Damascus and Jordan Chambers of Commerce Meet to Advance Trade and Business Partnerships

Meeting Framework and Objectives

The head of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce, Essam Al-Ghreiwati, met with the head of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, Khalil Mohammad Al-Haj Tawfiq, on Sunday at the Chamber's headquarters in Damascus. The meeting aimed to explore ways to strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries and to review the latest developments in bilateral trade decisions, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

Discussions covered mechanisms for developing trade exchange and launching unimpeded cooperation after years of disruption, on the basis of reciprocity and in line with the requirements of Syria's rebuilding phase.

The Private Sector's Role in Shaping Policy

Al-Ghreiwati stressed the importance of involving chambers of commerce in drafting economic decisions prior to their issuance, in order to remove obstacles and provide practical solutions that support the smooth flow of commercial activity. He underlined that the private sector is an essential partner in identifying problems and proposing appropriate remedies.

The Syrian Vehicles Entry Restriction

Al-Ghreiwati raised the issue of the ban on Syrian vehicles entering Jordanian territory, emphasizing the need to resolve it given its direct impact on trade movement between the two countries and across the wider region. He described this matter as one of the most pressing practical challenges hindering the flow of goods across the border.

Forming a Business Council and Expanding Cooperation

For his part, Al-Haj Tawfiq highlighted the significance of the twinning agreement between the Damascus and Amman chambers, calling for the swift formation of a Syrian-Jordanian business council and the election of specialized committees to follow up on shared economic files, thereby enhancing investment and cooperation opportunities between the two sides.

Agreed Practical Steps

Both parties agreed on a set of measures to activate economic cooperation, including:

• Organizing reciprocal visits by business delegations from both countries.
• Activating partnerships between the Syrian and Jordanian private sectors.
• Electing specialized committees to monitor joint economic files.
• Working to eliminate obstacles related to transport movement and trade exchange.