BAGHDAD: A Jordanian delegation arrived in Baghdad on Saturday to bolster economic cooperation and explore new opportunities in the Iraqi market, with a focus on expanding Jordanian exports, the Jordan News Agency reported.
The visit, organized by the Jordan Chamber of Industry in partnership with Jordan Export House, coincided with the Baghdad International Fair, where Jordanian industrial firms are set to showcase their products in a dedicated pavilion.
The delegation will also participate in a Jordanian-Iraqi business forum, facilitating discussions between key industrial and commercial figures from both nations.
JCI Chairman Fathi Jaghbir said the initiative aimed to restore Jordanian exports to Iraq to previous levels, when the Iraqi market accounted for roughly 20 percent of Jordan’s total exports.
He described Iraq as a “strategic depth” for Jordanian industries, and highlighted the chamber’s commitment to increasing trade between the two countries.
The forum will be attended by Jordan’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Yarub Qudah, alongside Iraq’s Minister of Industry and Minerals, Khaled Batal, and will feature a dialogue session on Jordan-Iraq trade, titled “Visions and a Bright Future,” to highlight the growing collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Jaghbir said that ongoing efforts between Jordanian and Iraqi business leaders have begun to show “tangible” results, with Jordanian exports to Iraq rising by 45 percent over the past year.
He also pointed to past initiatives, such as a specialized Jordanian industries exhibition in Baghdad and multiple bilateral forums, which have led to new agreements and the establishment of joint business chambers.
Ihab Qadiri, head of the JCI’s Iraq focus, underscored the country’s strategic importance for Jordanian exports, noting that 70 Jordanian companies are taking part in the business forum.
Official data shows Jordan’s exports to Iraq reached 830 million dinars ($1.17 billion) in the first 11 months of last year, a 45.6 percent increase over the same period in 2023. Iraq also accounted for 25.4 percent of Jordan’s total exports to the Greater Arab Free Trade Area, valued at 3.25 billion dinars.
