ACC Explores New Pathways for the Kingdom’s Trade Relations with Malaysia

The Chairman and Members of the Board of Directors of the Amman Chamber of Commerce met with the Trade Commissioner of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) office in Jeddah, Yazrin Mahlan, to discuss new avenues for economic cooperation between Jordan and Malaysia.

During the meeting, held at the premises of the Amman Chamber of Commerce, both sides emphasized the need to move beyond the traditional pattern of trade exchange between the Kingdom and Malaysia toward practical partnerships based on the exchange of expertise and the building of sustainable business networks between the business communities of the two friendly countries.

It was agreed to hold a virtual meeting next month between the Amman Chamber of Commerce and its counterpart in Kuala Lumpur, in coordination with the Jordanian and Malaysian embassy and relevant stakeholders, with the aim of strengthening institutional communication and paving the way for broader economic partnerships in the coming phase.

The Chamber’s Chairman, Senator Khalil Al-Haj Tawfiq, stressed the importance of enhancing Malaysian investments in Jordan, in light of an attractive and secure investment environment supported by a modern investment law, various incentives and advantages, in addition to the promising opportunities provided by the Economic Modernization Vision.

Al-Haj Tawfiq also underscored His Majesty King Abdullah II’s interest in deepening and developing economic relations with Asian countries, as reflected in two royal visits to South Asian nations, which open wider horizons for trade and investment cooperation and contribute to building high-quality partnerships between the private sectors of both countries.

He pointed out that Jordan’s strategic location and its free trade agreements with the United States, Canada, and the European Union enable Malaysian investors to establish productive projects in the Kingdom and re-export their products to global markets at preferential tariffs.

During the meeting, which was attended by the Chamber’s Vice Chairmen Nabil Al-Khatib and Bahjat Hamdan, and Board Member Falah Al-Saghir, the Chamber President called for the establishment of a Jordanian–Malaysian Business Council to coordinate the efforts of the business community and promote joint projects and investments within a sustainable institutional framework that facilitates the building of practical partnerships.

Al-Haj Tawfiq emphasized the importance of intensifying mutual visits by delegations and trade missions to explore new markets and promote exportable goods, affirming the Amman Chamber of Commerce’s readiness for continuous cooperation and communication with the Malaysian side in a manner that serves the interests of the commercial sector and expands the horizons of economic cooperation between the two countries.

For his part, Mahlan stressed the need to advance the level of economic cooperation between Jordan and Malaysia, noting that relations between the two countries are based on trust and mutual respect and possess strong foundations for advancing toward deeper and more sustainable partnerships.

He affirmed his country’s keenness to enhance coordination, exchange expertise, and organize trade missions with the Kingdom, contributing to the expansion of the investment base and opening new prospects for joint cooperation across various economic sectors.

The attending board members confirmed that the Kingdom represents a safe and stable gateway for goods and services, and a suitable hub for managing commercial operations and supply chains in the region.

They highlighted the importance of Aqaba Port as a key hub for regional maritime trade, supported by advanced infrastructure, modern logistics services, and special economic zones that facilitate shipping, customs clearance, and transportation operations, pointing as well to the importance of educational and religious tourism between the two countries.

They also confirmed that around 2,000 Malaysian students are pursuing their studies at Jordanian universities, in addition to specialized programs for teaching Arabic to non-native speakers, as well as the “Umrah Plus” program, which integrates religious, tourism, and educational dimensions, thereby contributing to strengthening cultural and human ties between Jordan and Malaysia.

It is worth noting that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries reached approximately JOD 122 million during the first nine months of this year.