UAE Jordan Economic Forum starts in Amman
Date
11/25/2015 1:05:45 PM
(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
AMMAN 25th November 2015 (WAM)UAE Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri and Jordanian Minister of Industry and Trade Maha Ali today co-chaired the first UAE-Jordan Economic Forum in the Jordanian capital Amman in the presence of Jordan's Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour.
In attendance also were UAE Ambassador to Jordan Bilal Al Bidour top economic trade and business officials as well as a number of businessmen and investors in both countries.
The UAE Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri said Jordan is a strategic partner of the UAE mainly in the economic field noting that the forum reflects willingness of both countries to strengthen bilateral relations. He said trade exchange between the two countries saw remarkable growth to over AED3 billion last year while the volume of UAE investments rose to more than US$ 15 billion.
The minister also pointed to the presence of more than 170000 Jordanians in the UAE working in various fields and professions adding that they have an important role in the development process in the UAE.
"The volume of aid that Jordan received from the Abu Dhabi Development Fund stood at $1.4 billion including government grants that were used to finance development projects in the Kingdom" Al Mansouri added.
Speaking about UAE's economic policies he said the UAE economy was projected to grow by 3 to 3.5 percent during the current year despite sharp decline in world oil prices.
Jordan's Minister of Industry and Trade Maha Ali said the forum comes in implementation of a decision taken in Amman in 2014 during meetings of the Joint Jordanian-UAE Higher Committee that were co-chaired by the foreign ministers of both countries.
She noted that the UAE is the favourite destination for Jordanian investment abroad accounting for 22 percent or about $1 billion and a major market for receiving highly trained and professional Jordanian workforce.
The minister urged the public and private sectors of both countries to work to further promote trade and economic ties between Jordan and the UAE.
Majed Al Ghurair Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry addressed the forum on behalf of the UAE Federation for Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Several sessions and bilateral meetings between Jordanian and Emirati businesspeople will also take place during the two-day forum.
WAM/tfaham