Sri Lanka looks to boost economic ties with Jordan

AMMAN — Sri Lankan Ambassador to Jordan Abdul Latif M. Lafeer on Monday said he will seek closer ties with Jordan in various fields.

The ambassador, who started his mission last month, added that he will focus on boosting relations in economic fields. 

Sri Lanka's exports to Jordan totalled $49 million last year, mainly agricultural produce, garments, spare parts and jewellery.

Lafeer said around 40,000 Sri Lankans are working in Jordan, mainly in garment factories or as domestic helpers, “contributing tremendously to the Jordanian economy”.

During a visit to The Jordan Times, the envoy noted that his country offers trained manpower and has been focusing on education, raising literacy rates to 94 per cent over the past years.

Lafeer said he will work to boost relations with Jordan in various fields and will be seeking new areas of cooperation during his service in the Kingdom.

One of these areas, he added, will be closer cooperation in defence and security fields, highlighting Sri Lanka’s “success in annihilating terrorism”.