Winter 2014

An Introduction to the MECC

MECC International Board of Advisors The Middle East Commercial Center (MECC) International Advisory Board provides external perspective, guidance, and

support to the Center and its work promoting greater intra-regional trade and investment in the Middle East. The Board is

composed of internationally renowned executives from global companies, former high-ranking government officials, and

other policy experts from around the world. The Board will oversee MECC’s policy formation and project development.

Omar A. Bahlaiwa (Saudi Arabia) – Secretary General,

Committee for International Trade of Saudi Arabia

Charlene Barshefsky (USA) – Former USTR and

Senior International Partner, WilmerHale

Alaa Batayneh (Jordan) - Founding Partner, Alarif

Consultancy

Myron Brilliant (USA) – Executive Vice President,

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Hasan Çakırmelikoğlu (Turkey) – Founder, Freşa Company

Mohamed El-Sewedy (Egypt) – Chairman, Federation

of Egyptian Industries

Yavuz Eroğlu (Turkey) – Chairman and General

Manager, SEM Plastics

Dan Gillerman (Israel) - Former Representative to the UN

and Senior Advisor, Blackstone Israel

Rıfat Hisarcıklıoğlu (Turkey) – President, Union of

Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Robert Hormats (USA) – Vice Chairman, Kissinger

Associates

Karim Kawar (Jordan) – Former Jordanian Ambassador to

the U.S. and President, Kawar Group

Samer Khoury (Palestine) – President, Consolidated

Contractors Company

Tom Nides (USA) – Vice Chair, Morgan Stanley

Bashar Masri (Palestine) – Chairman, Massar International

Amr Moussa (Egypt) – Former Secretary-General of the Arab

League and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs

Chemi Peres (Israel) – Chairman, Pitango Venture Capital

Wolfgang Pordzik (USA) – Executive Vice President, DHL

David Ross (USA) – Senior Vice President of Middle East

Operations, FedEx Express

A vision for a new framework in the region

The Middle East Commercial Center (MECC) is a newly established private

sector-led alliance of business leaders across the region that are working together

to promote greater intra-regional trade and investment and collectively address the

most critical economic challenges and opportunities of our day.

MECC’s Goals

1. Advancing projects and promoting public policies that contribute to greater regional economic integration.

2. Serving as a bridge for companies and associations across the region connect with one another.

3. Creating a platform to expand opportunity for foreign investment in the region.

A unique alliance

The MECC, in conjunction with the Chamber’s global network and affiliates,

convenes a wide range of participants:

National Chambers of Commerce

Industry Associations

Entrepreneurs Corporate Executives

American Chambers Abroad

Business and Trade Organizations

MECC Governments Multilateral Organizations

Private and public stakeholders in MECC

MECC’s network continues to grow; key stakeholders include:

80+ business and trade organizations, national chambers of commerce, and AmChams from 20 countries in the region, the United States, and Europe.

Major international companies, investors, and entrepreneurs.

Strong support from top-level U.S. Government, including Departments of State, Commerce, and Treasury, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Multi-lateral organizations including the World Bank, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Commitment to common principles and joint activity At MECC’s spring meeting in Jordan, over 350 people from 17 countries agreed to a significant joint statement of principles, committing to:

• Work together to promote regional economic growth and remove

existing barriers to commerce.

• Making a difference in the lives of the people in the Middle East

and to fostering stronger commercial ties between our economies.

• Creating “a coalition of action” to advance projects and promote

public policies that contribute to more regional economic

integration and greater opportunity for foreign investment in the

region.

• Informing and educating our respective governments in ways that

can contribute and support intra-regional trade and foster private

sector growth.

