His Majesty King Abdullah has said economic and legislative reforms implemented by Jordan over the past few years has started to yield their fruit as Jordan has achieved a 7.2% economic growth rate for the first time since many years.



Speaking during a panel discussion held by Jordanian officials and Polish businessmen who listened to Jordan's economic achievements, King Abdullah said "Jordan has created an inviting climate for investment through identifying priorities." The Kingdom has largely depended on relation with the private sector and liberating national economy rendering it to an open market economy, the King added noting the investment in education and training which has cost Jordan over half a billion US dollar which is very high for a small country like Jordan with no more five million people.



The software, developed by Jordanian firms to achieve e-learning has been sold to U.S. State of New Jersey, the King said. Jordan, he added is committed to remain a strong trade partner to Iraq where investment in Aqaba port is very high and serves as a main port for Iraq imports along with a highway road between the two countries and there is a free trade zone between in border areas.



Besides, an office has been established at the Foreign Ministry to assist the Iraqi private sector to rebuild their country, the King said expressing his belief in the Iraqi interim government led by Iyad Allawi, which have designed an agenda of priorities for its work.



Situation in the region may improve or worsen depending on our efforts as an international community to achieve peace in the Middle East, the King said. The key issue the should be solved is the Palestinian Israeli conflict, he affirmed.



Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Basem Awadallah, who co-chaired the meeting with Chairman of the Polish Chamber of Commerce said the World Bank has set up its temporary office in Amman to run foreign aid to Iraq and this signifies the importance of Jordan as a main gateway to Iraq.



Iraq has been the first trade partner to Jordan since 1991,Awadallah said, who also outlined Jordanian firms' contracts reached with the U.S. firm for the reconstruction process of Iraq.



In presence of His Majesty King Abdullah II and Polish President, the Jordanian and Polish government signed the executive program for joint cooperation in the fields of science, education, and culture covering the years 2004-2006. The program, which comes in the frame of the cultural and scientific cooperation agreement reached in 1977, also covers cooperation in youth and sports areas.



The two sides also signed an agreement on tourist cooperation that provides the legal frame under which the two countries can further develop tourist cooperation.