Jordan and Syria began to restore momentum to their joint trade flow, which represents a higher common interest, especially in light of the two two countries’ existing economic opportunities. During 2022, national exports to Syria increased to about JD71 million, compared to JD56 million in 2021, while imports went down over the same period from JD50 million to about JD46 million in 2022, according to official data. Head of Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC), Khalil Haj Tawfiq, said the Kingdom’s trade sector is looking forward to launching new integrated commercial and investment relations with Syria and work as a team to achieve common aspirations in building a “promising” future and partnerships based on mutual interests. In statements to “Petra” on Monday, he noted strengthening trade movement with Syria to its previous levels represents a common interest for the two countries’ economies, especially since Syria, with its border crossings and ports, represents an “important” commercial gateway for the Kingdom, stressing the need to remove any obstacles in this regard. Over the past years, he said Jordan’s trade to European countries flowed through Syria and multiple surrounding countries, whether in terms of export, import or transit, adding that Jordan also represents a gateway for Syrian products and goods to cross safely into markets of the Arab Gulf countries. Haj Tawfiq also called on building a “new” model for the future Jordanian-Syrian economic relations, based on exchanging benefits, stressing that the Kingdom’s commercial sector in all its activities is “keen” to activate “strong” trade and investment partnerships with Syria to achieve common interests. JCC, he noted, will continue its efforts to overcome obstacles to facilitate movement of trade exchange with Syria to restore its previous momentum to preserve common interests, calling on revisiting all decisions that specified a list of specific commodities to be exchanged reciprocally.

Source: Jordan News Agency