Jordan, Sudan sign 19 agreements to boost cooperation in various fields

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Amman, April 2 (Petra) -- The Joint Jordanian-Sudanese Higher Committee held a meeting in Amman on Wednesday, co-chaired by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and Sudanese First Vice- President General Bakri Hassan Saleh. Ensour and General Saleh voiced their satisfaction over the progress in relations between Jordan and Sudan in the political, economic and cultural fields. They stressed the need to boost cooperation between public and private institutions of both the countries with the aim of forging closer ties. Ensour welcomed the committee's meeting, held for the first time in six years due to instability in the Arab region, adding that it reflects the strong brotherly ties between Jordan and Arab African country. Both countries, he said, have always supported Arab solidarity and joint action as well as just Arab causes, mainly the Palestinian issue, at all international forums. The prime minister said that Jordan, under the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II, attaches special attention to cooperation with Sudan in various domains, adding that the Kingdom is keen to further cement ties in the political, economic, trade and social fields. He also emphasized the need to fully implement the Free Trade Zone Agreement to increase trade exchange between the two countries. Trade exchange between Jordan and Sudan is still low, and was pegged at $102 million in 2012 and $122 million in 2013. Ensour voiced hope to implement joint projects that would contribute to developing the two countries' economies, mainly the allocation of lands in the Sudanese State of Al Jazirah for the Jordanian private sector to grow wheat. He also stressed the need to remove obstacles hindering the trade exchange through facilitating measures related to imports and the registration of pharmaceutical products. The Sudanese official thanked Jordan for hosting the meeting and conveyed the greetings of Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir to His Majesty King Abdullah II as well as his wishes for progress and prosperity of the Jordanian people. At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides signed 19 agreements, executive programs, and memorandums of understanding that covered cooperation in areas related to agriculture, animal health, constructions, dams, water harvesting, vocational training and tourism. The agreements also covered cooperation in the fields of customs, industry, renewable energy, archiving and documentation, municipal affairs, youth, religious affairs, education, environment, culture, health, and social developments in addition to establishing a joint business council. Ensour and the Sudanese vice president also signed the minutes of the meetings of the Joint Jordanian-Sudanese Higher Committee. Earlier, the Sudanese official was accorded an official welcome upon his arrival at the Prime Ministry. Ensour and General Saleh reviewed a guard of honor as a military band played the national anthem of both countries. The prime minister also held a lunch banquet in honor of the Sudanese official and the accompanying delegation. ? ? //Petra// ON 2/4/2014 - 03:57:48 PM