According to Jordanian business representatives, the reopening of border crossings with Syria will boost economic growth and revive their businesses. Last week's reopening of the Jaber border crossing with Syria is certainly expected to lead to an increase in trade exchange between Jordan and Syria.
Before the outbreak of the unrest in Syria in 2011, trade between Jordan and Syria exceeded US$ 900 million and more than 5,000 Jordanian trucks carried products to Syria and drove through Syria to reach markets like Lebanon, Turkey and East European countries.
The closure of the border crossing due to security conditions in 2005 resulted in a complete halt and serious economic losses. However, the reopening of the border crossing last week is reviving hope among traders of better cooperation and improvement in business ties.
Xinhuanet.com quoted Wajdi Makhamreh, an economist specialized in Middle East investments, as saying: "The reopening of the borders is good news. It will take some time before we actually see resumption in trade exchange.”
Jordan's fruits and vegetables exports exceeded 200,000 tonnes per year before 2011. Jordan also used to export more than 60,000 metric tonnes of fruits and vegetables to Russia, east European countries and Turkey via Syria before 2011, said Zuhair Jweihan, vice president of the Jordan Exporters and Producers Society for Fruits and Vegetables.