His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday told Canadian businesspeople that Jordan is keen to sign a free trade agreement with Canada to enhance bilateral trade exchange and investments.

King Abdullah was speaking at a meeting in Ottawa with representatives of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, who said the agreement would benefit both countries.

The King, who arrived Thursday in Canada for talks on Middle East issues and bilateral relations, has agreed with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to begin talks next year on a possible free trade agreement.

King Abdullah urged Jordanian and Canadian businesspeople to set up joint ventures and boost bilateral trade exchange. He also spoke about Jordan's investment-friendly climate and elaborated on national development projects such as the Mafraq and Irbid special economic zones, designed to boost development in areas outside Amman by attracting foreign investments.

King Abdullah also reviewed the country's economic achievements over the past years, including the signing of key agreements with the US, the EU and Arab countries, in addition to Jordan's accession to the World Trade Organization in 2000.

“All of this ensured Jordanian exports entry into major world markets with around one billion customers,” the King said.

Renewing commitment to economic reform policies, the King said Jordan seeks to benefit from Canadian expertise in the field of nuclear energy.

King Abdullah, meanwhile, met with William J. Doyle, CEO and president of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc., which owns a 28 percent stake in the Arab Potash Company.