Irbid: President of the Irbid Chamber of Commerce, Mohammad Al-Shouha, engaged in discussions with Ian Montfort, the Regional Market Systems Development Advisor at Mercy Corps, on Tuesday. The talks focused on strategies to support investments targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in trade with Syria and addressed the main challenges impacting this sector.
According to Jordan News Agency, Al-Shouha highlighted the enduring economic and investment connections between Jordan and Syria, underscoring the long-standing commercial ties that have linked the two nations for decades. He pointed out that Jordan has welcomed numerous Syrian entrepreneurs since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, who have taken advantage of government incentives and a stable investment environment to maintain and grow their business ventures.
Al-Shouha stressed the importance of revitalizing bilateral trade amid improving conditions, noting that Syria serves as a strategic transit route that greatly speeds up the movement of goods. He explained that while maritime shipping from Turkey takes around 21 days, overland transport via Syria can be completed in as little as four days, providing traders with a significant advantage.
Additionally, Al-Shouha mentioned that multiple meetings have been conducted with Syrian commercial partners to enhance cooperation and activate twinning agreements between the Jordan Chamber of Commerce and its Syrian counterparts. These initiatives aim to address obstacles faced by traders in both countries. He also referred to a recent meeting with customs clearance firms to pinpoint major bottlenecks and suggest viable solutions, recognizing their crucial role in facilitating trade under the chambers of commerce's guidance.
Montfort expressed Mercy Corps' interest in examining the technical and financial challenges faced by SMEs involved in cross-border trade with Syria. He stressed the need to identify growth opportunities for these businesses and affirmed the chamber's vital role in addressing traders' needs and minimizing barriers to business operations.
Mercy Corps is a prominent international non-profit organization working in over 40 countries, with a focus on economic development, livelihood support, and humanitarian response. The organization emphasizes empowering SMEs as a key driver of economic growth and job creation, especially in countries experiencing recovery and reconstruction.
This meeting is part of wider efforts to boost regional economic cooperation and create new opportunities for investors, contributing to economic stability and growth in the region.