Anani briefs ministries, private sector on Cairo meetings

AMMAN — Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Jawad Anani on Tuesday headed a meeting to follow up on the Joint Jordanian-Egyptian Higher Committee’s recent meetings in Cairo, the ministry said. 

Secretaries general of concerned ministries, heads of government institutions and representatives of the private sector discussed a programme to follow up on the outcomes of the Cairo meetings, which took place last week between the two sides, co-chaired by Prime Minister Hani Mulki and his Egyptian counterpart Sherif Ismail, according to a ministry statement. 

In Cairo, agreements were reached in several areas to boost economic cooperation, including facilitating and accelerating the procedures to register Jordanian companies wishing to export to the Egyptian market, said Anani, who is also deputy prime minister for economic affairs.

A timeframe has been set and companies can submit requests through the ministry to follow up with the Egyptian side, he added. 

All 15 companies that requested to export to Egypt were registered, Anani said, adding that he would personally follow up on any delays that occur with other companies in the process of registration.   

An agreement was also reached to facilitate swift transit trade through Egypt, the minister said, noting that a deal was also agreed to register Jordanian medicine in Egypt, to help local pharmaceutical companies increase their exports.

Regarding transportation, the Egyptian side has started reducing the tariff on the passage of ships bound for Jordan, through the Suez Canal, according to Anani, who added that special arrangements were also made regarding flights between Aqaba and Cairo. 

Jordan and Egypt agreed that phosphate sectors would set a clear pricing mechanism to avoid losses to either side, Anani said, adding that a meeting is scheduled for September 21 to discuss the matter. 

The minister also said that the Egyptian side was briefed on measures the government took to halt the recruitment of guest workers in order to organise the Jordanian labour market. 

Anani and Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation Sahar Nasr are tasked with supervising the follow-up on the Cairo meeting and resolving any obstacles. 

He asked ministries, government departments and private sector commissions to circulate the results of the joint higher committee’s meetings to companies, exporters and other concerned parties.

The minister also highlighted the importance of holding sector-based sessions to discuss the 13 deals reached between Amman and Cairo.  

The attendees thanked the government for its efforts in Cairo to resolve longstanding problems, particularly concerning the export of medicine to Egypt.