Amman: The Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) and the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI) have reached a preliminary agreement to form a joint business council. This initiative aims to establish a collaborative electronic economic platform, pursue a twinning agreement, and explore the launch of permanent commercial centers in both Amman and Erbil.
According to Jordan News Agency, the discussions were held during a meeting between the ACC Board of Directors and ECCI President Gailan Haji Saeed, along with an accompanying delegation. The meeting was also attended by Jordan's Consul General in Erbil, Ziad Batarseh. The proposed joint business council is intended to serve as an institutional economic platform to advance trade, investment, and private sector cooperation.
The council will involve businesspeople, economists, and representatives from various sectors on both sides. This collaboration aims to enhance direct communication between private sector institutions, support joint partnerships and investments, and follow up on initiatives and projects of mutual interest.
Additionally, the two chambers have agreed to form a twinning relationship through a memorandum of understanding. This pact is designed to boost the exchange of expertise, information, and services between Amman and Erbil. They also plan to create a joint electronic platform as an integrated economic information bank, covering goods, products, companies, trade and investment opportunities, incentives, legislation, regulations, and economic indicators.
The platform will encompass information on tourism destinations in Jordan and the Kurdistan Region, as well as investment opportunities in tourism, medical tourism, and educational tourism. This will support the mutual promotion of products, services, and economic opportunities.
Moreover, both sides have agreed to study the establishment of permanent commercial centers and exhibitions in Amman and Erbil. These centers aim to display and market goods, products, and services, promote investment opportunities, and increase trade exchange.
Khalil Haj Tawfiq, Chairman of the ACC, noted that the growing official-level understanding between the two sides has fostered a positive environment for stronger economic and investment cooperation. He emphasized that the private sector could play a larger role in building partnerships as a result of these agreements.
Haji Saeed highlighted Jordan's role as an important economic partner and a gateway to several regional markets. He stressed the Kurdistan Region's eagerness to expand cooperation with Jordanian chambers of commerce and strengthen private sector partnerships. He also pointed out the importance of exchanging delegations and expertise and organizing joint exhibitions and economic forums to promote mutual investments.
Consul General Batarseh expressed the consulate's readiness to support communication between private sector institutions and businesspeople. He encouraged joint economic and investment initiatives that strengthen trade relations and build sustainable partnerships.
ACC board members have identified information and communications technology as one of the most promising areas for cooperation, along with logistics, consulting, tourism, medical tourism, and educational tourism. They called for specialized bilateral business meetings between Jordanian companies and their counterparts, as well as regular meetings involving travel and tourism agencies and representatives of various economic sectors to present available opportunities and develop joint programs.