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The Chamber participated
in the Joint Higher
Committee Meetings held
outside Jordan and in
the numerous
conferences, meetings,
and seminars organized
and held abroad either
in the Arab or foreign
countries. Such meetings
provided an opportunity
for the Jordan Chamber
of Commerce to promote
the investment climate
in the Kingdom, increase
Jordanian exports to
other countries, review
the investment
opportunities, prospects
and incentives available
in Jordan. The Chamber’s
efforts have been quite
fruitful in the sense
that many Arab
investments were
launched in the Kingdom
and some Arab-Jordanian
companies were
established such as the
Saudi-Jordanian Company.
This company will set up
investments and go into
partnerships with
Jordanian companies,
particularly as it
includes elite
businessmen and
investors from both of
the kingdom of Saudi
Arabia and Jordan, and
works in cooperation and
coordination with the
embassies of the kingdom
abroad.
In 2006, the
Chamber sought to
promote economic
cooperation with the
Arab countries through
the General Federation
of the Chambers of
Commerce, Industry, and
Agriculture for the Arab
countries who’s Board of
Directors met in
November 2006 in Amman
under the Royal
Patronage. In that
meeting, numerous issues
which lead to boosting
the joint Arab economic
action were discussed
and this is what Jordan
has always been keen on
doing.
In 2006, the
Jordan Chamber of
Commerce cooperated with
the private sector’s
representative
institutions such as the
Jordan Chamber of
Industry and other
associations and
societies within the
framework of the
integrated efforts and
roles of all such
institutions. This
cooperation has been
quite successful in
terms of enhancing the
efficiency of the
private sector’s work
and participatory
relationships with the
government, and drawing
up the economic and
trade policies.
Insofar as
our prospects, as Jordan
Chamber of Commerce in
2007 are concerned, I am
very optimistic that the
economic growth will
retain momentum during
the year 2007. In 2006,
some considerable
economic achievements
war attained in terms of
economic which growth
reached 6.3% and
foreign trade growth
combining both imports
and exports. Last year,
the value of national
exports was JD 2.902
billion showing a growth
rate of 12.9% imports
reached JD 8.115 billion
realizing an increase of
9%. On the other land,
there was a large
increase in the volume
of investments
benefiting from the
Investment Encouragement
Law amounting to JD 1833
million by the end of
the past year indicating
an increase of 168%
compared to the
investments volume by
the end of 2005. Yet,
the Central Bank of
Jordan (CBJ) foreign
currency reserves rose
to nearly US$ 6 billion.
All these and other
indicators point to a
continuing pace of the
economic activity which
will continue during the
year 2007.
It is
interesting to point
here to our wise
Hashemite Leadership’s
plans to set up special
economic development
zones in several
governorates of the
Kingdom similar to the
Aqaba Special Economic
Zone (ASEZ). His Majesty
the King may God keep
and Safeguard him, has
launched a project to
establish the Special
Economic Development
Zone in the Mafrag
Governorate. Moreover,
there will be in the
near future various
special economic
development zones in
other areas after
completing the relevant
comprehensive
feasibility studies.
Next year and in the
forthcoming years, such
zones will constitute
important points for
attracting further
productive, industrial
trade, service and other
types of investments and
will provide quality
additions that will
enhance the production
base, create employment
opportunities and
contribute to the local
communities development.
These quality additions
made by the development
zones will also be
useful in terms of
distributing the
benefits of development
fairly, increasing
exports and foreign
trade in general thereby
boosting the economic
growth rate. We believe
that the Chambers of
Commerce in those areas
will have an important
role to play in backing
up and supporting the
special economic zones.
The Jordan
Chamber of Commerce will
continue to exert
efforts and to cooperate
with both of the
government and the
private sector
institutions, and to
carry out its local,
Arab, and international
activities for the
purpose of accelerating
the pace of economic
activity and promoting
the business environment
in the Kingdom.
“And say: Work, so
Allah will see your work
and (so will) His
Messenger and the
believers.”
‘Truthful is God
Almighty’
Senator Nael Al
Kabariti
Chairman
Jordan Chamber of
Commerce
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Chairman of Jordan
Chamber of Commerce
Nael Raja Al Kabariti
The
Jordan Chamber of
Commerce continued
over the past year
to play its role as
one of the
Non-Governmental
Organizations as an
economically-
oriented leader of
the trade sector in
the Kingdom towards
realizing the
Chamber’s objectives
and carrying out the
national march of
the socioeconomic
development.
The
Jordan Chamber of
Commerce sought over
the past few years
to derive
inspiration from the
royal directives of
the leader of the
country His Majesty
King Abdullah II,
may God keep and
safeguard him, who
has always been keen
on boosting the
economic growth
movement, activating
the economic
institutions and
sectors along with
the community, and
improving the
citizens standard of
living. Indeed, His
Majesty is exerting
personal efforts in
order to realize
prosperity in all
the fields, make of
Jordan a
praiseworthy model,
and secure a place
for the Kingdom on
the international
investment map,
thereby enabling the
national economy to
integrate into the
international
economy.
So, the
Jordan Chamber of
Commerce has
understood the
requirements of this
phase and His
Majesty’s wish to
create a very
advanced business
environment in the
Kingdom attractive
to both local and
foreign investments.
The Chamber has,
therefore, sought to
improve the business
environment for the
private sector
either through the
activities organized
or through
participating in the
national, regional,
and international
meetings and
conferences. It is
noteworthy to
underline the
importance of the
Chamber’s
participation in the
activities of the ”
We Are All Jordan“
Forum which was held
under the patronage
and with the
participation of His
Majesty King
Abdullah II and
during which various
strategies and
objectives were
drawn up so that
Jordan will be able
to achieve
comprehensive
prosperity in all
the fields and
sectors.
I believe
that the Jordan
Chamber of Commerce
has carried out
throughout this year
many activities
intended to promote
the role of the
private sector which
is the major driving
force of the
economic activity.
In fact, the Chamber
participated in the
national efforts
exerted to improve
the investment
climate and took
part in discussing
and amending some
laws and regulations
inasmuch as they
will be commensurate
with the
developments both in
the Kingdom and in
the world and
towards serving the
national economy’s
interests and
enhancing
investment. The
Chamber also
participated in the
numerous committees
formed in the
Kingdom to take care
of the different
affairs and issues
related to the
private sector. Such
committees will
consolidate the
Chamber’s
cooperation with the
government,
particularly the
Ministry of Industry
and Trade which is
the reference
authority for the
trade sector, along
with the other
relevant ministries
and departments.
The
Chamber participated
in the Joint
Committee meetings
combining Jordan and
the Arab and foreign
countries, and
contributed to
organizing the
economic fora with
some of those
countries and
mobilized hundreds
of Jordanian
businessmen and
companies within
counterpart meetings
with the members of
the visiting trade
delegations and
missions. This year,
the Chamber received
tens of Arab and
foreign trade and
economic
delegations. The
Chamber played an
important role in
explaining the
investment
advantages and
opportunities
available in the
Kingdom within the
framework of its
task related to
promoting the
investment climate
as a whole. Yet, the
Chamber also signed
several agreements
for setting up joint
business councils
with brotherly Arab
countries and
friendly foreign
countries.
The
Jordan Chamber of
Commerce continued
to carry out its
foreign activities
throughout the year
2006. So the Chamber
participated in
numerous activities
including the royal
delegations under
the chairmanship of
His Majesty King
Abdullah II to some
countries, and in
taking part in the
meetings held under
the private sector
representatives in
those countries, and
enhancing
cooperation with
such businessmen and
representatives.
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