ZAGREB, October 11, 2019 – Jordan can be a point of entry for Croatian companies wishing to do business in the Middle East, heard a Croatian-Jordanian business forum, organised by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) in Zagreb on Thursday.
Mirjana Čagalj of the HGK said that Jordan’s economy was on the rise and that after several years of insecurity, caused by the wars in Syria and Iraq and a massive influx of refugees, the Jordanian economy had managed to reverse negative trends.
The country’s efforts to utilise its geographical position and political stability and become a regional distribution centre to provide an opportunity for Croatian companies too, for which Jordan could be the starting point for doing business with the entire Middle East, the HGK said in a statement.
Čagalj said both countries were very similar and had both overcome difficult geopolitical situations that had slowed their economies.
Both countries are characterised by a favourable geographical position and large tourism revenues. Our domestic markets are small and that is why we have to turn more and more to exports, Čagalj said, adding that the two countries had a lot in common and should make use of it.
She sees the most potential for cooperation in the rail sector, health tourism, IT and the pharmaceutical industry.
The head of the Jordan Europe Business Association, Jamal Badran, said his country was attractive to foreign investments. Even though located in a turbulent part of the world, Jordan is a financially stable country through which Croatian business people could reach the entire Middle East, he said.
Croatia’s honorary consul to Jordan, Abdel Nour Habaybeh, said that Jordan’s geopolitical situation had been difficult in the last ten years but that it had stabilised.
He expressed hope that the two countries would use the current favourable phase to develop economic relations, calling for the establishment of a direct line between Jordanian ports and the Croatian northern Adriatic port of Rijeka to connect Jordan not only with Croatia but also with the entire EU.
After the plenary part of the business forum and presentations of investment possibilities in Croatia and Jordan, talks were held between some 40 Croatian and Jordanian companies.
More news about relations between Croatia and the Middle East can be found in the Politics section.
