AMMAN — Jordan and Russia on Thursday concluded the seventh session of the Joint Jordanian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technological Cooperation.

 

The session, held in Moscow from September 8-11, was co-chaired by Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yarub Qudah and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, with the participation of ministers, government officials and representatives of relevant institutions from both countries.

 

The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in a number of priority sectors, including trade, industry, investment, energy, agriculture, food security, transport, logistics, tourism and information and communications technology, Al Mamlaka TV reported.

 

At the opening of the session, Qudah stressed the need to strengthen economic, trade and investment ties, diversify the range of exchanged goods and services and increase the participation of Jordanian companies in trade fairs and economic events in Russia.

 

He also highlighted opportunities for cooperation in pharmaceuticals, transport infrastructure and joint industries, noting that Russian companies could benefit from Jordan’s free trade agreements with a number of countries and economic blocs.

 

Qudah also pointed to reconstruction opportunities in Syria and Iraq, saying Jordan could serve as a base and logistics hub for Russian companies participating in reconstruction projects and establish partnerships between Jordanian and Russian companies in trade and services.

 

He highlighted the expected signing of preferential trade agreements with Rwanda and Uzbekistan, which would open new markets in Africa and Central Asia for Jordanian products.

 

Qudah stressed the importance of holding regular meetings of the joint commission and following up on the implementation of agreements reached.

 

The two sides agreed to hold the eighth session in Amman in 2027.

 

Patrushev described the commission as an important platform for developing bilateral economic cooperation and increasing trade, stressing Russia’s readiness to strengthen strategic cooperation and implement mutually beneficial joint projects.

 

The joint technical preparatory committee, chaired by Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply Secretary General Dana Zoubi and Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Vladimir Ilyichov, also discussed measures to increase bilateral trade, encourage investment and expand sectoral cooperation.

 

At the conclusion of the commission’s session, the two sides signed the minutes of the seventh meeting of the joint commission, a customs cooperation protocol on exchanging information concerning the customs value of goods, and a memorandum of understanding on health cooperation.

 

The meeting also covered ways to improve access for Jordanian products to the markets of union member states, increase bilateral trade and create a more favourable environment for economic and investment cooperation.

 

The two sides stressed the importance of following up on the commission’s outcomes and translating them into practical steps, projects and cooperation programmes to strengthen Jordanian-Russian economic, trade and investment ties.

 

On the sidelines of the session, the Jordanian side met with representatives of the Eurasian Economic Union to discuss economic, trade and investment cooperation, developments in negotiations on a free trade agreement and the establishment of a joint trade and investment committee.

 

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities also held a tourism evening in Moscow to promote Jordan’s tourism products and strengthen direct engagement with Russian tourism sector representatives, media, religious figures, influencers and investors.

 

The ministry highlighted opportunities to increase Russian tourism to Jordan following the entry into force of the mutual visa exemption agreement, which allows Russian citizens to visit Jordan without a prior visa for stays of up to 30 days per visit.

 

The ministry also highlighted direct air links between Moscow and Amman and plans for a direct Moscow-Aqaba route, which it said would create further opportunities for beach, leisure and family tourism.

 

The ministry also stressed the importance of appointing a tourism representative office in Russia to support travel agencies and promote joint tourism programmes.

 

Religious tourism and Christian pilgrimage were also highlighted, including Jordan’s preparations for the second millennium anniversary of the baptism of Jesus Christ in 2030 and development projects at the Baptism Site, including a museum, a pilgrims’ and visitors’ village, infrastructure improvements and a green corridor.