By Laith al-Juneidi

AMMAN

Jordan and Qatar have agreed to discuss proposals for a direct maritime transport line between the two countries with a view to bolstering trade, according to Jordan’s Trade and Industry Ministry.

In a Wednesday statement, the ministry said the two sides had agreed to exchange technical teams to explore the proposal.

The agreement was struck at a meeting between Jordanian Industry Minister Tareq al-Hamouri and Qatari counterpart Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari on the sidelines of the 18th Doha Forum, which convened this week in the Qatari capital.

Commercial traffic between Jordan and Qatar has traditionally run through Saudi Arabia.

But the Salwa border crossing -- the only land crossing between Qatar and Saudi Arabia -- has been sealed since mid-2017, when a diplomatic crisis erupted between Doha and a Saudi-led bloc of Arab states.

Jordanian and Qatari officials hope the proposed new maritime route will bolster their commercial relations and encourage cooperation in other fields as well.