US deputy assistant secretary of commerce connects with Jordanian start-ups 

AMMAN — US Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) of Commerce for Middle East and Africa, Global Markets  Camille Richardson  delivered introductory remarks at InvesTech 2021 on March 22. 

The three-day virtual event, from March 22 to March 24 was organised by the US Commercial Service at the US Embassy in Amman in partnership with SelectUSA, the Commerce Department’s programme to promote foreign direct investment into the United States. 

The programme targets tech and start-up companies looking to establish an office in the United States through a series of workshops and a “pitchfest”, in which selected companies have the opportunity to pitch their service or product to a panel of experts, according to a statement made available to The Jordan Times.

Richardson addressed more than 80 CEOs, founders, and executives representing high-growth start-ups from Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco and Iraq. 

InvesTech 2021 reflects the high priority the US Department of Commerce places on its commercial relationship with Jordan and the wider Middle East, the statement said.

Richardson’s remarks came as the United States and Jordan celebrate the 20th anniversary of their Free Trade Agreement - the first US FTA with an Arab country. 

The FTA has helped diversify Jordan’s economy while growing bilateral trade between Jordan and the United States by over 800 per cent since 2000, according to the statement. 

The agreement has expanded the trade relationship by reducing barriers for trade in goods and services, providing cutting-edge protection for intellectual property, ensuring regulatory transparency, and requiring effective implementation and enforcement of international standards regarding labour rights and protection of the environment, read the statement. 

Richardson reinforced the shared commitment to increasing bilateral trade and investment, as well as interest in attracting international investors, saying, “the US market thrives on diversity… It brings me great pleasure to see such a driven group of entrepreneurs, founders, CEOs and business development executives representing a wide range of products, services, and technologies — all seeking to achieve business success in the United States”.

Richardson plans to make a virtual visit to Jordan in the coming months, as one of many virtual engagements by senior commerce officials planned for the near future aimed at strengthening bilateral relationships despite travel slowdowns, according to the statement.