Jordan Exporters Association Hosts Exporter Dinner
AMMAN, Jordan –On Wednesday, February 23, the Jordan Exporters Association (JEA) welcomed U.S. Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft and prominent members of the Jordanian business community to their periodic Exporter Dinner, held at the Sheraton Hotel and sponsored by the Housing Bank. The event came amidst a wave of visits from U.S. government officials to Jordan in the past two weeks, most notably Under Secretary of State Bill Burns and Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman.
Mr. Beecroft gave the keynote address and discussed bilateral trade between the United States and Jordan. He discussed successes gained from commercial ties through the Free Trade Agreement, which entered into full force in January 2010, as well as the challenges and opportunities these ties present. Mr. Beecroft highlighted the wide range of Jordanian exports, noting, “While garments continue to comprise the largest percentage of Jordanian exports to the U.S. each year, the FTA has helped Jordan diversify its exports to include goods as varied as beauty products, machinery, jewelry, and even air conditioning systems.” Mr. Beecroft noted that an estimated 50,000 jobs in Jordan have been generated through this bilateral trade, which totaled $2.2 billion in 2010, an increase of 33.4 percent over 2009 and a more than 700 percent increase over the $307 million in trade in 1999. Mr. Beecroft emphasized that bilateral trade between the U.S. and Jordan is of great benefit to both countries, citing examples from the agricultural and manufacturing sectors in support, such as Jordanian strawberry growers importing strawberry seedlings from the U.S. that require less water than traditional varieties in order to supply strawberries for the Jordanian market. In conclusion, Mr. Beecroft encouraged the Jordanian business community to take advantage of the opportunities presented by U.S.-Jordanian bilateral trade, stating, “my hope tonight is that the trade between our nations will continue to grow and to deepen in the coming years as it has so successfully done over the years.”
JEA Vice Chairman and CEO Halim Abu Rahmeh welcomed Mr. Beecroft’s comments, stating, “Events such as the Exporter Dinner provide an important forum for interaction between the public sector and the business community. The U.S. is a major trading partner with Jordan and with the Free Trade Agreement now in full force, it has created numerous opportunities for bilateral trade which is a benefit to both countries.” He continued, “Jordanian exporters should be fully aware of the FTA and utilize it to the greatest extent possible. Through our previous activities relating to the U.S. market, including conducting trade missions and specialized workshops and attending exhibitions, we have identified demand for many Jordanian products.” Mr. Abu Rahmeh added that the JEA is conducting a workshop in March to assist Jordanian companies in the food, drug, and cosmetics sectors to meet U.S. regulations and FDA requirements and devise effective means to penetrate the U.S. market.
Among other guests, in attendance were representatives from the ICT and architectural engineering sectors who have recently completed the Jordan Exporters Association’s Export Development Program. Mr. Beecroft awarded certificates to participants in the program, a comprehensive export marketing and management training and coaching program. Supported by USAID through the Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ), this program offers a unique opportunity for manufacturers in different sectors to combine theory with practice to enhance their export capabilities. Since the program’s inception in 2009, it has also assisted companies in the processed food, Dead Sea cosmetics, and furniture sectors.