AMMAN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Wednesday called for increased efforts to boost trade cooperation between Arab and African countries.
Speaking at the opening of the Arab-African Economic Forum, Mohannad Shehadeh, Jordan's minister of state for investment affairs, said the forum provides a platform for increased trade cooperation between the two sides.
More than 500 representatives from 54 Arab, African and other countries took part in the forum.
"The potential is tremendous for increased cooperation between the Middle East and African markets, especially in fields of agriculture, food and services," Shehadeh was quoted by the state-run Petra news agency as saying.
As a safe heaven for investment in the Middle East, Jordan is a gateway for investors into the Middle East and African markets, Shehadeh noted.
Jordan has signed several free trade agreements that provide domestic investors access to global markets, he said.
The Jordanian minister also called on business people from Arab and African countries, especially those in the private sector, to build partnerships.
Nael Kabariti, president of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, stressed the need for more cooperation between Arab and African countries in the field of commerce.
"There is a need for strategies and plans to boost cooperation in this regard," Kabariti said.
He also highlighted the importance of forming an Arab-African committee to explore and promote cooperation between the two sides.
