The competitiveness team at the Ministry of Planning has launched an on-line survey to help build a network between Jordanian businessmen abroad and those in Jordan, an official said on Sunday, January 21. “The Ministry of Planning is conducting a study on Jordanian expatriates and immigrants. The survey, launched ten days ago, is expected to help gather needed information for the study,” said Naseem Rahahleh, a researcher at the Competitiveness Unit.
Rahahleh told the Jordan Times that the main aim of the study is to pave the way for future cooperation, interaction and investments to the Kingdom. “Through this survey, local businessmen can get in touch with those abroad and create a channel of distribution for their products. It can also help determine if any businessmen have tried to invest in Jordan, and if not, at least find out why,” Rahahleh added.
He said this survey will help the ministry obtain accurate information and allow for better contacts amongst our targeted group. In addition, it has contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help in the study in order to determine the exact number of expatriates abroad, their activities and location.
The survey, placed on several official websites, is divided into sections dealing with the expatriate's interaction with Jordan, business connections, interest in Jordanian products and contacts. There is also an area for comments and other remarks.
The team is currently studying the competitiveness of Jordanian industries to enable them to better face the challenges of globalization, reads the front page of the on-line survey. Rahahleh said the survey has so far been placed on the websites of the National Information Centre (NIC), the ministries of planning, foreign affairs and trade and industry, the Jordan Investment Board and the Jordan Businessmen Association. He said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also been approached to distribute the survey to Jordanian embassies and consulates.
“We are trying to promote this survey both locally and abroad,” Rahahleh said.
The study is seen as an effort to open up the Jordanian economy and lure investments to the Kingdom. — ( Jordan Times )
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
