The members of the Board of Directors of the Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA) discussed on Wednesday, with the Commercial and Investment Attaché at the Pakistani Embassy in the Kingdom, Khadim Ali, ways to strengthen economic relations between the two countries and the future prospects for available investment opportunities.

In a press statement, the JBA said the two sides agreed during the meeting to hold a Jordanian-Pakistani investment forum early next year, highlighting the importance of organizing sectoral discussions remotely with the aim of identifying economic sectors of common interest and updating both sides on the most important available investment opportunities.

Speaking during the meeting, Hussam Hudhud, an JBA member, presented the association’s role in strengthening Jordan’s economic and investment relations with various countries, including Pakistan, and promoting the benefits, incentives and investment opportunities available in the Kingdom.

Abdul Rahim Buqai, another JBA member, said the two countries' economic relations are "below the level of ambitions," which requires action to intensify efforts to enhance them, referring to investment opportunities of common interest, especially in the field of clothing and fabrics.

Also speaking during the meetin was Yousry Tahboub, an JBA memeber, who pointed out that the Jordanian economy is "open commercially" to the world countries in light of many trade agreements with different economic blocs, in addition to free, development and industrial zones, calling for the establishment of joint investments and industries.

In addition, Tariq Hijazi, the JBA's General Manager, called on the Pakistani business community to view Jordan's available investment opportunities that were put forward by the Jordan Investment Commission (JIC) in many strategic sectors.

Hijazi indicated that the global trends due to the Covid-19 pandemic focus on the health sector, medical supplies, pharmaceutical industries, agriculture, telecommunications and information technology, in which the Kingdom enjoys "competitive" advantages.

For his part, the attaché pointed out that economic relations between countries are a "gateway to developing relations in various fields," expressing his hope for more cooperation and coordination in a way that contributes to enhancing the volume of joint trade and investment exchange.

There are many opportunities by which it is possible to develop investment relations, improve and expand the base of mutual goods to be "more diversified," he noted, stressing the embassy’s readiness to cooperate with the JBA to network between the two countries' business communities.

According to the JBA, Jordan's exports to Pakistan last year amounted to $13 million, concentrated in fertilizers, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, machinery and mechanical devices, compared to about $33 million of imports.