Jordan, Indonesia discuss closer cooperation

Chairman of the Board of Amman Chamber of Commerce, Senator Riyadh Saifi, and Indonesian Ambassador to Jordan, Teguh Wardoyo, on Monday discussed means to enhance trade and economic ties between the two countries.Trade between the two countries has fallen below expectations, despite improvement of ties in various domains, Saifi said. He called for new mechanisms to bolster trade as Jordan has many products needed in the Indonesian markets.Jordan’s exports to Indonesia touched $123 million in 2011, while its imports from that country stood at $213 million, he said.Saifi underlined the need to enhance cooperation between the chamber and Indonesian economic institutions so as to boost trade, investments and ties, and to remove barriers to improvement in ties.He also spoke about the Kingdom’s investment-friendly climate, backed by security, stability and laws, as well as presence of Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs) and free trade agreements with other countries and blocs.The Indonesian envoy said that the ties and cooperation between the business communities of the two countries would help develop economic and trade ties.Jordan’s exports to the Asian nation include phosphates, aluminium, potash and olive oil. The Kingdom imports vegetable oil, coconut, fish, coffee and spices among other products