Jordanian delegation visits Iraq to increase trade exchange

Jordanian Minister of Industry and Commerce Muhammad al-Halayqa will hold an official visit to Baghdad leading a high-ranking delegation to hold talks with senior Iraqi officials, in a step considered an indicator of a further improvement of relations between the two countries.

Jordanian official sources said that al-Halayqa will discuss in Baghdad means of strengthening trade and economic relations and discuss issues obstructing the increase in the volume of trade exchange between the two countries, on the sidelines of opening the fourth Jordanian industries exposition on March 26 with the participation of some 41 Jordanian companies and trade establishments.

A Jordanian private economic sector delegation will also head for Baghda, headed by the chairman of the Amman's chamber of industry, Khaldoun Abou Hassan, at the invitation of the Iraqi minister of commerce, Muhammad Mahdi Saleh.

The Jordanian industrial delegation will leave for Baghdad in the last third of this month to discuss means of revitalizing the Jordanian- Iraqi trade protocol.

Official data show that the Jordanian exports to Iraq continued despite the international pressures under the sanctions on this country.

Jordan's exports to Iraq reached their peak in 1995 when they hit 191 million Jordanian dinars (US $270 million) representing 46% of the volume of Jordan's exports to the Arab states and 19% of Jordan's total exports.

However, Jordanian exports to Iraq witnessed a recession since reducing the Jordanian - Iraqi trade protocol to US $200 million, a matter which resulted in minimizing the base of Jordanian commodities to be exported to the Iraqi market.

It is noticeable that relations between Amman and Baghdad have witnessed continued progress since the formation of the new Jordanian government in March 1999.