Amman, Feb. 23 (Petra) -- Trade between Jordan and Saudi Arabia reached JD 15.3 billion ($21.6 billion) over the past five years, with exports from Jordan amounting to JD 3.68 billion and imports from Saudi Arabia standing at JD 11.6 billion, according to data from the Amman Chamber of Commerce.

Jordanian exports to Saudi Arabia rose to JD 1.03 billion in the first 11 months of 2024, up from JD 910 million in the same period of 2023, while imports increased to JD 2.7 billion from JD 2.3 billion a year earlier.

Mineral fuels and petroleum products remained Jordan’s top imports from Saudi Arabia, alongside chemical industry goods and food products such as sugar and confectionery.

Jordan’s main exports included pharmaceuticals, live animals, fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, and iron and steel products.

Despite strong trade flows, Jordan has an estimated 43 percent of untapped export potential to Saudi Arabia, according to the International Trade Center. The largest opportunities lie in live sheep, with an unexploited export market worth $206 million, followed by bromides and bromine oxides at $39 million and antibiotic-containing pharmaceuticals at $8 million.

The Jordan Chamber of Commerce will host the Jordan-Saudi Business Forum in Amman on Monday in cooperation with the Federation of Saudi Chambers and the Saudi Export Development Authority.

The forum aims to strengthen trade and investment ties and will bring together business leaders, investors, and companies from both countries. It will include bilateral meetings and discussions on expanding commercial partnerships.

The event will also feature participation from the investment ministries of both countries, the Saudi General Authority for Foreign Trade, the Federation of Saudi Chambers, the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones, the Saudi Export Development Authority, and the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation.

The Jordan-Saudi Business Council is also set to convene on the same day to discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation. Jordan’s delegation will be led by Khalil Al-Haj Tawfiq, president of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, while the Saudi side will be headed by Hamdan Al-Samreen, president of the Al-Jouf Chamber of Commerce.

The meetings are expected to explore investment frameworks and trade expansion strategies to deepen economic ties between the two countries.

//Petra// AA

23/02/2025 10:41:25