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Ammon News - TAIPEI Taiwan should establish a stronger presence in the Arab world, using Jordan as a launch pad, as there are tremendous opportunities in the Middle East region, a visiting political economist from Jordan said Tuesday.

The Arab states have a population of about 320 million and the region has abundant natural resources such as gas and oil, said Maen Nsour, a contributor to the English-language Jordan Times newspaper.

“This is something Taiwan can take advantage of,” Nsour said during a visit to CNA in Taipei. “There's a huge pie there. So you need to be there.”

Nsour, who also serves as chief executive officer of the Jordan-based consulting company Polinomics, said Taiwan can use Jordan as a platform to expand its presence in the Arab region.

Despite political unrest and upheavals in neighboring countries such as Syria and Egypt, Jordan has been able to maintain domestic stability and security and good relations with other countries in the region, he said.

Nsour also said that people in Jordan have a positive perception of Taiwan as a country that makes products of excellent quality.

However, he added, “I don't think that people (in Jordan) know more than that.”

He thus suggested that Taiwan make greater efforts to establish a stronger presence in Jordan and help people there learn more about aspects of Taiwan such as its economic achievements and the history of its relationship with China.

Taiwanese companies would also have a role to play in any effort to advance ties between Taiwan and Jordan, he added.

Nsour and Salameh Al Darawi, chief editor of the Jordanian online newspaper Al-Maqar, are visiting Taiwan for the first time on a five-day trip that will end Oct. 17. (CNA)