USAID has recently launched the Regional Business Initiative, a one-year program consisting of a series of events held through September 2011 that will gather businesses and government officials from Jordan, Iraq and the West Bank to discuss potential exchanges, and to help solve main obstacles to trade and joint business activities.  The program is funded by USAID’s Office of Middle East Programs and implemented by SEGURA Consulting LLC, in cooperation with the American Chamber of Commerce of Jordan (AMCHAM/Jordan), USAID Missions in Iraq, West Bank/Gaza and Jordan, and the Missions’ respective Economic Growth programs and implementing partners.


Two types of methodologies will be followed over the life of the program:


  1. •B2B Meetings

  2. These are two-to-three day events where businesses in all three regions will be invited to submit an application together with detailed information that will allow targeted matchmaking between businesses.  Companies interested in meeting with their potential counterparts will pay a participation fee that will give them access to the events including participation in all plenary sessions, business to business meetings, social gatherings and access to relevant information of all companies attending the event. Participants will also have discounted rates for hotels, airfare, and other services. All participant companies will be included in the network of activities to be carried out during the year.


  1. •Task Force Meetings

  2. As a second component of the program, government officials at key decision-making levels will participate in meetings to review obstacles to regional trade identified in the B2B meetings. The meetings will follow methodologies of problem resolution, where parties will discuss alternative solutions and proceed to advance key decisions to be taken in a defined timeline.


Additional information will be posted on the Program website at www.rbiproject.com

Regional Business Initiative

Expanding Trade and Economic Cooperation among Jordan, Iraq and the West Bank

Jose A. Valdez

SEGURA/IP3

Tel. +3014694724

jvaldez@segura-co.net

Contact Information:

Michael Reilly

Program Officer

USAID/Office of Middle East Programs (OMEP)

Cairo, Egypt

Email: mreilly@usaid.gov

Tel. +(20) 2-2522-6849

From U.S.: 202-216-6219 ext. 6848

OMEP Website: www.usaid.gov/omep

Mustafa Mustafa

AMCHAM/Jordan

Tel. +9626 565 1860 Mustafa.mustafa@amcham.jo