Past Events

Brussels – 4 December 2013 

On the 4th of December, Secretary-General of the ABLCC Mr. Qaisar Hijazin had the honor of meeting with H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan, who was visiting Brussels to engage in bilateral and multilateral talks with King Philip of Belgium, EU Council President Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, and Mr. Jose Manuel Barosso, President of the European Commission.

Amongst other subjects, the Belgian and Jordanian Monarchs explored possibilities for cementing ties between Jordan and Belgium, especially in the economic and tourism sectors. H.M. King Philip also hailed Jordan for the safe haven and assistance it offers to Syrian refugees on its territory.

From his side, Mr. Hijazin lauded the strong trade and investment ties that bind Jordan and Belgium. During the first six months of 2013, Belgian exports slightly increased compared to the same period in 2012, amounting to EUR 322 million. Jordan exported for EUR 7.5 million worth of goods to Belgium during the first half of the year, recording a minor decrease. In order to further enhance the partnership between both countries, the Secretary-General proposed the organization of an EU-Belgium-Jordan Economic Forum in Brussels in 2014 which would shed light on the investment opportunities and advantages offered by the Hashemite Kingdom, and provide a meeting place for business people from both regions. He furthermore congratulated the Jordanian Monarch with the country’s admirable track record in terms of regional and international trade agreements. Together with Morocco, Jordan is one of the Arab countries that have made most progress in negotiating Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements (DCFTA) with the EU.