Historic Egyptian-Jordanian Joint Committee meeting sparks new wave of collaborative agreements

CAIRO – 8 August 2023: The 31st session of the Egyptian-Jordanian Joint Higher Committee, presided over by Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, and Dr. Bisher Khasawneh, Prime Minister of Jordan, concluded yesterday, marking another milestone in the Arab Republic of Egypt's and Jordan's Hashemite Kingdom's evolving bilateral relations.

This confirms the two sister countries' long and historical ties.

The committee served as a pivotal platform for advancing the robust Egyptian-Jordanian partnership, resulting in the signing of multiple collaborative agreements spanning various developmental domains.

The 31st session of the Egyptian-Jordanian committee, one of the most consistently convened joint committees since its inception in 1985, took place at an exceptional juncture amid regional and global challenges.

This unique timing elevated its significance, enabling the exploration of new avenues for bilateral cooperation between the two brotherly nations.

It underscored the importance of unified Arab endeavors and regional partnerships in achieving sustainable and comprehensive development, as well as promoting trilateral cooperation among Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq.

Throughout the committee's proceedings, a total of 12 cooperation agreements were signed between the heads of the two governments.

These encompassed areas such as economic and developmental policy formulation, financial regulatory collaboration between the General Authority for Financial Regulation in Egypt and the Securities Commission in Jordan, an executive program for environmental protection collaboration for the years 2025/2023, and similar programs covering social affairs, culture, and technical training.

In addition to these agreements, the joint committee committed to activate several previously signed memoranda of understanding.

These included agreements related to free zones, development zones, roads, bridges, industrial zones, and more.

The committee also emphasized the importance of completing necessary steps to advance the electrical interconnection project between Egypt and Jordan, experience sharing in the field of green hydrogen, mutual participation in international exhibitions, encouraging business forums, and facilitating exchanges to explore investment opportunities in the private sectors of both countries.

Furthermore, the committee outlined plans for technical sub-committees and meetings in various domains including planning, consumer protection, pharmaceuticals, media, aviation, agriculture, land and sea transportation, as well as standards and measurements.

The economic relations between Egypt and Jordan have witnessed significant growth in recent years, with bilateral trade volume approaching one billion dollars by the end of 2022.

Private sectors in both countries have played a pivotal role in driving investments across diverse sectors, particularly in energy, real estate, financial services, information technology, and tourism.

Joint committees such as this stand as one of the mechanisms overseen by the Ministry of International Cooperation in Egypt.

These committees convene regularly to explore ways of enhancing bilateral relations across various fields, removing obstacles, and strengthening legal frameworks to promote economic, scientific, and technical collaboration.

The Ministry of International Cooperation supervises a total of 68 committees between the Arab Republic of Egypt and countries across different continents, including eight committees with Asian countries, 30 with European countries, 14 with Arab countries, and nine with African countries, in addition to seven committees with Latin American countries.

The longstanding diplomatic ties between Egypt and Jordan have been marked by a shared commitment to regional stability, economic growth, and cultural exchange.

Both nations have consistently sought to bolster their partnership through collaborative efforts that span trade, investment, energy, and various other sectors.

The Egyptian-Jordanian Joint Higher Committee serves as a crucial platform for nurturing these relations, promoting mutual understanding, and fostering a conducive environment for sustainable development.