Ahead of St Patrick’s Day celebrations, Irish ambassador says trade exchange potential with Jordan ‘huge’

AMMAN — Ireland is keen on deepening political and economic relations with Jordan, which enjoys a key role in Mideast peace and stability, according to Vincent O’Neill, Ireland’s first ambassador to Jordan.

Ireland, with a population of over 6 million, has many similarities with Jordan, including having a young population and a skilled and educated workforce. Both countries also serve as gateways to other markets, the ambassador said in an interview with The Jordan Times on the occasion of St. Patrick’s Day, which the embassy will mark today.

Ireland opened its embassy in Amman recently as part of a major programme of global embassy expansion, the ambassador said, adding that “Jordan is on top of the list for our government this year”.

“We are opening here because our government is hugely committed to peace and stability in the Middle East, and we are one of the countries that strongly support the Middle East peace process and the Palestinian issue... We have very strong political relations with Jordan already, and Ireland recognises the hugely important role Jordan plays in this region,” he said. 

The ambassador also highlighted Jordan’s efforts in combating Daesh, hosting refugees and bringing stability to the region.

At the economic level, the ambassador said the potential for boosting trade exchange, which stands at 180 million euros per year, was huge.

The ambassador highlighted the fields of agriculture, agritech, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, ICT and tourism as key areas of potential cooperation between the two countries.

According to the ambassador, Ireland’s exports to Jordan include food, essential oils, chemicals and medical and pharmaceutical products, while the European country’s imports from Jordan include textiles and medical and pharmaceutical products.

To boost trade exchange and explore business and investment opportunities, several business meetings will be held during the upcoming period between Jordanian and Irish businesspeople.

According to a statement by the embassy, Ireland has provided more than 118 million euros in assistance since the beginning of the Syrian crisis. In 2018, more than 3 million euros was specifically allotted to support Syrian refugees in Jordan. 

Ireland has also increased its contributions to UNRWA, a significant volume of which is directed at supporting Palestinian refugees in Jordan.

Ireland was also the 5th largest donor to the World Food Programme in Jordan in 2019 with contributions of more than 4 million euros, according to the embassy’s statement.