Khaberni - The national exports to countries of the Arab Free Trade Zone during the first seven months of this year recorded an increase of 13.9 percent, reaching a value of 2.214 billion dinars compared to 1.943 billion dinars for the same period last year, thereby topping the list of the kingdom's trading partners.
According to official statistical figures, the national exports to the countries of the region constituted 42 percent of the total exports of the kingdom until the end of July last year, mainly driven by an increase in exports to Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Iraq, which collectively accounted for 62.7 percent of the total Jordanian exports to the markets of Arab trading countries.
The value of national exports to Saudi Arabia was about 734 million dinars with a growth rate of 16.1 percent, while exports to Syria jumped by 400 percent to reach 130 million dinars, and exports to Iraq recorded a growth of 11.7 percent to reach about 525 million dinars.
In contrast, the kingdom's imports from the Arab Free Trade Zone countries for the same period increased by 7 percent to record 3.048 billion dinars, compared with 2.849 billion dinars for the same period last year.
According to statistical data, the trade deficit of the kingdom with the Arab region countries decreased to 834 million dinars, compared to 906 million dinars for the same period of the previous year.
It is worth mentioning that the Greater Arab Free Trade Area is one of the most prominent frameworks for Arab economic integration, which came into effect in January 2005 and currently includes 18 Arab countries, aiming to enhance trade exchange and reduce customs duties among its members.
