A twinning and trade exchange agreement between the Amman and Hebron Chambers of Commerce

Omar Al-Kaabneh

Translated by Dana Al-Shakhanbeh 

 In order to enhance joint cooperation in the fields of economic and commercial investment, a twinning agreement was signed today between the Amman Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hebron. Business and investors from both parties. The volume of trade exchange between Jordan and Palestine grew during the first five months of this year by 60 percent, reaching about 100 million dinars, compared to the same period last year, while the volume of national exports to Palestine during the first five months of this year amounted to about 109 million dollars , an increase of about 74 percent over the same period last year, while the value of imports from Palestine amounted to about 31 million dollars, an increase of about 23 percent.

On the sidelines of the signing of the agreement, a dialogue session took place that included discussions on the most prominent obstacles and challenges facing businessmen on both sides, which were represented by the difficulty of the procedures followed on the King Hussein Bridge during the transportation of goods and freight and the consequent customs fees and taxes, passing through the logistical procedures related to personal ownership and investment. To Palestinian businessmen, to talk about the occupying entity's decision regarding Ramon Airport and the damage it will cause on the commercial level for both sides.

In turn, the Chairman of the Amman Chamber of Commerce Khalil Haj Tawfiq stressed the depth and specificity of the relationship between Jordan and Palestine, stressing at the same time to overcome all obstacles and challenges facing the Palestinian businessmen brothers with the official authorities concerned in this regard, by providing incentives and facilities to overcome logistical obstacles. and technicalities facing them. During the session, Tawfiq announced the opening of a special liaison office to facilitate transactions and facilitate and simplify procedures for Palestinian businessmen in cooperation with the Hebron Chamber of Commerce and Industry, pointing to the joint trend in establishing joint investment exhibitions for the two countries in regional and international exhibitions such as the "Expo Dubai", and the establishment of An electronic platform for displaying the products of companies, factories and institutions of both sides to promote and market them locally, regionally and globally.

On the one hand, the President of the Hebron Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abdo Idris and members of the Chamber valued Tawfiq's approach to the measures announced during the session as a preliminary basis for building a bridge of investment and trade relations between Jordan and Palestine. During the session, the most prominent challenges facing the investment and commercial sectors in Palestine were reviewed, which revolved around a significant shortage of expatriate workers, and the demand to open the Prince Muhammad crossing to transport and ship goods from the Palestinian territories to Jordan and vice versa. According to statistical data, the volume of untapped export opportunities to Palestine is estimated at about $60 million, the largest share of which is concentrated in the food industries and live animals sector, at approximately 50 percent of the total opportunities, while the untapped Palestinian export opportunities to Jordan are estimated at about $15 million. The largest of them is in the food industries sector, with a value of nearly $8 million, representing about 55 percent of the total opportunities.