「ヨルダンはGCCの自然な延長」 UAE大使
UAEがGCCの東の玄関で、ヨルダンは西の玄関であると持ち上げた。（前の記事、その2）。
'Jordan is a natural extension of the GCC'
http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=37631
19 May 2011
By Khaled Neimat
AMMAN - Although businessmen, legislators and citizens from the Gulf states had mixed reactions to Jordan's bid to join the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), they all agreed that the Kingdom will not be "a stranger" amidst the six-member countries.
UAE Ambassador in Amman Abdullah Al Amri told The Jordan Times on Wednesday that Jordan is a natural extension of the GCC in terms of social and cultural aspects.
"Jordan is the UAE's western gate as much as the UAE is Jordan's eastern gate," he pointed out, noting that Jordan will be able to preserve the identity of the bloc.
"More cooperation will emerge in the future," he said, noting that the trade exchange between the UAE and Jordan has grown steadily over the years and currently stands at more than $1 billion.
The UAE diplomat said he expected this figure to rise significantly after Jordan becomes a GCC member.
Amri said he received several messages from senior UAE officials to help the Kingdom with the accession process, who described the Jordanian presence within the GCC as a "boost in the region's security and stability".
UAE businessman Yousef Nowais also commended the GCC decision to welcome Jordan's bid to join the group, saying it would facilitate business dealings between the bloc members and Jordan.
Gradually, several obstacles will disappear, and "there will be open competition and mergers between private sector institutions operating in Jordan and in the Gulf countries", the managing director of the UAE-based investment giant Al Maabar told The Jordan Times.
"Several construction companies from both sides will seek joint ventures to go global," Nowais added, noting that Jordan is a leader in the IT sector, and the Gulf market still needs more investments in this field.
All this will lead to lower prices and better quality goods and services, thus improving the standard of living for citizens in Jordan as well as the Gulf countries, he noted.
Dismissing reports that Jordan's accession to the GCC group will lead to an exodus of talented and skilled manpower from the Kingdom, Amri said Jordanians will remain in their country as the living standards will improve, and they will be engaged in the implementation of several mega-ventures such as Disi, Red-Dead and nuclear energy projects.
He expressed the UAE's interest in helping with the implementation of these projects in the Kingdom.
"If there is a place for us to help realise these projects, we are ready to do it," Amri said.
Noting that there are more than 200,000 Jordanians working in the UAE, as well as 230 Jordanian companies operating within the emirates, he said these numbers reflect the current level of cooperation, and are expected to rise even more.
The ambassador also referred to a UAE plan to further help Jordan through financing several developmental projects in different sectors, establishing a joint businessmen's council and providing soft loans from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
Najeeb Al Zamil, a member of the Saudi shura council and a leading businessman, also highlighted Jordan's similarities with the Arab Gulf countries.
"Jordan is a stable country and its people are the most advanced in term of skills and training compared to citizens of other Arab countries, in addition to the fact that Jordan's social and cultural traditions are as same as those in the Gulf countries," he told The Jordan Times in a phone interview yesterday.
But despite these similarities, Zamil said: "Jordan does not have to be part of the GCC to achieve 'open' economic cooperation with member countries, proposing 'advanced status' rather than GCC membership."
"Jordan and the northern regions of Saudi Arabia share similar features, hence it would be better to create a new formula of cooperation that takes this factor into consideration and gives Jordan priority above other nations," he noted.
"I believe including Jordan in the GCC would send a wrong message to other Arab countries," the Saudi businessman said.
He noted that the GCC is a bloc of Arab countries located on the western shores of the Gulf, so if Jordan joins the group it will be a strategic mistake, because the basic concept of the GCC will collapse.
"In simple words, Jordan has no coast on the Gulf," he said.
Other Saudis, however, were positive about the move.
"Saudis in the streets of Mecca welcomed us warmly this week," said Ali Momani a Jordanian citizen who was in Saudi Arabia to perform the Umra (lesser pilgrimage).
"We were astonished by their reaction to the acceptance of Jordan's request to join the GCC," he told The Jordan Times yesterday.
