Turkey, Jordan Vow To Boost Economic Ties

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

ANKARA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Sep, 2018 ) :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.