AmCham MENA Council

About the Conference

Conference Program

Registration

Accommodation

Sponsorship

Biographies

About the Conference:

AmCham-Jordan President of the AmCham MENA Regional Council is happy to host the 10th AmCham MENA Regional Council Conference, supported by the USAID MEG project.

The interactive hybrid event titled “Building for the Future: Realizing Economic Transformation Beyond COVID-19” will be held over 2 days, in Amman at the St. Regis Amman Hotel on 14th and 15th of March 2022.

The Conference that comes almost two years after the outbreak of COVID-19 will focus on how businesses from the Middle East, North Africa, Arab Gulf regions and from the United States of America can engage together to speed up economic recovery and support national reforms towards inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

While the pandemic has resulted in unparalleled socio-economic challenges and exposed deep structural weaknesses, it has further maximised the role of the private sector as the principal driver for economic growth, innovation and job creation. Adding pressure on governments and other socio-economic actors to maintain enabling policies and programs that support comprehensive development, centred on meeting the interests of people and the environment.

The pandemic which continues to test the resilience of the MENA economies, has shown that international trade and investment are indispensable to economic recovery and there is a need to reenforce and expand existing cooperation frameworks among the MENA countries and with the U.S., the worlds largest economy and the global leader in technology and innovation.

The Conference will gather representatives from the leadership of Regional AmChams and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, private sector figures, government officials, U.S. administration officials from the Commerce and State Departments, development partners, international financial institutions, civil society, and the media attended in person and virtually. To consider questions on how business can build on regional trade ties and identify new investment opportunities, looking at critical sectors that have been repositioned and enforced as a result of the pandemic, as well as highlighting the important issues of economic diversity and sustainable development.

Topics covered include advancements in health services, pharmaceutical industry, digitalization, tech sector, innovation, the need to enforce transportation service and logistics, workplace developments and means to increase female economic participation, as well as financing business ventures, to be discussed through the U.S.-MENA economic collaboration lens.

Additionally, on the side-lines of the Conference the AmCham-MENA Council meeting will be held, bringing together 10 country AmCham organizations, to elect the next Presidency of the AmCham-MENA Council that is expected to pass to AmCham-Egypt thereby concluding the 2018- 2021 AmCham-Jordan term.

Conference Agenda:

