Cairo: Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC) and the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC) signed an agreement in Cairo on Monday to set up a joint Jordanian-Egyptian economic chamber. The agreement, inked by JCC President Khalil Al-Haj Tawfiq and FEDCOC Chairman Ahmed Al-Wakil, aims to develop and bolster economic, trade, and investment relations and revitalize cooperation between the business communities of the two countries.
According to Jordan News Agency, the agreement also aims to create an institutional framework to enhance trade promotion, increase business volume, and encourage the establishment of commercial and investment partnerships between the private sectors of both countries. The signing ceremony was attended by Egypt's Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Hussein Issa, Egyptian Minister of Transport Kamel Al-Wazir, President of the Union of Arab Chambers Samir Majoul, Secretary-General of the Union Khaled Hanafi, and heads and members of the Arab Chambers Federations.
The agreement aims to ensure enhanced coordination and cooperation between the business communities of Jordan and Egypt, in addition to holding periodic meetings, alternating between the two countries, to follow up on economic, trade, and investment issues of mutual interest. The agreement stipulates that the Joint Economic Chamber will operate as a unified organizational unit within the framework of the laws and regulations in force in Jordan and Egypt, with the possibility of forming specialized committees and working groups to facilitate operations and follow up on the implementation of decisions and recommendations.
It also calls for joint coordination between the two sides to ensure the continuity of institutional work and the achievement of the Chamber's objectives in supporting economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two brotherly countries. Hajj Tawfiq said the establishment of the new chamber is a key step towards building more effective and sustainable economic partnerships, contributing to increasing the volume of trade and joint investments and capitalizing on available opportunities in Arab and regional markets.
He pointed out that Jordan and Egypt have vast opportunities for cooperation in the trade, services, industry, transport, and logistics sectors, stressing enhanced direct communication between businesspeople and companies and developing joint work mechanisms that keep pace with regional and international economic changes. For his part, Al-Wakil said the FEDCOC is keen on enhancing cooperation with the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, noting the historical relations between the two countries, and stressing the private sector's support of economic development and Arab integration.
The new chamber, he said, will offer a permanent institutional platform for dialogue and coordination between the Jordanian and Egyptian business communities, facilitate communication between companies and investors and open new scopes for trade and investment cooperation.