ACC thanks South Africa for its efforts to expose the Israeli aggression against Gaza

17/01/2024

The Board of Directors of the Amman Chamber of Commerce expressed thanks and appreciation to the Republic of South Africa for its positions in support of stopping the Israeli aggression against the people of Gaza, and its efforts to file a case against the occupying state before the International Court of Justice for committing massacres and war crimes against civilians and destroying all basic components of life in the Strip.

Chamber Chairman Khalil Haj Tawfiq said during a meeting of its Board of Directors with the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the Kingdom, Tselane Mokuena, that the commercial and service sector in the capital, Amman, stands in courageous respect for South Africa’s position, as it matches the Jordanian positions rejecting the brutal Israeli aggression against the people of the Gaza Strip.

Haj Tawfiq added that the legal case against the Israeli occupying state before the International Court of Justice represents an advanced step in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict that came at the right time, within the framework of legal accountability for the crimes committed by the usurping entity in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories.

During the meeting, which was held at the Chamber’s premises, mechanisms for developing trade and economic relations between the two countries were discussed, strengthening them at the level of private sector institutions, benefiting from available opportunities, exchanging delegations’ visits and information, and activating the signed bilateral agreements.

Haj Tawfiq stressed that South Africa’s positions in support of the Palestinian people necessitate the countries of the free world to support it politically and economically, explaining that ACC will lead an important economic movement to enhance import operations between the two countries, hold joint exhibitions, and revive bilateral agreements signed with the chambers of commerce in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Haj Tawfiq pointed to the necessity of establishing joint trade projects between Jordan and South Africa and benefiting from the agreements that allow the export of Jordanian products to many global economic blocs without customs duties or quantitative limits.

He pointed out the importance of Jordan's strategic location and the stability and security it is experiencing amid the many political and security difficulties facing many countries in the region, stressing that this has made the Kingdom a preferred destination for business owners, investors and companies.

Haj Tawfiq explained that although the actual trade exchanges between Jordan and South Africa are modest, there is a desire to increase them, indicating that the potential for bilateral trade between the two sides is great, pointing out that the chamber will organize a visit for a trade delegation to visit South Africa during the middle of this year to enhance trade exchange between the two friendly countries.

In turn, the attending members of the Board of Directors confirmed the readiness of the Amman Chamber of Commerce to receive a trade delegation from South Africa and organize meetings with Jordanian companies from various economic sectors with the aim of enhancing communication and identifying the commercial opportunities available to companies from both countries, in addition to the possibility of signing a cooperation agreement with the Pretoria Chamber of Commerce.

They pointed to Jordan's official, popular and commercial support for this lawsuit and the pursuit of Zionist war criminals in international courts, hoping that the International Court of Justice would quickly respond to the request by issuing an immediate ceasefire decision.

They expressed their hope to build new cooperation and trade relations between the two countries in line with the level of distinguished political and economic relations that bring together the two friendly countries, stressing the existence of economic opportunities that must be exploited and the necessity of exchanging information about investment opportunities between the two sides.

They touched on many of the challenges facing Jordanian traders with regard to importing from South Africa, including high shipping costs and customs duties, and the lack of direct airlines and sea shipping lines between the two countries.

They stressed the importance of the tourism sector, which represents a major priority for the two countries, and the necessity of tourism cooperation between them, especially since the Kingdom possesses religious, therapeutic and recreational tourist places that attract tourists, in addition to cooperation in the field of education, especially for non-Arabic speakers.

For her part, Ambassador Mokuena said, "We have followed with interest the speeches of His Majesty the King, which have always carried contents of support for the Palestinian people and mobilization to stop the war on the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian territories," adding, "We see with you that the enemy is not against Gaza alone, but rather against all the Palestinians."

She added that the legal team that argued before the International Court of Justice prepared all documents and legal defenses condemning the occupying state and the destruction it committed throughout the occupied Palestinian territories.

She pointed out that the invitation submitted to the International Court of Justice against Israel was based in some of its papers on the contents and speeches of Jordanian officials, stressing that her country needs international support, especially from Jordan, which holds a position ahead of all global positions.

She explained that her country's position is consistent with and partners with Jordan in defending the Palestinian people, pointing out that one of the goals of the lawsuit before the International Court of Justice is to stop targeting children, women and the elderly because what is happening against them is ethnic cleansing.

She stressed that her country is interested in consolidating economic relations with Jordan, increasing the level of trade and investment exchange, extending bridges of cooperation between economic activities in the two countries, and searching for new strategies to develop them, especially since Jordan is considered the most stable country in the region, which is reflected in economic stability.

Ambassador Mokuena praised the Chamber's effective efforts and its continued cooperation and coordination with the embassy to advance economic relations between the two sides towards a bright and promising future, and also its keenness to communicate and coordinate with the embassy in promoting all the economic events being organized.

It is noteworthy that the Kingdom's exports to South Africa during the year 2022 amounted to about 37 million dollars, compared to 99 million dollars in imports, while chemical industries, textile materials, appliances, metals, and food are considered the most prominent Jordanian exports to the South African market.

The meeting was attended by members of the Chamber's Board of Directors, Nabil Al-Khatib, Bahjat Hamdan, Muhammad Tahboub, Khattab Al-Banna, Falah Al-Saghir, Alaa Al-Din Deiraniyeh, Amjad Al-Suwailemeen, and the General Director of the Chamber, Hisham Dweik.