AMMAN -- The Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) and its Polish counterpart are planning to sign a defence cooperation agreement soon, a JAF official said on Sunday.
Brig. Gen. Omar Khaldi, JAF chief of staff of strategic planning, said the agreement, which will be signed soon in Poland, includes cooperation in training and the acquisition of defence equipment, technology and research and development.
Khaldi made the remarks at the opening of the 8th Polish-Jordanian Business Forum "Poland Closer 2012", which seeks to bolster economic, commercial and military relations between the two countries.
At the opening of the one-day forum, Shadi Majali, chairman of the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau, said Jordan can be Poland's gateway to the Middle East.
Majali noted that despite the crisis in the region, Jordan is still a safe and secure place and there is a lot to give to Polish businesses.
Jordan Investment Board CEO Awni Rushoud also invited Polish businessmen to invest in Jordan, noting that the Kingdom is constantly exerting efforts to improve its investor-friendly climate.
Rushoud explained that over 50 per cent of investments in Jordan come from expansions or reinvestments.
Figures he presented showed that investments in Jordan rose by 81 per cent in the first nine months of 2012 compared to the same period last year, and stood at $2.16 billion.
Meanwhile, Janusz Janke, commercial counsellor at the embassy of Poland in Jordan, said Poland offers an attractive investment climate for Jordanian businesses.
He noted that his country's economy has been witnessing substantial growth over the past years, adding that the automotive, electronics and food industries would be of interest to Jordanian businessmen.
The forum, which was organised by the Polish ministries of defence, economy and foreign affairs in cooperation with the Jordanian European Business Association, took place with the participation of representatives from 30 Jordanian and 20 Polish companies.
In a recent interview with The Jordan Times, Polish Ambassador to Jordan Krzysztof Bojko said holding this forum and other similar meetings is aimed at increasing the volume of trade between the two countries, which he described as "unsatisfactory".
"We are moving forward to increase [it]," Bojko said, indicating that the bilateral trade volume stood at $45 million in 2011, and is expected to reach $50 million by the end of this year.
Jordan and Poland have signed several commercial agreements, including the Investment Promotion and the Avoidance of Double Taxation in 1997.
© Jordan Times 2012
