Abdullah Ensour Meets Turkish Economic Delegation

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour met with a Turkish economic delegation led by Head of the Turkish Overseas Investment Department Metin Deger as a follow-up to His Majesty King Abdullah's visit to Turkey last March. The meeting focused on ways to boost economic cooperation, maximize benefits from agreements signed between the two countries, examine the establishment of two free trade zones in Aqaba and Mafraq and increase Turkish investments in the Kingdom.

The prime minister said Jordanian-Turkish ties have witnessed remarkable progress over the past few years, adding that the King's visit to Turkey opened a new chapter in relations between Jordan and Turkey. Ensour added that his talks in Turkey earlier this month with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other officials, sought to complete work begun during the King's meetings with senior Turkish officials and as part of efforts to strengthen trade and economic ties. He noted that the current situation in Syria has a direct impact on trade between the two countries, stressing that Jordan could be a springboard for Turkish exports to Gulf Arab states, Iraq and Africa through establishing free trade zones in Aqaba and Mafraq.

The government, Ensour said, has passed much legislation regulating the investment process and promoting the investment climate, noting that Jordan has qualified and trained manpower. The head of the Turkish delegation said Turkish businessmen are interested in increasing investments in the Kingdom, expecting these investments to reach $1 billion. Chairman of the Jordan-Turkish Business Council Serif Egeli said, in a press statement issued following the meeting, that a Jordanian businessmen’s delegation accompanied the King during his visit to Turkey, where they held meetings with their Turkish counterparts. Meanwhile, Turkish Ambassador to Jordan Sedat Onal said relations between Jordan and Turkey have developed due to the free trade agreement signed by the two countries.

The King, he said, agreed with the Turkish leadership to examine ways of increasing Turkish investments in Jordan. Onal said a Turkish economic delegation will visit Jordan to become acquainted with legislation and sectors that Turkish businesses might invest in. He added that the delegation will submit a report to the Turkish minister of economy who will visit Jordan soon in preparation for the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyep Erdogan to Jordan .