Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Eng. Yarob Al-Qudah, EU Commissioner for Development and Development, Mr. Johannes Han, and European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, presided over the preparatory meeting for the Business and Investment Conference in Brussels under the initiative of simplifying rules of origin between Jordan and the European Union. In the presence of representatives from the public sector, industry associations and chambers of industry and trade from Jordan and the European Union.
During the meeting, the progress has been showed in implementing the simplification of rules of origin initiative to facilitate the entry of Jordanian products into EU markets. The initiative aims to mitigate the effects of the Syrian refugee crisis on the Jordanian economy and allows Jordanian exporters to benefit from the flexibility of using the foreign components provided by the initiative. To benefit from the customs liberalization provided by the Jordanian-European Agreement, which entered into force in 2002.
During the meeting, meetings were held between the Jordanian delegation and the prominent EU actors to explore the potential arising from the rules of origin agreement and efforts to enhance the investment climate in Jordan, especially in the industrial sectors.
The meeting included a dialogue between the two sides of the audience, mentioning the features provided by the investment environment in the Kingdom and promising opportunities currently available. Also mentioning the support of the European Union and in the long term to drive economic development in the Kingdom.
The meeting comes later to conferences in support of Syria and the surrounding country affected by the crisis of Syrian refugees, held in London in February 2016, and Brussels meeting last April, which resulted for a strong international commitment to strengthen Jordan's ability to withstand and economic development.
It is noteworthy that the modifications of the protocol of rules of origin between Jordan and the European Union was concluded in July 2016 for a period of ten years, allowing the producers in Jordan to use an alternative set of rules of origin for exports to the European Union for a number of industrial goods (52 chapters) existing industrial plants in 18 development zones, cities and industrial areas and communities, and provided that not less than 15% of the total employment rate per plant content are Syrian refugees during the first and second year from date of entry into force of the decision, and to reach the ratio not less than 25% from the beginning of the third year from the date of implementation of the resolution.
The industrial sectors benefiting from the agreement: textiles, clothing, engineering products, electrical and chemical products, plastic products, wood products and furniture products.