Ammon News - Trade between Tunisia and Jordan had recorded a noteworthy development in 2020, with a 43% rise in exports to this country compared with 2019, despite the health restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tunisia’s Ambassador in Amman (Jordan) Khaled Shili said, TAP reported.

The value of the Tunisian exports to Jordan had reached 58.6 million dinars (MD) in 2020 against 41MD in 2019.

The trade balance had posted a 25.4MD surplus with this country, with a 176% coverage rate, against 93.18% in 2019, the official specified to TAP.

“This trade development is the fruit of efforts exerted by the Tunisian diplomacy in coordination with the Exports Promotion Centre (CEPEX), joint chambers of commerce and the national importers,” the ambassador added.

“Trade between both countries edged up despite the lack of a direct sea link, a Tunisair flight and the strong competition of the Asian products,” he pointed out.

The Tunisian exports to Jordan consist in sea food, olive oil, medicines, electric switches, agro-food products (vegetable oils, canned food, pasta and cheese), car components, ceramics, hygienic paper, sodium phosphate, etc, TAP noted.

However, Tunisian imports from Jordan dropped by 24.5% to 33.2MD in 2020, against 44MD in 2019.

The medecines account for over half of the overall purchases, followed by fertilisers.

Despite the travel restrictions due to the pandemic, the events dedicated to boost trade between both countries have been upheld through remote communication technologies, the ambassador indicated.

These events included the 3rd meeting of the joint working team in the field of mutual recognition conformity certificates, the meeting of the Tunisian-Jordanian technical commission in the field of planning and construction of industrial cities, the 2nd meeting of the joint investment commission, the meeting of the joint consumer defence commission, as well as the 3rd edition of the Tunisian-Jordanian Business Council between CONECT and the Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA) held last March 10, TAP indicated.

Tunisia’s Embassy in Amman had considered the possibility of creating a logistic area dedicated to Tunisian enterprises in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, in a bid to facilitate access to countries under reconstruction, namely Syria and Iraq, the ambassador said.

The Tunisian-Jordanian Business Council between the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA) and the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for April 6 by VTC.