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Jordan News
a day ago
- Business
- Jordan News
Jordanian Exports Strengthen Presence in EU Markets - Jordan News
Jordanian Exports Strengthen Presence in EU Markets Jordanian national exports have strengthened their presence in European Union (EU) markets during the first third of the current year, recording a 14.4% increase. The value of these exports rose to JD 143 million, compared to JD 125 million during the same period last year. اضافة اعلان This rise reflects an improvement in the pace of trade exchange between Jordan and the EU, amid ongoing efforts to enhance access to European markets and diversify the export base. According to figures monitored by the Jordan News Agency (Petra), based on foreign trade data from the Department of Statistics, the value of Jordan's imports from EU countries during the first third of this year reached JD 986 million, up from JD 900 million during the same period last year—an increase of 9.6%. Trade exchange between Jordan and EU countries during this period amounted to JD 1.129 billion, compared to JD 1.025 billion in the same period last year. Meanwhile, Jordan's trade deficit with EU countries reached JD 843 million in the first third of this year, compared to JD 775 million during the same period last year. Italy topped the list of EU countries importing Jordanian goods, with exports reaching JD 21 million, up from JD 16 million in the same period last year—a growth of 31.3%. Italy also topped the list of EU countries exporting to Jordan, with Jordan's imports from Italy reaching JD 187 million, compared to JD 149 million last year—an increase of 25.5%. The top Jordanian exports to the EU include garments, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, chemical products, and various agricultural goods. Meanwhile, key imports from the EU include vehicles, machinery and industrial equipment, pharmaceutical and medical products, chemicals, electrical appliances and electronics, and food products. Engineer Mohammad Al-Samadi, board member and promotion director of the Jordanian-European Business Association (JEBA), told Petra that this positive growth reflects a gradual improvement in the competitiveness of Jordanian products in European markets. He attributed this to several factors, including the benefit exporters gained from simplified rules of origin under the EU agreement, and higher adherence to EU standards in several export sectors. He noted that JEBA has intensified its promotional efforts and communications with European business entities to enhance trade opportunities and facilitate access for Jordanian products into new EU markets. Participation in European exhibitions and events has also boosted the visibility of Jordanian products and opened direct channels with importers. Al-Samadi highlighted promising opportunities for expanding Jordanian exports, especially in green sectors, technology, and creative industries. He emphasized the importance of leveraging this positive momentum by supporting innovation and improving the business environment. However, he pointed out that challenges remain for exporters—particularly high shipping costs, strict European quality standards, and limited technical know-how among some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) regarding market access mechanisms. He called for intensified government and private sector efforts to overcome these obstacles through technical and financial support programs, as well as continued improvements to export-related administrative and customs procedures. Al-Samadi also stressed the need to review existing free trade agreements—especially the EU partnership agreement—to optimize benefits. He noted that the agreement currently includes lengthy and complex conditions for exporting some agricultural and food products. He reiterated that the primary goal of such agreements is to boost Jordanian exports, support overall economic growth, create jobs, and increase foreign currency reserves. He urged swift implementation of a comprehensive national traceability system for food and animal products—particularly cheese, processed meats, and dairy. Such a system would record all data and information along the supply chain, ensuring efficient resource use, improved production quality, and transparency. This traceability system, he explained, is a key requirement for gaining access to high-standard international markets, such as the EU and the United States, which mandate the presence of such systems for their imports. He concluded by stating that meeting these standards not only enhances confidence in Jordanian products but also opens the door to massive markets of over 1.1 billion consumers. This maximizes the benefits of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. Al-Samadi confirmed that boosting Jordanian exports to Europe represents a vital path for sustainable economic growth, calling for expanded partnerships with the European private sector and the activation of technical and trade cooperation programs to ensure continued progress and achieve more ambitious outcomes in the near future. (Petra News Agency)
Zawya
16-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: EFTA amendments open 'new horizons' for national exports — JEBA
AMMAN — The Jordanian-European Business Association (JEBA) on Saturday said that signing amendments of the Free Trade Agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) marks a 'strategic' step towards enhancing economic ties with European partners and expanding export opportunities. JEBA President Ali Murad said that the "updated" agreement, covering Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Norway, will contribute to aligning Jordan's trade framework with the latest European and international standards, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The amendments also reflect ongoing developments under the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) Free Trade Area. "These updates make the agreement more dynamic and better suited to the needs of modern trade, while creating a supportive legal and commercial environment for investors on both sides," Murad said. He also highlighted the signing of three additional bilateral agreements with Norway, Switzerland and Iceland in the agricultural sector as evidence of both sides' commitment to boosting specialised trade, particularly in sectors vital to the Kingdom's economy. The JEBA president stressed that the move will support national efforts to improve access to "advanced" European markets, at a time when increasing exports and diversifying trade partnerships are 'key' priorities. "At JEBA, we look forward to building on these agreements and providing technical and advisory support to help Jordanian businesses seize new trade and investment opportunities and contribute to sustainable economic growth," Murad added. Jordan's exports to Iceland, Switzerland and Norway reached around JD75 million last year, according to official data, while no exports were recorded to Liechtenstein, according to Petra. The amendments were signed in Geneva by Jordan's Representative to the UN and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Akram Harahsheh on behalf of the Jordanian government, along with the ambassadors of the EFTA countries. The changes aim to modernise the agreement, which originally came into force in September 2002, to promote trade and economic growth while ensuring alignment with updated rules under the PEM framework, Petra reported.
