Pakistan's ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, is expected here next month for talks with King Abdullah on ways to boost military and trade relations. According to Pakistani Ambassador Tariq Fatemi, Musharraf will arrive in Amman on January 8 for a two-day visit before traveling to Syria and Lebanon. He will be accompanied by the secretaries of commerce and defense, ministers of foreign affairs, finance, and science and technology, Fatemi said.
The envoy who described Pakistan's relations with Jordan as "exemplary," said Musharraf will explore new areas where the two countries "can enhance our relations, especially in the commerce and economic sectors."
During his discussion with King Abdullah, Musharraf is expected to be briefed on Jordan's stands regarding the political developments in the region, especially those related to the peace process.
"We supported the late King Hussein's decision to go for a peace treaty with Israel," the ambassador said. "We want to make it clear also that we are vigorous and strong in our support of the Palestinian cause. Supporting the Palestinians has been one of the pillars of our foreign policy for the past 50 years," he added.
The ambassador said his country welcomes any effort to resolve the Kashmir issue, a thorny problem between Islamdabad and New Delhi, which led to three wars in the past 50 years. "Kashmir is just like the Palestinian problem, one of the two problems on the UN agenda which have not been resolved yet," Fatemi said.
"We welcome the contribution of any country, particularly countries like Jordan with whom we maintain good relations, if it can use its good offices to promote the cause of peace in our part of the world," the ambassador said.
Military cooperation between Jordan and Pakistan spans five decades. Hundreds of Jordanian military personnel have received their training in Pakistan, and Pakistani military experts were invited to the Kingdom to train their Jordanian counterparts.
The ambassador said that his country is ready to sell Pakistani-made weapons to Jordan. Pakistan manufactures rifles, artillery guns, armored personnel carriers, tanks and submarines. It also has a factory that rebuilds the French fighter aircraft, Mirage.
Last year, a Jordanian delegation took part in the military exhibition held in Karachi, and two months ago Royal Air Force Chief of Staff General Saud Nseirat visited Pakistan for a tour of some of its air bases and other military installations.
Turning to economics, Fatemi said Pakistan has been paying attention to Jordan's Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZs), which allow foreign investors access to the US market without paying custom duties.
"We think that our investors should come to Jordan and take advantage of the fact that by establishing their industrial units in the QIZs, especially in the textile sector, they are able to penetrate the European and American markets," the ambassador said.
Textile exports constitute approximately 60 percent of Pakistan's export earnings, and the industry is one of Pakistan's major employers. "Jordan is not only a market by itself, but it can become a point for further distribution in the region, and we want to do it," Fatemi said. Fatemi indicated that some Pakistani businessmen have arrived in Jordan in the past few days to explore the investment potentials in the Kingdom.
Trade volume amounts to $20 million, with Jordanian exports of phosphate and potash in return for Pakistani-made textile goods. In December 1998, Jordan and Pakistan signed a $370 million contract, which stipulated the establishment of a joint venture in the phosphate sector in Karachi.
The project includes buying Jordanian phosphate rock and turning it into fertilizer and chemicals in Pakistan. The plant also produces ammonia and urea.
At least 30 percent of the project was financed by Paksitan, 10 percent by Jordan, and the remainder was raised through the sale of public shares and international financing. — ( Jordan Times )
By Tareq Ayyoub
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
