Jordan and Pakistan have agreed to start negotiations early next year for signing a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. Secretary General, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Muntasser Oqlah made the announcement at the opening of a "Made in Pakistan" exhibition in Amman, The Gulf Today reported on Friday.
The exhibition is organised by Expo Jordan and the embassy of Pakistan, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.
Some 80 Pakistani exhibitors are showcasing their goods and services to Jordanian buyers. These include cereals and textiles, pharmaceutical goods and agricultural machinery. Exhibitors emphasised that apart from finished products, raw materials are available for import from Pakistan for processing and exporting from Jordan.
Pakistani officials said they considered Jordan as a springboard for further investments within the Middle East and the exhibition gives Pakistani producers the opportunity to interact with the Jordanian market. Pakistan and Jordan already enjoy a healthy economic relationship and both sides have said that they were seeking more business partnerships.