Day 1	Monday 14th March 2022
1:00-2:00 PM	Registration & Lunch
2:00-3:30 PM	OPENING SESSION
	Welcoming Remarks
	Eng. Mohammed S. Bataineh, Chairman, AmCham Jordan; and Chairman, AmCham MENA Regional Council Mr. Khush Choksy,Senior Vice President of International Development and Senior Vice President of Middle East and Turkey, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Tarek Tawfik, President, AmCham Egypt; The AmCham MENA Council Regional Secretariat
	Opening Statements:
	The Honorable Henry Wooster, U.S. Ambassador to Jordan Jordan Government Senior Representation
	Key Note Addresses:
	The Honorable Diane Farrell, Deputy Undersecretary for International Trade H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director for Arab States, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
3:30-4:30 PM	Session I: Leveraging MENA-U.S. Trade Relations to Bolster Economic Growth How has the U.S. preferential arrangements and Free Trade Agreements with MENA Countries impacted economic growth? How can existing trading frameworks be expanded, and within what promising sectors to diversify goods trade and expand services trade? What are the next steps for strengthening MENA-U.S. partnerships? Does the MENA region have the potential to be the new sourcing hub for the U.S., and what must be done to capture such opportunities? Speakers: Dr. Abdel Hamid Mamdouh, King and Splading Senior Counsellor, and WTO Former Director of the Trade in Services and Investment Division. Mr. Ali Moosa, Vice President, AmCham Bahrain; and Vice Chairman, CEEMEA J.P. Morgan Chase Bank (Bahrain) Ms. Mirette Mabrouk, Senior Fellow and Founding Director of the Egypt Program, The Middle East Institute (Washington DC) Ms. Rym Bedoui Ayari, Vice President, AmCham Tunis; and Founder BCo Consulting (Tunis) Chair: H.E. Dr. Mohammad Halaiqa, Former Deputy Minister, Former Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply (Jordan)
4:30-5:00 PM	Break
5:00-6:00 PM	Session II: Investing in Healthcare for the Future What has the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted about the healthcare sector’s strength and its ability to adapt and innovate? What were the responses of the MENA’s pharmaceutical sector companies and how can we further bolster investment and scientific advancements? What are the existing regional and international collaborations in healthcare? What are the opportunities for knowledge and technology transfer from the U.S. and how can we advance partnerships with International Healthcare providers? What are the lessons learned about the insurance sectors responses and how can the social support networks be strengthened through business solutions? Speakers: Dr. Riad Armanious, AmCham Egypt Member of the Board; and Chief Executive Officer, EVA Pharma (Egypt) Ms. Carole Hassoun, General Manager -Levant-Roche (Lebanon) Mr. Salah Mawajdeh, Vice President of Regulatory and Medical Affairs, Hikma Pharmaceuticals (Jordan) Mazen LAWG Chair: Ms. Rasha Shammout, Manager, Pfizer (Jordan) (Confirmed)
6:00-7:00 PM	Session III: Accelerating Economic Growth through Digitalization & Innovation How has the changing digital landscape and transformation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic affected the economic prospects for MENA region? What are the potentials for increasing export-oriented IT services? What is the MENA Region’s ability to attract FDI in the Digital Economy and create the right business partnership with the U.S.? What should be the role of the private sector and other actors in promoting innovations and technology advancements? Speakers: Mr. Khaled Abdel Kader, Co-Chair AmCham Digital Transformation Committee, and CEO, Klayytech (Egypt) Ms. Hala Siraj, Managing Director, TALABAT (Jordan) Mr. Hani Raad, Managing Director - Middle East & Africa Small Medium Enterprises and Emerging Africa, Cisco (Lebanon) Mr. Aiman Mazahreh, Co-Founder, CEO, Specialized Technical Services (STS) (Jordan) Chair: H.E. Mothanna Gharaibeh, CEO of Fifth Advisory Service, Former Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (Jordan)
Day 2	Tuesday 15th March 2022
1:00-2:00 PM	Registration & Lunch
2:00-3:00 PM	Session IV: Towards an Interconnected Region: Transportation and Logistics Solutions What was the effect of the pandemic on global value chains and logistics disruption? How can transportation be enhanced as the lifeline of Regional Economic Growth through stronger networks to support export led-growth and job creation? What are the opportunities for increasing the role of the regional private sector in transport infrastructure and in better logistical services? Speakers: Ms. Abir Leheta, Co-Chair, AmCham Transport and Logistics Committee; and Chairman and CEO, Egyptian Transport & Commercial Services Co., SAE (Egytrans) (Egypt) Mr. Mohsen Ahmed, CEO, Logistics District at Dubai South (Dubai) Mr. Mamoun Toukan, Co-Founder, Arqflow, Inc (Jordan) Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) (Invited) Chair: Ms. Nourah Mehyar, Nafith Logistics (Jordan)
3:00-4:00 PM	Session V: Preserving the Environment: Climate Change, Water Management and Clean Energy Solutions How is climate change effecting the regions development? What type of public-private partnerships can be deployed to adapt and mitigate climate change? A look at regional success stories. What types of programs should be put in place to ensure knowledge sharing and technology transfer from the U.S.? How can the private sector reduce emissions and increase green investments? Speakers: Ms. Sarah El Battouty, AmCham Egypt Member of the Board; and Chairman and Principal Architect, ECOnsult (Egypt) Dr. Maher Matalka, Board Member, EDAMA (Jordan) (Invited) Ms. Rina Latash, Marketing & Project Lead, Admiral Energy MEA DMCC (Dubai) Chair: Mr. Samer Judeh, Chairman, Jordan Wind Project Company (JWPC) (Jordan)
4:00-4:30 PM	Coffee Break
4:30-5:30 PM	Session VI: The New Workplace and Closing the Gender Gap What are the new workplace realities post COVID-19 and how have digital platforms revolutionized working conditions? How can businesses reflect these new realities in its day-to-day work to reduce costs and increase productivity and employment? How are governments introducing policies that reduce the gender gap and promote youth employment? Speakers: Ms. Kholoud Saqqaf, Chief Executive Officer, Social Security Investment Fund (SSIF) (Jordan) Mr. Rasem Kamal, Managing Partner, Kamal & Associates, Attorneys and Counselors at Law (Palestine) Dr. Eymen Errais, AmCham Tunis Member of the Board; and CEO and Co- founder of Mena Capital Partners (MCP) (Tunis) Ms. Jenny Atout Ahlzen, Managing Partner, Aman Ventures (Jordan) Chair: Ms. Ghadeer Khuffash, CEO, Education For Employment -Jordan (EFE-Jordan)
5:30-6:30 PM	Session VII: Financing Regional Growth How can U.S., international and local financing institution better enable private investments to help MENA accelerate sustainable development? What are the available financing programs to support the economic and social transformation of the MENA region, and what are the existing gaps? How can Sovereign Wealth Funds contribute to financing sustainable Development? Speakers: Mr. Andy Abell, Regional Lead for the Middle East and North Africa; and Manager, Joint Investment for Peace Initiative, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) (Invited) Dr. Heike Harmgart, Managing Director for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED), EBRD Mr. Rafik Mzah, AmCham Tunis Member of the Board; and Chief Legal Officer, AfricInvest (Tunis) Mr. Khalid Kabeer, CEO, Vitas Group (Jordan) Chair: Mr. Tarek Tawfik, President, AmCham Egypt, and Chairman, Cairo Poultry Group (Egypt)
6:30-7:00 PM	Closing Remarks