Olmert : bilateral economic conference with Jordan within a month

Deputy prime minister & Minister of Industry Trade and Labor Ehud Olmert met last week in Jerusalem, the Jordanian Foreign Minister, Hani al-Mulki.
 
The ministers agreed to convene a bilateral economic conference within a month. They also agreed to promote joint infrastructure and tourism projects.
 
Hani al-Mulki noted that the revised QIZ agreement will enable Israel and Jordan to accumulate joint production under the pan-European accumulation rules, which will make possible customs and quota-exempt Israel-Jordanian exports to the EU.
 
Al-Mulki added that the agreement was an important step in improving bilateral economic relations, and would soon allow joint Israeli-Jordanian manufacturing, enable the expansion of trade by other industrial sectors and encourage additional economic cooperation.
 
Minister Al-Mulki also called for greater regional cooperation, to include Egypt and the Palestinian Authority in the future.
 
Ministry of Industry &Trade officials noted that in 2004 Israeli exports to Jordan totaled $123 million, 42% more than in 2003.
 
One third of exports comprised of textile goods for the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs), and a quarter were high-tech goods.