A West Germany economic delegation began a 10 day series of talks with Jordanian officials on Monday (16 August). The German delegation is led by Mr. George Harmsen, a director of the German Development Bank. The meetings will centre on financing a 15 million dinar (17.5 million sterling) railway line to carry Jordanian Phosphates from mining areas to the Red Sea port of Aqaba. The German delegation discussed the planned 70 mile (116km) line with representatives of the Jordanian Transport Ministry led by Mr. Anis Muasher, General Director of the Phosphate Company, Mr. El-Majali, Secretary of the Development Board, Dr. Hanna Odeh and other officials. The West German delegation will visit the Phosphate mines and the site of the proposed line during their stay.

The talks are a result of a visit to West Germany earlier this year by Jordanian Crowd Princes Hassan, who discussed the financing of the development projects with German officials.