This is one of the number of possible projects in the interests of both countries, which would promote and improve their economic cooperation, and it will receive full support and encouragement from the Croatian government, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said.
Speaking of their political relations, Sanader said that the Republic of Croatia and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan had no outstanding issues and that conditions existed for the promotion of overall bilateral relations.
"We can say that economic cooperation between Croatia and Jordan is going well, but it can be much better," Sanader said, adding that the trade between the two countries reached about US$1.2 billion last year.
Sanader said that Croatia would soon appoint members of a joint commission for economic cooperation, which might meet before October, ie. before his return visit to Jordan.
Croatia and Jordan agreed that their companies might initiate joint ventures in third markets and that they might participate in the postwar reconstruction of Iraq.
Croatia could use Jordan as a point of entry to that part of the world and Jordan could use Croatia as a point of entry to Central European markets, Sanader said.
According to Sanader, Jordan proposed signing memorandums of understanding in agriculture and tourism, and that the Croatian oil company INA steps up exploration of oilfields in Jordan. Jordan is also interested in importing water, which would then be sold on both Jordanian and regional markets.
Representatives of the Croatian and Jordanian national air carriers will meet to discuss the possibility of introducing flights between Zagreb and Amman in order to further promote relations between the two countries. In this context, Croatia will consider facilitating visa procedures for Jordanians, primarily for Jordanian business people, and allow Jordanian citizens holding a Schenghen visa to enter Croatia.
Jordanian Prime Minister Faisal al-Fayez said that King Abdullah II was very interested in strengthening economic relations with Croatia.
"Croatia and Jordan are two small countries. Our richness is our people," al-Fayez said, adding that his country is seen as a gateway to Iraq and that this could be of benefit to Croatian business people.
After the meeting between the two prime ministers on Thursday, the Croatian and Jordanian governments signed an agreement on cooperation in science and technology. The agreement was signed by Croatian Minister of Science, Education and Sport Dragan Primorac and Jordanian Minister of Water Management, Irrigation and Agriculture Hazem al-Naser.