Amman, Oct. 5 (Petra) -- Korean Ambassador to Amman Lee Jae-wan said that Jordan is currently Korea's second biggest development partner in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The envoy made his remarks during a ceremony at the Korean Embassy in Amman Tuesday evening, celebrating the Korean National Foundation Day.

The ambassador noted that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between his country and Jordan, indicating that the two countries "have grown into a strategic and enduring partnership, deep-rooted in friendship and mutual respect."

"Since 1974, many Korean companies have been investing in Jordan, using their cutting-edge expertise to contribute to fulfilling Jordan's national tasks of establishing basic forms of infrastructure: roads, refineries, cement factories, power plants are key examples. The Jordan Research and Training Reactor (completed in 2017) in Irbid is another exemplary form of cooperation in the area of high technology" he said, continuing that Korean electric companies are currently producing around 20% of the total electricity in the Kingdom.

Jordan is a gateway for Samsung and LG in their business in the Levant region, the envoy said, adding that one among three cars used in Amman are Hyundai or KIA.

"Our trade volume has been steadily increasing, just after it recovered to pre-COVID19 levels. Last year, Jordan's exports to Korea exceeded one hundred million USD for the first time in the history of its trade," he noted.

"This November, my embassy will hold a joint seminar on the 4th Industrial Revolution with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Supply of Jordan," the ambassador announced, stressing that this will be a good opportunity to explore new areas of cooperation for the future.

Korea has been sharing with Jordan its knowledge and experiences gained on the path of socio-economic development it has traveled, he underscored, saying "we are keen to play a part in nurturing the capacity of Jordan, reflecting the needs and priorities in the development strategy of Jordan."

The Korean government has invited almost one thousand Jordanian officials to participate in various programs in Korea for the sharing of relevant knowledge and skills, he said, pointing out that JOKOTI (Jordan Korea Technology Institute) in Zarqa is another shining example of success. Producing around 150 qualified technicians every year, this Institute is now recognized as one of the major vocational institutes in Jordan.

Talking about the establishment of the Specialized Industrial High School in Zarqa, the envoy said that the project is in its final stage, and it will soon be opened, adding "It is my sincere hope that this school will establish itself as a model case as Jordan is implementing the newly launched "Vocational Education Reform Strategy."

"We have JONEPS (Jordan On-line E-Procurement System) established in 2019. It opened a new chapter for e-government, unifying the governmental procurement process, enhancing the transparency, and reducing the cost of purchases," he noted.

Regarding cultural and tourism cooperation, the ambassador said the unique natural features and historical sites of Jordan are now on the bucket list for many Koreans, hoping that the number of Korean tourists to the Kingdom will soon return to level of around 30,000 as it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"K-Pop, Korean films, dramas, food are on many Jordanians' lips in their daily lives. The Korean language (Hangeul) is also the focus of ever greater interest and attention," he noted.

Speaking about his country, the ambassador said "even despite a lack of natural resources and in the face of a challenging geopolitical environment, Korea succeeded in achieving a process of economic development and democratization," emphasizing that Korea is nurturing an atmosphere conducive to lasting peace on the peninsula.

He also pointed to an important initiative that the Korean government is actively pursuing – the bid to hold the World Expo in Busan in 2030, indicating that the city of Busan, as the second-largest transshipment port in the world, served as a trade hub during Korea's process of industrialization. It played a pivotal role in the process of Korea transforming itself from an aid recipient into a donor and it is truly a very symbol of Korea's path of socio-economic development.

//Petra//WH

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05/10/2022 12:47:17