ACC discusses ways to boost trade with Colombian Ambassador
14/08/2025
The First Vice Chairman of the Amman Chamber of Commerce, Nabil Al-Khatib, stressed the importance of developing trade and economic relations between Jordan and Colombia during his meeting with the non-resident Colombian Ambassador to the Kingdom, Edwin Oustos-Alfonso. He pointed out that the current stage requires exploring new markets and unconventional investment opportunities that serve the interests of both countries.
Al-Khatib, in the meeting attended by the Chamber’s Second Vice Chairman, Bahjat Hamdan, emphasized the need to expand cooperation horizons between the two sides in various sectors, particularly in services and trade. He highlighted Jordan’s significant potential as a regional hub that can help strengthen the presence of Colombian products and services in regional markets.
He also expressed his appreciation for Colombia’s noble political positions on the Palestinian issue, praising the country’s support in international forums for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. He stressed that such stances reflect a humanitarian and moral commitment valued by Jordanians, forming a basis for strengthening relations between the two countries on all levels, not just in the economic and trade fields.
The meeting, held at the Chamber’s premises, discussed ways to activate economic cooperation between Jordan and Colombia by encouraging the exchange of information on available investment opportunities and working to remove obstacles that may hinder trade between the two countries. Both sides also addressed the importance of signing bilateral cooperation agreements between the Chamber and its counterparts in Colombia to help increase trade exchange volumes.
Al-Khatib noted that trade exchange between Jordan and Colombia remains below the desired level and does not reflect the economic and trade potential of both countries. Last year, it amounted to about 29 million Jordanian dinars, including 28 million dinars in Jordanian imports, mostly meat products and food industries.
He added that the Amman Chamber of Commerce is fully prepared to provide all possible support to strengthen communication between Jordanian businesspeople and their Colombian counterparts through organizing business meetings, trade delegations, and providing the necessary information and data to build effective and fruitful partnerships.
For his part, the Colombian ambassador expressed his country’s interest in enhancing economic relations with Jordan, affirming the embassy’s commitment to facilitating communication between the private sectors in both countries and working to remove barriers that may limit the flow of trade and investment.
The ambassador revealed his government’s intention to open an official diplomatic mission in Amman in the coming period to strengthen bilateral relations and facilitate consular and trade services. He noted that this step reflects Colombia’s interest in developing its diplomatic presence in the region and deepening cooperation with Jordan on various fronts.
He also announced plans to extend an official invitation to the Amman Chamber of Commerce to participate in an economic forum to be held in Colombia in mid-next year. The forum will bring together a select group of businesspeople and investors from several countries to explore trade and investment opportunities and provide a direct platform for dialogue and exchange of expertise between the private sector.
He stressed the importance of signing a memorandum of understanding between the Amman Chamber of Commerce and its counterpart in Colombia as a starting point for enhancing bilateral cooperation in all fields.
For his part, Hamdan underscored the need to support existing tourism cooperation opportunities between Jordan and Colombia and to explore possible ways to encourage tourism by linking tourism companies and travel agents to promote both countries. He pointed out that tourism could be one of the most important sectors contributing to boosting economic cooperation between the two countries.
He also highlighted several promising sectors that could form common ground for cooperation, such as tourism, pharmaceuticals, education, and renewable energy, affirming that Jordan is a gateway to the markets of the Middle East and North Africa due to its strategic location and economic stability.
The meeting was attended by the Chamber’s Director General, Ghaleb Hijazi.
