Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, her counterpart at Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Johannes Hahn and Jordanian Industry Minister Yarub Qudah, visiting Brussels on Wednesday 3 May, expressed their optimism as to the benefits for the Jordanian economy accruing from the easing of EU rules of origin for Jordanian exports. The change will bring benefits to both Jordanians and the hundreds of thousands of refugees, mainly Syrians, in the country.
“The compact aims to support economic and social development in Jordan which has been hardly hit by the refugee crisis. (It) has had the effect that the EU relaxed its rules of origin which apply normally to Jordanian exports. This facilitates Jordanian exports to the European market creating opportunities and investment that benefit Jordanian citizens and refugees in the country”, Malmström said at a press briefing.
“We simplified our rules of origin. They are more flexible even for Jordanian goods which contain foreign components. So Jordan is likely to export more to the EU, a market where Jordanian goods can already enter duty-free”, she added.
“We are committed to making this initiative a success. We want to help the economy of Jordan to integrate further with the EU economy. I hope this will lead to further trade between us. I encourage European businesses to take advantage of these possibilities”, she said.
“All the shocks that the Jordanian economy is suffering because of the turmoil in the region and the role that Jordan is playing in taking a huge number of refugees – including more than 1.3 million Syrians – who now make up more than 40% of the population, create massive challenges both from the political perspective of the stability of the region and in terms of humanitarian needs”, Qudah stated.
“We believe that relaxing the EU rules of origin will offer us great opportunities to boost Jordanian exports to the European market and will create a conducive business environment which will attract ever more investment and partnerships between our business communities. With this win-win situation, we can make a difference not only for the Jordanian economy but also for the future prosperity of Jordanians and of many of the refugees we have welcomed”, he went on.
Malmström, Hahn and Qudah took part on Wednesday in a high-level meeting to raise awareness among Jordanian companies of the business opportunities offered by the easing of EU rules of origin for Jordanian exporters. It was decided in July 2016 to relax the rules to support the efforts of Amman in the refugee crisis resulting from the conflict in Syria (see EUROPE 11599). (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)