Pakistan and Jordan on Tuesday signed two agreements to expand bilateral trade in textile, pharmaceutical, hi-tech industries and in agriculture and livestock sectors.

The agreements were signed by Pakistani Minister of Commerce Hamayun Akhtar Khan and Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Suhair Al-Ali at the end of two-day talks of the Pakistan-Jordan Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Islamabad.

When briefing the newsmen later, Hamayun Akhtar Khan said that both countries agreed to start negotiations for signing of Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

"Both sides also agreed to encourage the private sectors to initiate joint venture in different sectors including pharmaceutical, mineral, textile, particularly ready made garments, " he said.

The two sides expressed their deep satisfaction on protocol for cooperation in the field of agriculture and livestock.

Pakistan and Jordan also discussed in detail the existing level of cooperation in the field of higher education and vocational training and agreed to evolve a mechanism to interlink the universities of the two countries.

Both sides agreed to exchange services and expertise in designing roads, bridges, buildings and low income housing, exchange of expertise in the areas of petroleum, railways and social development.

Pakistan also offered assistance to Jordan for preparation of computerized identity cards, multi-biometric passport, vehicle registration and tracking system.

Both countries also agreed to enhance the existing cooperation in the field of culture and media through exchange of culture troupe.

Suhair Al-Ali said that Pakistan investment in Jordan has touched to 50 million U.S. dollars and her country wants more investment by the Pakistani businessmen.

She said that Jordan is ready to provide market access to Pakistan as it does with European Union, the United States and the Arab World.

Source: Xinhua