Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Dozens of Jordanians on Saturday gathered for the 2nd Turkish and Jordanian Products Bazaar, where they had the opportunity to shop, taste food and discover Turkish culture and products.

The bazaar was opened by Murat Karagöz, Turkish Ambassador to Jordan, who expressed his pride in the event, which was organised by the Turkish ministry of economy and Ankara’s embassy in the Kingdom, in cooperation with the Turkish-Jordanian Friendship Association (TJFA).

The ambassador said that the exhibition was of great importance in promoting Turkish and Jordanian products, especially following celebrations of 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Amman and Ankara.

“In all areas, you can find the best products to be tasted, so we are proud of our entrepreneurs. People would like to improve their relationships in the fields of economy and trade [through] marketing, branding and direct sales.” Karagöz told The Jordan Times.

The ambassador noted that the main aim of such activities was to bring new investments to both Jordan and Turkey, and to better implement the free-trade agreement.

Manar Balbeisi, chairperson of the TJFA board, said that the event sought to introduce as many people as possible to the Turkish brands that have recently entered the Jordanian market, as well as to offer Jordanian companies a chance to explore the Turkish market and improve cooperation.

“The largest sum of the proceeds will go to support our [JTFA] annual charity work during Ramadan [the holy fasting month], through Ramadan charity boxes which we distribute to support needy families in different governorates,” Balbeisi added.

Forty-five companies participated in the exhibition of products and services, 57 per cent of which were Turkish and the rest Jordanian.

Food, home accessories, electricity, tourism and educational services, furniture, clothes, accessories and shipment services were exhibited at the one-day bazaar.

The Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO)’s acting CEO Riyadh Khatib highlighted the exhibition as a good opportunity to increase commercial cooperation between the two countries and to bring new investments to Jordan.

Aisha Gul, a Turkish trader who exhibited handmade home accessories, said that she knows from personal experience that Jordanians are interested in Turkish products, because she has lived in Jordan.

Mohammad Abu Taleb, the owner of the ON LINE clothing store in Amman, said that his participation in the bazaar aimed to advance his company’s promotional goals, particularly as he has recently become the local agent a Turkish clothing brand.

Sales manager at Grand Arabia logistic services company, Amjad Sharar, said that their participation in the bazaar was especially important given that the shipment sector between Jordan and Turkey is witnessing a high level of competition among companies in both directions.

“Turkey has become a destination for Jordanian tourists, as it offers good packages at good prices,” Sharar noted.

A Turkish language student, Muna Taleb, said that people are increasingly choosing Turkish products for their high quality, while interest in the Turkish culture is also growing, in part because of its closeness to the Arab, Muslim culture.