By Omar Obeidat From: Jordan Times
AMMAN –– Encouraged by Jordan’s investment environment and location, five Chinese enterprises participating in the fifth China products fair here have expressed interest to implement projects in the Kingdom.
Ma Jianchun, the economic and commercial counsellor at China’s embassy in Amman, told The Jordan Times on Thursday that Jordan’s strategic location suits Chinese companies to reach out to other markets such as Europe and the Middle East.
According to Mazen Kawar from Petra Tours Company, which is organising the event with a Chinese partner, the fair is expected to achieve deals worth over $50 million compared to around $30 million recorded last year.
Sam Xiaogang Yuan, director of ME Orient Company, said his firm signed a contract with dealers from Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon to distribute machinery, auto parts and construction materials.
“Chinese companies want to change the image that Chinese products are cheaper than Western products because of poor quality,” Yuan said. “Some products have quality competitive with those from Europe and the United States.”
He added that the Chinese government encourages firms to invest more in labour, research and development, branding and innovation to better improve the image of Chinese products.
Jamal Sandoka, a Jordanian importer of industrial and electrical materials from Europe, signed purchasing orders worth more than $100,000 with Chinese firms.
“I actually was going to China next month but the fair saved me the trip and the effort,” Sandoka said.
About 150 Chinese firms offering competitive quality products are participating in this year’s fair which started on Tuesday. Last year, the number of exhibitors was around 90 entities.
The participating companies are selected on the basis of product quality and reputation, Kawar said, indicating that the fair also seeks to encourage expertise exchange between Chinese companies and Jordanian counterparts.
Jianchun pointed out to the trade volume between the two countries between January and September of 2008 which amounted to $1.4 billion with Jordan exports to China at $120 million.
“Last year’s trade volume was $1.18 billion and the Kingdom exports to the Chinese market stood at $84 million,” he noted.
The fair, which attracted more than 2,500 visitors since it kicked off, ends today.
5 December 2008