LONDON: Jordanian companies in the food sector will have a “remarkable opportunity” when they take part for the first time in the International Food and Drink Event, which begins on Monday at the ExCeL International Exhibition Centre in London, an official said Saturday.

The three-day exhibition will feature 1,500 exhibitors from around the world and is expected to attract about 30,000 global buyers and distributors from more than 105 countries.

Ahmed Khudari, chairman of the Jordan Exporters Association, highlighted the significance of the kingdom’s debut at the show, calling it a key step in promoting Jordanian food exports and expanding their presence in international markets.

“This first participation comes within the association’s strategy to promote Jordanian exports of food products and expand their presence in global markets,” he said.

Khudari added that IFE 2025 offered a major opportunity for Jordanian companies to showcase their products and increase their global visibility, particularly in the UK.

“The IFE 2025 is a remarkable opportunity for Jordanian companies to showcase the quality of their products to the world and contribute to promoting Jordanian exports globally, particularly in Britain, which is witnessing a growing demand for international foods, especially from Arab countries,” he said.

The exhibition will serve as a platform for Jordanian businesses to display a variety of products, including desserts, baked goods, spices, nuts and other food items.

Khudari highlighted the advantages of the British market — particularly the presence of a large Arab community — which he described as a “great opportunity for Jordanian companies to expand their businesses and strengthen their presence in this vital destination,” taking advantage of the free trade agreement signed between Jordan and the United Kingdom in 2021.

The show also offers networking opportunities, he said, highlighting the broader economic impact of increasing Jordanian exports, particularly in addressing economic challenges.

“Jordanian exports represent a solution to multiple economic challenges, as creating new markets for local products boosts production, supports industrial expansion and attracts new investments,” he said.

Khudari added that such efforts would also generate job opportunities for Jordanians, strengthen foreign currency reserves and improve the trade balance.

According to official data, Jordan-UK trade exchange amounted to approximately 303 million Jordanian dinars ($427.3 million) last year, with 62 million Jordanian dinars attributed to exports from the country.

AMMAN: Jordan recorded a trade surplus of 877 million dinars ($1.23 billion) with the US in 2024, according to foreign trade data released by the Department of Statistics on Saturday.

The data, reported by the Jordan News Agency (Petra), highlighted significant growth in national exports to the US, which reached JD2.208 billion last year, up from JD1.958 billion in 2023 — an increase of 12.8 percent.

Meanwhile, the kingdom’s imports from the US market also saw a rise, reaching JD1.331 billion in 2024, compared to JD1.161 billion the previous year, marking an increase of 14.6 percent.

As a result, the total volume of trade between the two countries grew to JD3.539 billion, up from JD3.119 billion in 2023. National exports to the US accounted for 25.7 percent of Jordan’s total exports last year.

Speaking to Petra, Samer Judeh, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan, attributed this growth to the success of Jordanian products in penetrating the US market, benefiting from the Jordan-US Free Trade Agreement, which was fully implemented in 2010.

He noted that the agreement has contributed to an 800 percent increase in bilateral trade since its inception.

Judeh emphasized that enhancing exports and supporting national industries remain key priorities under Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision. He highlighted the private sector’s role in shaping policies and coordinating efforts to further strengthen trade ties with the American market.

To sustain this momentum, Judeh underscored the need to enhance the added value of Jordanian products, improve quality standards, diversify exports, and promote joint investments between Jordan and the US.

He also stressed the importance of institutional cooperation in training, marketing, and supply chain development to ensure long-term growth and boost the competitiveness of Jordanian exports in the US market.

And he pointed to the potential of high-value technical services driven by Jordan’s skilled workforce, which could play a crucial role in further expanding trade relations between the two nations.