Muscat: Relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan assume significance due to their deep-rooted historical ties. These relations are set to accomplish more strategic goals under the two countries’ wise leaderships—His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and King Abdullah II of Jordan.
The high-profile talks scheduled to be held during the official visit of the Jordanian Monarch to Oman, with effect from Tuesday this week, set a new milestone for bilateral cooperation and coordination on issues of common concern. The discussions are aimed to serve the interests of the two countries’ peoples.
Since diplomatic exchange took place in 1972, the two countries’ stands have been identical in tackling regional and international issues. They endorsed dialogue as a successful means of ensuring international peace and security.
The two countries recently held a session of discussions in Amman where they affirmed their resolve to strengthen bilateral cooperation, as well as ways to enhance joint Arab action and address challenges. The visits exchanged by the two sides also contributed to upgrading the level of relations in various spheres, including the military aspect.
On the economic arena, statistics issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) indicate that the volume of commercial exchange between Oman and Jordan increased by 33.8% in 2021 to RO 61.8 million, compared to RO 46.2 million in 2020.
Statistics showed that Omani imports from Jordan in 2021 stood at RO 35.4 million, compared to RO 24.6 million in 2020, comprising a 43.8% increase. During the first six months of 2022, total Omani imports from Jordan stood at RO 6.7 million.
The volume of Omani exports to Jordan in 2021 grew by 22.4% to RO 26.4 million, compared to RO 21.6 million in 2020. During the first six months of 2022, total Omani exports to Jordan during the first six months of 2022 stood at RO 15.5 million.
The statistics showed that the volume of Jordanian investments in Oman as at the end of 2021 stood at RO 230.4 million.
Cultural cooperation between Oman and Jordan covered a range of activities, including the signing of the cultural and educational accord in 1976 and the signing of executive programmes in the same fields between the two governments for the years 2002-2004.
The two sides also signed a number of agreements with civil society institutions, the last of which was a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Arab Thought Forum and the Omani Cultural Club.
The two countries also established the Omani Studies Unit at “Al Al-Bayt University” in Jordan in 1998, following a generous grant from the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
Cultural cooperation between Oman and Jordan also features in the form of intellectual and literary forums between the Omani and Jordanian writers. This is in addition to the two countries’ shared activities during book fairs in Muscat and Amman.
As many as 3,500 Omani students pursue their higher education in Jordan.
The visit of King Abdullah II of Jordan to Oman will deepen the fraternal ties and strengthen commercial exchange and cooperation in the fields of tourism, scholarly and cultural specializations.
