Turkey, Jordan vow to boost economic ties

By Jeyhun Aliyev and Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

Ankara and Amman will continue to work to boost economic cooperation, Turkey’s trade minister said on Tuesday.

"Our efforts to increase economic cooperation with our friendly sister country Jordan will continue without interruption," Ruhsar Pekcan told a news conference after meetings of government ministers in the capital Ankara.

At the meetings, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi, plus Pekcan and Jordan's Industry, Trade and Supply Minister Tareq Hammouri, discussed the Turkey-Jordan Free Trade Agreement and exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional developments.

Pekcan said Jordan's stability and welfare are important for Turkey.

Since Turkey and Jordan signed a free trade agreement (FAT) in 2011, Pekcan said, "Turkey's exports to Jordan rose 19 percent, while imports from Jordan climbed 167 percent."

Pekcan said Turkey wants to increase its investments in Jordan, and the two countries will bring their businessmen together towards this end.

She added that currently there are approximately $280 million in Turkish investments in Jordan.

Hammouri, for his part, said the two sides discussed economic and cooperation issues "very openly."

"Despite efforts from both sides, the deal [FTA] has not reached its goals at the desired level," Hammouri said.

Hammouri also stressed the common will to strengthen economic and commercial ties between the two countries.

Shared concerns on regional issues

Turkish FM Cavusoglu said he was glad to host two Jordanian government ministers in Ankara.

He said Turkey and Jordan share the same concerns on regional issues, particularly Syria and Iraq.

Cavusoglu added that Ankara and Amman do not want to see bloodshed in Syria and that both have called for permanent peace and stability.

He also praised Jordan’s stance on the Jerusalem issue.

Criticizing the U.S. cutting off its funding to the UNRWA, the UN’s cash-strapped Palestinian refugee agency, he added: “We will not forsake our Palestinian brothers.”

He added that Turkey, Jordan, Sweden, Japan, and the EU will hold a meeting in New York on Palestine.

Safadi, for his part, said Jordan wants political solutions to crises in the region, particularly in Syria.

He said the integrity of Syria and the protection of the interests of the Syrian people are critical.

Safadi reiterated that Turkey and Jordan are the biggest refugee-hosting countries in the world.