With its already $50 million investments in Jordan, Taiwan strives for strong bilateral economic relations on different fields. These investments are signified through seven factories, with the eighth factory is underway with some $20 million in assets.

The exhibition at the Grand Hyatt Amman Hotel was organized by the Commercial Bureau of the Republic of China-Taiwan in Amman in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taiwan.

The two-day exhibition was inaugurated by General Secretary of Trade and Industry Ministry Samer Al Tawil on 5 May. The Honorable Deputy Mission Leader James Chen pointed out the purpose of this mission is to look for commercial partners and new investments in the Middle East. "We started in Jordan since it's politically stable and we consider it a vital passageway to other Arab markets and Israel," Chen, Senior Specialist in China External Trade Development Council told The Star. The exhibition seeks to find new investments in the Middle East from 3-17 May beginning in Jordan then to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and finally to Iran.

One of the participating companies is the Bettyjou Industrial Company which produces health bathing products and health foods. One of the displayed products is so-called ABM (Agricus Blazemi Morill).

"This is natural food in the form of capsules that enhance the immune system of the human body," Tony Chang, general manager of the company told The Star.

The need for this kind of product derives from the fact more people aren't cooking at home, depending mainly on fast food, so they don't provide their body systems with the basic nutritional elements.

"The ABM is made of a natural substance called funky which is one kind of bio-blazemi," Chang pointed out.

This natural food is considered an additional requirement beside the basic daily meals.

"In the Middle East, people consume large quantities of meat and fish and forget to eat fruit and vegetables," Chang believes that his ABM could be a precautionary measure to prevent the possibility of diseases.

Another product which was displayed at the venue was imitation jewelry made by the Akzent Company. "We brought these industries to show our designs and style but we make gold and silver products as well," Akzent's Manager Leo Chen told The Star.

He noted his industry, which started 30 years ago, needs to be promoted and expanded to other countries and is now looking for new clients. One of the well-noticed products made by Akzent's company is the colored rosaries which are much used by Muslims. "This product is mainly exported to our clients in Saudi Arabia," Chen explained.

Meanwhile, there was much interest among Jordanian businessmen in Taiwanese textile industries. Some of the fabrics which appeared in the exhibition are made of nylon, polyester, denim and knitting fabrics.

"The textile products are the second contributor in the Taiwanese economy after the electronic products," said Everest Yeh, the general director of the Everest Lotus Trading Company.