a "trusted" partner with a strategic location and a promising business environment, expressing Britain's interest in expanding cooperation in trade, investment and services to support economic growth and create new opportunities for the private sector in both countries.
Falconer added that the UK would continue supporting initiatives that promote trade development, knowledge exchange and institutional cooperation in ways that advance shared interests and deepen bilateral economic relations.
The Jordanian delegation also presented the Kingdom's advantages as a regional logistics hub for reconstruction efforts, highlighting plans for a 900-dunum special free zone in Mafraq Governorate and the Mafraq Dry Port project, which are expected to provide British companies with investment opportunities in construction and engineering services supported by customs and tax incentives.
The two sides also agreed to address obstacles affecting trade to ensure the continued smooth flow of commerce.
The meeting further discussed economic and industrial priorities, emphasizing the importance of activating the Joint Jordanian-British Business Council, strengthening private-sector engagement, increasing reciprocal trade missions and encouraging British companies to participate in the Jordanian-British Business Forum scheduled to be held in London later this month.
Both sides agreed to continue working beyond the Partnership Council meeting and the business forum to generate investment opportunities and commercial partnerships, with the British side expressing its readiness to provide the necessary support to ensure the forum's success.
//Petra// NQ
