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Ammon News -

The Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) Monday met with Pakistan's envoy Sajjad Khan to discuss bilateral economic cooperation and the exchange of trade missions.

The ACC highlighted in a press release the need to support areas of cooperation between Jordan and Pakistan on tourism, not the least of which is spiritual tourism.

The statement emphasised the importance of activating the Jordan-Pakistan business board that comprises representatives of the two countries' commerce chambers. They also recommended holding meetings of the Jordan-Pakistan joint ministerial committee, exchange expertise and translate MoUs into action.

On tourism, the ACC highlighted the importance of drawing up a joint programme to augment the attraction of tourists towards Jordan's religious attractions. In addition, they recommended implementing promotional programmes that would target travel agencies.

Chairman of the ACC Khalil El Haj Tawfiq said the Chamber is working to establish an electronic platform that would list the investment opportunities in Jordan; it would include on its database information about chambers' members as a way of making it easier for those who wish to access information about markets' needs.

El Haj Tawfiq expressed Jordan's service and trade sectors' keenness to multiply imports from Pakistan, in addition to the possibility of exporting foodstuff, such as dates, olive oil and the Dead Sea products to Pakistan.

For his part, Khan said the relations between the two countries have been witnessing "continued development", highlighting there is a bevy of opportunities through which the two-way trade could be augmented, chief of which are construction, foodstuff, textile, IT and the infrastructure.

He said the two-way trade is still below expectations which necessitates work to promote the two countries' products, reiterating the need for cooperation on tourism.

He said his country's embassy in Amman would organise virtual conferences for trade sectors and receive trade missions, noting the embassy is planning to receive a trade mission from Pakistan in 2021.

Jordan's exports to Pakistan in the last 5 months amounted to JOD5 million, as its imports from Pakistan in the reporting period stood at JOD8 million.

Jordan's major exports to Pakistan are chemical products, foodstuffs and scraps, while Pakistan's are cosmetics, rice, spices textiles and medical herbs.