Despite the ongoing debate over the benefits and drawbacks of Jordan's accession to the GCC, "everyone must know that Jordan is more than a neighbouring country to us", Amri said.
'Jordan is a natural extension of the GCC'
http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=37631
19 May 2011
By Khaled Neimat
AMMAN - Although businessmen, legislators and citizens from the Gulf states had mixed reactions to Jordan's bid to join the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), they all agreed that the Kingdom will not be "a stranger" amidst the six-member countries.
UAE Ambassador in Amman Abdullah Al Amri told The Jordan Times on Wednesday that Jordan is a natural extension of the GCC in terms of social and cultural aspects.
"Jordan is the UAE's western gate as much as the UAE is Jordan's eastern gate," he pointed out, noting that Jordan will be able to preserve the identity of the bloc.
"More cooperation will emerge in the future," he said, noting that the trade exchange between the UAE and Jordan has grown steadily over the years and currently stands at more than $1 billion.
The UAE diplomat said he expected this figure to rise significantly after Jordan becomes a GCC member.
Amri said he received several messages from senior UAE officials to help the Kingdom with the accession process, who described the Jordanian presence within the GCC as a "boost in the region's security and stability".
UAE businessman Yousef Nowais also commended the GCC decision to welcome Jordan's bid to join the group, saying it would facilitate business dealings between the bloc members and Jordan.
Gradually, several obstacles will disappear, and "there will be open competition and mergers between private sector institutions operating in Jordan and in the Gulf countries", the managing director of the UAE-based investment giant Al Maabar told The Jordan Times.
"Several construction companies from both sides will seek joint ventures to go global," Nowais added, noting that Jordan is a leader in the IT sector, and the Gulf market still needs more investments in this field.
All this will lead to lower prices and better quality goods and services, thus improving the standard of living for citizens in Jordan as well as the Gulf countries, he noted.
Dismissing reports that Jordan's accession to the GCC group will lead to an exodus of talented and skilled manpower from the Kingdom, Amri said Jordanians will remain in their country as the living standards will improve, and they will be engaged in the implementation of several mega-ventures such as Disi, Red-Dead and nuclear energy projects.
He expressed the UAE's interest in helping with the implementation of these projects in the Kingdom.
"If there is a place for us to help realise these projects, we are ready to do it," Amri said.
Noting that there are more than 200,000 Jordanians working in the UAE, as well as 230 Jordanian companies operating within the emirates, he said these numbers reflect the current level of cooperation, and are expected to rise even more.
The ambassador also referred to a UAE plan to further help Jordan through financing several developmental projects in different sectors, establishing a joint businessmen's council and providing soft loans from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
Najeeb Al Zamil, a member of the Saudi shura council and a leading businessman, also highlighted Jordan's similarities with the Arab Gulf countries.
"Jordan is a stable country and its people are the most advanced in term of skills and training compared to citizens of other Arab countries, in addition to the fact that Jordan's social and cultural traditions are as same as those in the Gulf countries," he told The Jordan Times in a phone interview yesterday.
But despite these similarities, Zamil said: "Jordan does not have to be part of the GCC to achieve 'open' economic cooperation with member countries, proposing 'advanced status' rather than GCC membership."
"Jordan and the northern regions of Saudi Arabia share similar features, hence it would be better to create a new formula of cooperation that takes this factor into consideration and gives Jordan priority above other nations," he noted.
"I believe including Jordan in the GCC would send a wrong message to other Arab countries," the Saudi businessman said.
He noted that the GCC is a bloc of Arab countries located on the western shores of the Gulf, so if Jordan joins the group it will be a strategic mistake, because the basic concept of the GCC will collapse.
"In simple words, Jordan has no coast on the Gulf," he said.
Other Saudis, however, were positive about the move.
"Saudis in the streets of Mecca welcomed us warmly this week," said Ali Momani a Jordanian citizen who was in Saudi Arabia to perform the Umra (lesser pilgrimage).
"We were astonished by their reaction to the acceptance of Jordan's request to join the GCC," he told The Jordan Times yesterday.
Despite the ongoing debate over the benefits and drawbacks of Jordan's accession to the GCC, "everyone must know that Jordan is more than a neighbouring country to us", Amri said.
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