Calling for building deep economic relations between the Kingdom and Canada

02/08/2023

The call to build deep economic relations between the two countries

Amman Chamber of Commerce: Building an online platform for investment and trade opportunities in Jordan and Canada

The Board of Directors of the Amman Chamber of Commerce affirmed its intention to build a joint electronic platform between the Kingdom and Canada to present the investment and trade opportunities available between the two countries, in a way that contributes to strengthening their joint economic relations.

The Board confirmed that the platform, which will see the light before the end of this year, will be in coordination between the Chamber and the Jordanian Embassy in Canada, and the Canadian side, to display the products of the two countries, exchange information about the two markets, and publish the necessary legislation and laws for trade and investment in Jordan and Canada.

During a meeting that brought together the Chairman and members of the Chamber's Board of Directors with the Canadian Ambassador to the Kingdom, Tariq Ali Khan, the Board indicated that there are arrangements for a visit of a trade mission from various sectors to Canada during the current year to push the economic relations of the two countries towards development and benefit from the free trade agreement between them.

Board members stressed the need to achieve the vision and directives of His Majesty the King to strengthen economic and investment relations with Canada, during his recent visit to Canada this year, and the importance of developing cooperation opportunities between business owners and private sector institutions.

The Board raised many issues on which cooperation and coordination must be made in the next phase, especially with regard to facilitating procedures for granting travel visas to business owners, encouraging the arrival of tourist groups to the Kingdom, promoting and diversifying Canadian investments in the Kingdom, intensifying delegation visits, and opening the way for Jordanian craftsmen and professionals to work in Canada.

Chamber Chairman Khalil Haj Tawfiq indicated that the trade exchanges of the two countries do not meet the aspirations despite the depth of the historical relations that bind them, which extend for more than six decades, stressing the need to develop a new vision to launch their economic relations to broad horizons, especially with the existence of a free trade agreement.

He expressed his hope to enhance the trade exchanges of the two countries and expand the base of mutual goods, especially in light of the many products and commodities available to both sides, pointing out that the Kingdom's exports to Canada during the past year amounted to about 80 million dinars, compared to 36 million dinars of imports.

Textile materials and their manufactures, machinery, appliances and electrical equipment are the most important exports of the Kingdom to Canada, while imports are concentrated in transport equipment, food industry products, dry lentils and products of the chemical industries.

Haj Tawfiq confirmed that the Amman Chamber of Commerce was determined and took it upon itself to build a new form for the Kingdom's relations with Canada by intensifying the visits of trade delegations and providing information about the opportunities available to both countries, referring to the meeting that brought together the Chamber's board of directors with the Jordanian ambassador to Canada, Majed Al-Qatarneh, in this regard. .

During the meeting, which was held at the Chamber's premises, Haj Tawfiq stressed the need to open a new page for economic cooperation between the two friendly countries, and to take advantage of the great opportunities for trade, especially since Canada is an important market for Jordan to import a lot of foodstuffs, especially multiple varieties of legumes. 

In turn, Ambassador Khan indicated that his country has strong relations with Jordan, referring to the efforts of His Majesty King Abdullah II to support and develop them in various fields, which requires building on that and maximizing opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries.

He explained that Canada is a large commercial market and has extensive trade relations with many countries of the world, stressing that "Jordan is a very important country for Canada, and it is a gateway to entry to the countries of the region," especially for his country's agricultural and marine products, information technology, equipment, mining and medical technology.

He welcomed the visit of the Jordanian economic delegation to Canada as an important step to identify opportunities for joint cooperation and networking between the companies of the two countries, especially since the number of the Jordanian community in Canada reaches 40,000 citizens, stressing the embassy's readiness to provide all facilities for its success.

Ambassador Khan pointed out the importance of the economic delegation including representatives of the tourism sector to promote the Kingdom and introduce tourist and archaeological sites, pointing to the existence of cooperation to shoot Canadian films in Jordan.

He pointed to the possibility of cooperation between the Amman Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Arab Chamber of Commerce in Toronto, as well as with the Canadian Arab Business Council as an important and easy way to reach Canadian merchants and business owners.

It is noteworthy that the number of Canadian partners registered with the Amman Chamber of Commerce is 106 partners in various commercial and service sectors, with a capital of 28 million dinars.

The meeting was attended by the first vice president of the chamber, Nabil Al-Khatib, the second deputy Bahgat Hamdan, the treasurer Khattab Al-Banna, a member of the board of directors Falah Al-Saghir, and its Director General Hisham Al-Dweik.