Narrowing
Trade Deficit
Jordan’s
domestic exports witnessed a growth in 2001 compared with 2000, narrowing
the trade deficit by 5%. According to the Department of Statistics, the
national exports and re-exported goods grew to €2.163 billion and €438
million in 2001 compared to €1.729 billion and €426 million in 2000.
However, imports surged to €5.495 against €5.215 billion respectively
in 2000. Key exports were phosphates, potash and pharmaceutical products
as well as textiles and clothing. Textiles are primarily manufactured in
Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ’s), where products enter the US market
duty-and quota-free. Germany is the second largest exporter to Jordan with
€600.33 million while importing €7.21 million in 2000. Jordanian
exports to Germany witnessed a boost in 2001 reaching €18.502 million
and imports totalled €298.25 million during the period from January –
July 2001.
Jordan Business Guide
The
Bavarian based Association for Area Studies, FORAREA, has published a
study entitled “Business Guide Jordanien”. The study touched upon many
issues, mainly how to do business in Jordan. It is intended to be as a
practical tool for German companies interested in Jordan’s market. The
study is available at the following address www.forarea.de/jordanien/
German
Jordanian Aqaba Forum
Under
the Patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, the “German Jordanian
Aqaba Forum” will be held in the port city of Aqaba between 11th
and 12th of April 2002. The forum will focus on the
opportunities and economic potentials of the newly established Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ)
as target for German business and investments. For more information,
contact the DAIHK office in Berlin, Ms. Bassant Helmi Tel: 030-203081207.
Fax: 030-203081206. Email: [email protected]
Jordanian
German Business Council (JGBC)
Founded in 2000, the Jordanian German Business Council (JGBC) is a group
of Jordanian and German Businessmen. JGBC aims at improving the dialogue
between Jordanian and German Businesspersons and identifies projects and
activities whereby a businessperson gets a better idea about the business
environment and investment opportunities in both Jordan and Germany. The
Council is a non-governmental and non-profit organization. It is supported
by the German Embassy in Amman. JGBC arranged many events in the years
2000-2001 in both Jordan and Germany. The latest event was The First
Jordanian German E-Business Forum in Frankfurt and Munich. The next coming
event would be the German Jordanian Aqaba Forum, under the patronage of
His Majesty King Abdullah II.
SOFEX 2002
The 4th Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX 2002) will
be held in Amman from 14th – 17th October 2002,
under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein. It is
organized by Jordan Armed Forces in partnership with the General
Exhibitions Corporation of United Arab Emirates. The Middle East’s
biggest show of special operations equipment will display the present
"state-of-the-art" and future needs of world defence industry,
concentrating on law enforcement and special military operations equipment
and specialized ordnance, in addition to live and mobile demonstrations
and air displays. In conjunction with the exhibition, a conference on
Counter Terrorism will also be held. For further details and registration:
www.sofex.com.jo.
Jordan-US
Free Trade Agreement
The
Embassy has received enquires about the recently ratified Free Trade
Agreement between Jordan and the United States. The agreement became
effective in December 17th, 2001. It will allow Jordanian
products unlimited and duty free access to the US market. The FTA will
eliminate customs tariffs on nearly all goods traded between the two
countries. The general staging categories to the agreement provide for
elimination of tariffs according to the following periods: Category A,
products with a base tariff rate of 5% or less will be eliminated over 2
years (50% reduction per year); Category B, products with a base tariff
rate between 5% and 10% of will be eliminated over 4 years (25% reduction
per year); Category C, products with a base tariff rate between 10% and
20% will be phased out over 5 years (20% reduction per year); Category D,
products with a base tariff rate over 20% will be eliminated over 10 years
(10% reduction per year). It is noteworthy that Tariff on Category A is
zero today. We would like to draw the attention that the text of the
agreement and its annexes are available in www.jedco.gov.jo.
E-Jordan Conference
Amman University will be organizing an e-Jordan conference from 3rd
–5th June 2002. The
Conference will showcase several e applications and solutions that
have been implemented and offers such other services like technical
consultations, proof of concept and thematic presentations. It will also
draw upon leading companies, technical institutions and business partners
in Jordan and abroad and help initiate projects to address specific needs.
The Conference further strives to establish strong links with similar
institutions worldwide to enrich the repository of best practices through
continuous interaction and participation. For more information and about
registration, please check the Embassy’s web site.
Issued by the Commercial Section of the Embassy
of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
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