Israeli -Jordanian imports and exports in balance

The Israeli embassy in Amman announced on Monday the equal balance in Jordanian - Israeli trade for 1999 for the first time since signing the Jordanian - Israeli peace agreement in 1994 and after this trade balance used to be in favor of Israeli exports.

In its statement the Israeli embassy said that the volume of Israeli exports to Jordan reached in 1999 US $21 million, representing an increase of 16.5% over 1998, adding that the volume of Jordanian exports to Israel increased from US $17.1 million in 1998 to $20.4 million in 1999, which means an increase of 19%.

The statement continued that the total volume of trade exchange between the two countries reached in 1999 US $41.4 million against US $42.2 million in 1998.

Fruits, vegetables and cement are the main Jordanian exports to Israel which by it turn exports to Jordan chemical products and foodstuffs machinery and products.

During his visit to Amman on January 12, Israeli Minister of Trade Ran Cohen said his country is eager to increase the volume of Israeli- Jordanian trade exchange to reach US $100 million annually.

He vowed to eliminate all obstacles which prevent the development of the volume of trade between the two countries and the Palestinian Authority.