Preparatory ministerial meetings began at the headquarters of the Ministry of International Cooperation on February 18 to prepare for the 29th Joint Egyptian-Jordanian Higher Committee, where Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, met Eng. Maha Ali, Jordan’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply; Hala Zawati, Jordan’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources; and Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Amjad Al-Adaileh.

They were accompanied by the Jordanian technical delegation and 9 representatives from Egypt’s ministries: Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Industry, Trade and Small Industries; Ministry of Civil Aviation; Ministry of Transportation; Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources; Ministry of Health and Population; Ministry of Supply & Internal Trading; and Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation; along with the Financial Regulatory Authority. These preparatory meetings come in light of recent talks held between Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly and Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Al Khasawneh where they agreed that the joint Egyptian-Jordanian Higher Committee meetings would be held in the first half of the coming month, March. This comes in line with the framework for strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries, and trilateral cooperation between Egypt, Jordan and Iraq. At the beginning of the meeting, Al-Mashat welcomed the Jordanian side and the accompanying delegation to Egypt, stressing the importance of the coordinated ministerial and expert meetings in preparing and arranging the joint Egyptian-Jordanian Higher Committee. Both sides agreed on the details and technical features of the documents proposed to be signed in various fields. The cooperation between Egypt and Jordan began in the 1980s and ever since, 28 sessions of the Joint Higher Committee were held. The most recent meeting was held in Cairo in July, 2019 and it concluded with strengthened economic cooperation relations across various fields. Al-Mashat stressed the importance of activating the mechanism of bilateral technical committees that are held periodically between representatives of all parties. These committees have had a great impact in solving problems that arise during the course of joint cooperation, and they help in proposing new mechanisms to further develop collaborative efforts. The Minister added the importance of setting dates to convene all bilateral committees, in order to develop clear proposals to activate the trilateral cooperation projects that were agreed upon in previous meetings between Egypt, Jordan and Iraq. Eng. Maha Ali, Jordan’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply expressed that the Joint Egyptian-Jordanian Higher Committee will enhance bilateral cooperation, as well as discussing the trilateral cooperation files between Jordan, Egypt and Iraq. On the ministerial level, the three countries are looking forward to the Higher Committee meeting in March to set a clear vision regarding the joint cooperation plan that will strengthen the collaborative bond. The Egyptian and Jordanian sides discussed the documents and proposed areas of cooperation in several sectors, including irrigation, housing, customs, international cooperation, aviation and immigration. The discussions also shed light on projects for the trilateral cooperation between Egypt, Jordan and Iraq in the fields of, but not limited to, electrical interconnection, oil and gas, health, food security, logistical areas, and industrial integration. During the meeting, representatives from different ministries from the Egyptian side and their counterparts from the Jordanian side exchanged discussions, opinions and observations on the outstanding issues and the technical aspects that must be completed in order to finalize the details of the documents that will be signed at the Higher Committee meeting. The Jordanian delegation is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with their counterparts in the Egyptian government to agree on the mechanisms of joint cooperation and the topics proposed during the work of the Higher Committee. The Joint Higher Committees is considered one of the most important tools for economic diplomacy at the Ministry of International Cooperation. It is also the most effective one for establishing new bilateral cooperation between the Arab Republic of Egypt and neighboring Arab countries. The Ministry of International Cooperation supervises the preparation and organization of these committees at the ministerial and expert level. Al-Mashat had previously met with the Jordanian Minister of Industry and the Ambassador of Jordan to Cairo during February 2020, in the framework of preparing for the meetings of the Joint Egyptian-Jordanian Higher Committee. The Egyptian-Jordanian Committee is the first joint Arab committee, as it began in the mid-1980s. It is also considered one of the committees that is regular in its meetings; whether held in Cairo or Amman, Jordan’s capital, and has several notable achievements across these 30 years. The first Egyptian-Iraqi Joint High Committee held in nearly 30 years took place last October, headed by the Prime Ministers of both countries; where 15 documents were signed in various fields to enhance mutual cooperation between the two sides. More bilateral meetings continue between officials to implement the agreed upon plans.