(MENAFN - Jordan Times) Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh on Tuesday inaugurated the Jordanian-Ukrainian Businessmen Forum which represents an opportunity for the two countries' private sectors to examine ways to develop cooperation between them.
Addressing participants at the forum, held at the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, Khasawneh emphasised the Kingdom's desire to boost business cooperation with the Ukrainian private sector.
He said the forum provides a chance for Jordanian and Ukrainian businessmen to discuss details, foster cooperation and build up on the agreements and memoranda of understanding signed between the two countries on Monday.
The premier also underscored the importance of Yanukovych's visit to Jordan and his meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday during which the two leaders stressed their commitment to strengthen joint relations and economic cooperation in particular.
Highlighting the agreements signed between both countries, he voiced hope that they will support the Jordanian and the Ukrainian business community to work together, set up joint investments and partnerships and explore cooperation prospects in the fields of agriculture, trade and industry.
During the forum, in which several officials and businessmen from the two countries participated, Yanukovych highlighted Ukraine's measures and mechanisms to improve trade, regulate investments and eliminate administrative hurdles.
The strength of Ukraine's economy lies in the fields of agriculture, space technology, and military aircraft, he indicated.
Jordanian companies currently have around 3 million worth of investments in Ukraine in the pharmaceutical and information technology business, he said, stressing the need to boost joint investments and trade exchange.
He expressed his country's readiness to increase commercial exchange volume with Jordan in the fields of mineral industries and wheat, in particular, besides the possibility of expertise exchange in the fields of energy, transport, water and tourism.
According to Industry and Trade Minister Sami Gammoh, the joint commercial exchange volume is below expectations as it did not exceed JD147 million in 2011.
As part of joint efforts to step up economic cooperation, Yanukovych and Khasawneh yesterday attended the signing ceremony of an agreement on establishing a joint Jordanian-Ukrainian Business Council.
The council seeks to build strong relations and close contacts between Jordanian companies and their Ukrainian counterparts. It also seeks to expand commercial, economic, scientific and technical cooperation between Jordan and Ukraine.
Also yesterday, the two sides signed an agreement on joint cooperation to develop commercial and economic ties.
