Jordan asks Israel to facilitate its trade with the West Bank

Jordanian Minister of Trade and Industry Hani al-Mulki held talks in Tel Aviv on Wednesday with his Israeli counterpart, Natan Sheransky, on economic and trade issues between the two sides, especially eliminating obstacles hindering trade between Jordan and Palestine.

Jordanian sources said that during the meeting al-Mulki concentrated on the need to eliminate obstacles hindering trade exchange between Jordan and the Palestine and means of expanding commodity lists placed by Israel before Jordanian exports.

Statistics made by Jordanian chamber of trade and industry said that the value of Jordanian trade with Palestinian authority areas during 1997 was estimated at US $48 million. It added that during the first five months of 1998 the trade value between the two sides has amounted to US $13 million.

The Jordanian sources continued that talks between the two ministers deal with the question of imports via the port of Haifa and the importance of Israel transferring the delivery of its imports from southeast Asia to Aqaba port.