Jordanian-Egyptian Joint Committee holds preparatory meetings ahead of 31st session

AMMAN — Members of the Jordanian-Egyptian Joint Higher Committee held a series of preparatory meetings on Sunday ahead of the committee’s 31st session. 

The official session will convene on Monday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh and his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly. 

Talks are expected to focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic matters, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Sunday’s preparatory meetings were led by Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, and Minister of Labour Yousef Al Shamali representing the Jordanian side, and Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al Mashat representing the Egyptian delegation.

Several agreements were reached during the virtual meetings. Primarily, the agreements are intended to improve cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the short-term, with the goal of maximising benefits in terms of trade, industry and investment, the exchange of expertise, private sector stimulation and integration in various fields.

The committee also discussed cooperation within the tripartite framework involving Jordan, Egypt and Iraq, and the quadrilateral partnership between the two countries along with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

During the preparatory meetings, the committee also activated a number of previously signed memoranda of understanding and agreements to strengthen bilateral relations. These include agreements on consumer protections, cooperation in the establishment and management of industrial zones, administrative and technical cooperation in free zones and development areas, and agreements on roads and bridges.

The committee emphasised the importance of exchanging expertise in the field of green hydrogen and benefiting from Egypt’s experience in this field, as well as enhancing cooperation in the gas industry.

Trade volume between Jordan and Egypt reached $1 billion last year, Shamali said. “However, we look forward to establishing comprehensive economic integration between our two countries,” the minister added.

In response, Mashat expressed her gratitude to the Jordanian government for facilitating the meetings preceding the ministerial committee’s session, highlighting the Egyptian leadership’s directive to continuously work towards expanding bilateral relations with Jordan.