Amman, Oct. 2 (Petra)– Amman and Kuala Lumpur Chambers of Commerce signed a "Letter of Intent" during a virtual seminar to strengthen Jordanian-Malaysian economic ties.
Nabil Khatib, Vice Chairperson of Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC), and Ahmad Hussein Tajuddin, President of the Kuala Lumpur Chamber of Commerce signed the agreement.
Organized by the ACC, the seminar is held in cooperation with the Malaysian Embassy in Jordan and was attended by representatives from the public and private sectors, mainly pharmaceuticals, healthcare, tourism, food, energy, and the Jordanian Ministry of Investment.
Khatib called for launching a Jordanian-Malaysian Business Council to facilitate investment, stimulate trade relations, and encourage joint projects, highlighting Jordan’s "secure" investment environment and "competitive" priviliges under the Economic Modernization Vision.
Khatib also noted importance of increasing imports of Malaysian products, while expanding Jordan’s exports of pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, agricultural products, and food to Malaysia. He also suggested sectoral meetings in chemicals, jewelry, cosmetics, and electronics.
In turn, Malaysian Ambassador Muhammad Nasri bin Abdul Rahman said the agreement reflects the two countries’ "commitment" to economic cooperation, announcing trade between Jordan and Malaysia grew by 29.4 percent over the past five years.
Tajuddin emphasized the importance of joint collaboration to enhance trade exchange and share expertise between the two business communities.
Bahjat Hamdan, Second Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Amman Chamber of Commerce, highlighted Jordan’s tourism potential, especially in religious, educational, and medical tourism areas, and proposed partnership programs with Malaysia, including activation of the "Umrah Plus" program.
Tamara Qabar, Head of Investor Relations at the Ministry of Investment, presented priority sectors under the National Investment Strategy and highlighted the "competitive" advantages offered to investors.
Hanan Saboul, Secretary-General of the Jordanian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, noted Jordan’s pharmaceutical sector has 30 manufacturing sites, exports 75 percent of its production to about 80 countries, and was valued at $862 million in 2024. She stressed opportunities for cooperation with Malaysia in advanced fields.
Ahmed Khalili, representing the private food sector, said palm oil and food products accounted for around 27 percent of bilateral trade in 2024, exceeding $50 million, supported by more than 3,000 food companies in Jordan.
Hanna Zaghloul, CEO of Kawar Energy, said Jordan produces more than 27 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, with private sector investment exceeding $4.5 billion. Plans aim to raise the share to 31 percent by 2030 and expand projects in energy storage, green hydrogen, and electric transportation.
Mohammed Qasem, Chairman of the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skills Council, highlighted opportunities for cooperation in training tourism personnel and strengthening partnerships to improve services according to international standards.
According to official data, Jordan-Malaysia trade exchange reached about JOD 77 million in the first half of 2025.
//Petra// NQ
