Jordan Times
Friday, December 3, 2004
AJEX 2004 concludes, yields a
regional American Arab Chamber of Commerce
By Rami Abdelrahman
AMMAN — The American Jordanian Exhibition and Forum AJEX 2004, concluded on
Thursday yielding a regional American Arab Chamber of Commerce, linking all
member countries' joint commerce chambers with the US under one umbrella.
The American Chambers of Commerce of Jordan,
Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Morocco initialled the Formation Protocol of the Middle
East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Council, whose regional coordination
office will be based in Egypt.
Dubbed “AmChams MENA,” the council was formed in response to a Jordanian vision
for a vibrant US role that would promote regional cooperation and provide the
launching pad for collaboration initiatives with the aim on increasing US
investments and trade projects in the region.
AJEX 2004 allowed participants to discuss various issues such as investment
opportunities in Jordan and the region, Jordan-US trade with Iraq, trade
policies and regulatory framework to enhance interregional trade, imports and
exports through free trade agreements, and transportation and logistics,
especially in the Jordanian and Iraqi markets.
Held under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah, AJEX 2004, under the
theme of “Partnering for Success,” brought together experts and professionals
from various sectors to collaborate and share their expertise and insights in
the different means and opportunities available from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
signed with the US, and the establishment of Jordan as a key gateway to the
Iraqi reconstruction market.
Experts and participants from Jordan, US, Iraq, Europe, Africa, Asia and the
region, also had a chance to visit the AJEX 2004, running simultaneously
alongside the forum, to see several representative importers of US products, US
franchisees, producers and exporters of Jordanian products, companies operating
at QIZs, US technology companies, regional American chambers of commerce,
business associations and government organisations.
AmCham Jordan (JABA) first organised AJEX in 2001, shortly after the FTA was
signed to encourage and promote trade and investment between countries, creating
awareness and highlighting the vast range of opportunities resulting from the
trade agreement.
Founded in 1999 with only 28 members, AmCham Jordan (JABA), the American Chamber
of Commerce in Jordan has more than 380 members representing business leaders in
various sectors including services, industry, trade and investment, engineering
and construction, finance, agriculture, and academic.
JABA's membership is comprised of US investments in Jordan, US companies doing
business, Jordanian and regional representative of US companies, and
subsidiaries and affiliates of American companies in Jordan and the Middle East.