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Ammon News -

Today Ambassador Henry T. Wooster affirmed the U.S. commitment to Jordanian food security in a visit to the Shaban Group the brand owner of Tiger Rice in Amman, the largest importer of grains and U.S. rice to Jordan. In a meeting with Shaban Group CEO Azmi Shaban, GM Mr. Imad Shaban, and Deputy General Managers Karim & Sharif Shaban, Ambassador Wooster committed to promoting trade between Jordan and the United States and highlighted the importance of the Jordanian private sector in ensuring Jordan's food security.

In a tour of the Shaban facility, Ambassador Wooster noted, "companies such as Shaban, and Jordan's entire private sector, play a key role in strengthening trade ties between our two countries and supporting the Government of Jordan in achieving its food security goals. The private sector must also be the basis of economic development and opportunity for all Jordanians." He also congratulated the Shaban Group and other food companies for taking the lead in supplying Jordanian consumers with quality American rice.

Mr. Imad Shaaban, Executive General Manager of the Shaaban Group, expressed his appreciation at the visit of the U.S. Ambassador to the group, which reflects the importance of American Rice in Jordan.

Jordan's trade relationship with the United States is supported by the 2001 Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, the first such agreement between the United States and an Arab partner. The United States is the largest destination for Jordanian exports, as well as Jordan's second largest trading partner overall. Total U.S.-Jordan trade reaches nearly $5 billion including trade in services, and Jordanian exports to the United States have increased more than 800% under the Free Trade Agreement. Since 2001, the value of U.S. grain exports to Jordan has grown tenfold.

The United States is committed to working with its partners to develop food systems that are economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable over the long term. In October 2021, the United States formed the Coalition for Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation. The goal of this Coalition is to work with countries and stakeholders around the globe to mobilize greater efforts in advancing sustainable productivity growth and transiting to more sustainable food systems. Jordan is a member of the Coalition.