Asahi Shimbun
05-06-2025
- Asahi Shimbun
Digital manga platforms pull sexually explicit ads from sites
A woman who has collected more than 100,000 signatures to seek restrictions on online sexual advertisements on the online petition site holds a news conference in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on June 4. (Midori Iki) The Japan E-Bookstore Association (JEBA) that consists of major operators of digital manga distribution platforms ceased running sexually explicit advertisements on websites that can be seen by children at the end of April. According to the JEBA, it stopped distributing ads depicting sexual acts and nudity. Among the 11 digital manga platforms it oversees are Comic CMOA and Mechacomic. The private and self-regulatory Japan Advertising Review Organization (JARO) had received numerous complaints that websites easily accessible to children ran such ads. These sites are not age-restricted and anyone can visit them, children included. Public opinion had also tilted toward classifying advertisements by purpose, function and choosing sites that matched their content to prevent them from popping up on children's sites. Furthermore, the issue was discussed in a Diet session. These factors pushed JEBA, founded in 2018, to establish unified standards to regulate explicit ads at the end of April. 'We consider this an industry-wide issue and will collaborate to ensure advertisements are appropriate,' a JEBA official said. The public is increasingly calling for greater regulation of explicit online ads. One woman in her 30s submitted a petition on the issue to the safety division of the Children and Families Agency on June 4 after it amassed more than 100,000 signatures on The mother of three first launched the petition drive in September 2024. 'We are not asking the government for legal regulations. We want the government to recognize that sexually explicit advertisements on nonsexual sites are a problem," the woman said at a news conference in Tokyo held the same day. "And we want pertinent ministries to collaborate to conduct surveys on the actual situation, to study efforts made by other countries and to develop solutions, including addressing technical issues.' The woman, whose oldest child is 10, was shocked to see explicit ads after her children asked her to look up video game guides. 'In addition to the perspective of wanting to raise children properly, adults also experience mental distress caused by accidental exposure to sexually explicit ads,' she said. 'I am concerned that the existing social structure affirming the idea of women as sexual objects could create unconscious gender biases and lead to further sexual discrimination against women.' Though her concern remains, she praised how the issue has been received, which includes increased media coverage after she started the petition. 'I am grateful that it has been recognized as a social problem and that self-regulation by industry groups and companies is gradually progressing,' she said.
Jordan Times
04-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Jordanian economic delegation to visit Spain next Monday — JEBA
By JT - May 03,2025 - Last updated at May 03,2025 AMMAN — A Jordanian economic delegation is scheduled to begin a visit to Spain on Monday, aimed to enhance economic cooperation. The step also seeks to expand prospects for joint work among the two countries' private sectors in several strategic sectors, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The three-day visit is organised by Jordan Europe Business Association (JEBA) in cooperation with the commerce chambers of Spain and Madrid, with the support of the Spanish embassy in Amman. The delegation is comprised of a group of representatives of major Jordanian companies operating in vital sectors, mainly tourism, health, renewable energy, environmental and water technologies, food industries, agriculture, and mining. The delegates, headed by JEBA Chairman Ali Murad, seek to strengthen Jordanian-Spanish economic cooperation by holding a series of business meetings and organising specialised events at Madrid Chamber of Commerce to build a new network of relations and explore cooperation opportunities in priority areas. Murad noted that the visit represents a "practical" step to enhance the Jordanian economy's "openness" to European markets. Murad pointed out that Spain is an "important" gateway to the European market, adding that cooperation with Madrid at this stage holds "remarkable" potential for the Jordanian private sector, especially amid global trends to a achieve a green economy and innovation in the agricultural and tourism sectors. Murad said that the delegation is set to make field trips and meet with Spanish economic and commercial institutions, aimed to exchange expertise and learn about "successful" models in various fields. The chairman said that JEBA is "keen" to enable Jordanian companies to access new markets and enhance their "competitiveness" in the international market. Jordanian national exports to Spain in 2024 amounted to JD38 million, while the value of imports from Spain during the same period stood at JD238 million, according to foreign trade figures issued by the Department of Statistics.
Zawya
28-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
EU market 'strong' opportunity to expand, diversify Jordan's exports-JEBA
AMMAN — Chairman of the Jordan-Europe Business Association (JEBA) Ali Murad on Saturday said that Jordan's economic cooperation with European Union countries constitutes an "important" strategic pillar that enhances growth of the national economy and supports the Kingdom's "sustainable" development. In remarks to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, he noted that the European market represents a "strong" opportunity to expand and diversify the Kingdom's exports, with a focus on value-added industries and modern technologies. On future prospects, Murad indicated that Jordan enjoys "extensive" opportunities to enhance its exports to European Union markets, particularly in the industrial and agricultural sectors. Murad added that the Jordan-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, which was signed in January, represents a "qualitative" shift in bilateral relations and establishes a "new" phase of economic and development cooperation. The JEBA chairman said that the agreement provides a 3-billion-euro financial aid package for the years 2025-2027, including grants, investments and macroeconomic support, reflecting the EU's commitment to supporting Jordan as a "strategic" partner in the region. Jordanian-EU trade agreements provide duty-free access to most national products, particularly agricultural exports, which have been exempted from duties and quantitative quotas since 2006, with special arrangements for some items, mainly olive oil and strawberries, he pointed out. At the end of January 2025, His Majesty King Abdullah and European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen attended the signing ceremony of the Jordan-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement in Brussels. To support realising the agreement's objectives, the European Union announced a 3-billion-euro financial aid package for Jordan for the years 2025-2027, including 640 million euros in grants, 1.4 billion euros in investments, and some 1 billion euros in macroeconomic support.