Participating organizations U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

(TOBB)

AmCham Jordan

U.S.-Egypt Business Council

Amman Chamber of Commerce

Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce

Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce

U.S.-Turkey Business Council

American Business Association - Eastern

Provinces / Saudi Arabia

American Business Council of Dubai & the Northern Emirates

Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

AmCham Egypt

AmCham Turkey / American Business

Forum in Turkey (ABFT)

Turkish American Business Association (TABA)

Amman Center for Peace and Development

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Nazareth

Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK)

AmCham Palestine

Jordan Exporters Association

Israel-America Chamber of Commerce

Egypt-U.S. Business Council

International Chamber of Commerce - Israel

International Chamber of Commerce - Palestine

International Federation of Freight

Forwarders Associations

Israel-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce

Manufacturers Association of Israel

Oasis500

AmCham Abu Dhabi

MENA Apps

Endeavor Global

Wamda

AmCham Bahrain

AmCham Lebanon

The Portland Trust

International Road Transport Union (IRU)

Palestine Trade Center (PALTRADE)

Palestinian Information Technology Association

of Companies (PITA)

Palestine International Business Forum

Ready Made Garments Export Council

Turkish Contractors Association

Economic Policy Research Foundation of

Turkey (TEPAV)

AmCham Qatar

Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)

The Peres Center for Peace

Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce

Young Entrepreneurs - Palestine

Binational Industrial Research and Development

Foundation (BIRD)

Syrian Business Forum

Jordan Hotel Association

Sadara Ventures

Turkish Textile Employers Association (TTEA)

AmCham in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce

International Council for Swedish Industry

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Business Council

American Business Group of Riyadh

Bethlehem Multidisciplinary Industrial Park

Palestinian Shippers Council

Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV)

AlBawader

The Arab Union of Land Transport

Economic Cooperation Foundation

The German Marshall Fund of the United States

GOSB Teknopark

Haama Group

Kawar Group

Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

MENA Rail

Müsiad

Palestine Investment Fund

Flat6 Labs

Sawari Ventures

212 Ltd.

Massar International

Information and Communications Technology

Association of Jordan

Qotuf Al Riyadah Co.

Silicon Badia

Cairo Angels

CyberPark Ankara

AmCham Oman

American Business Council – Kuwait

OurCrowd

Aqaba International Industrial Estate

Sena Group

MECC compels action on policy and projects

MECC convenes key

stakeholders to compel a

collaborative approach to policy

advocacy to remove barriers to

economic activity and project

development to advance

cooperation and integration

across a range of sectors.

Pillars of Growth

Movement of People

Movement of Goods and Services

Project Development

Policy Advocacy

MECC’s Structure

Architecture of the MECC

National Steering Committees

• Committees serve as each country’s board of directors and drive the MECC’s overall activities and sector-specific work

Sector-Specific Task Forces

• Cross-regional groups of participants that bring expertise to bear on specific sectors and commercial issues

International Advisory Board

• Luminaries from the political or business world who lend their names and support to the MECC

The MECC organizational structure

Middle East Commercial Center

Task Forces

Movement of Goods and Services

Movement of People

Pillars of Growth

National Steering Committees

Function

• Represent and lead country’s business community in MECC.

• Drive national and multinational agenda of the MECC.

• Shape task force agenda and participation.

Form

• A dozen leaders of business organizations/companies.

• Led by two co-chairs.

• Designated staff to coordinate day-to-day activities with MECC.

Sector-specific task forces

Function

• Drive ongoing multi-national collaboration around key sectors.

• Develop action plans, deliverables, and recommendations to bring to the MECC.

• Identify policy recommendations and project ideas.

Form

• Multi-lateral group of technical experts for sector-specific discussions.

• Regular consultations outside MECC meetings.

• Designated organizational staff to manage day-to-day activities.

Areas of focus: policies and projects

• Trade routes, access, and policy

• Intellectual property

• Data flows

Movement of Goods and Services

• Education

• Entrepreneurship

• Customs and visas

• Women in business

Movement of People

• Natural resource cooperation

• Special economic zones

• Infrastructure

• Project finance

• Health care

• Tourism

Pillars of Growth

Key MECC projects underway

• Developing a “Middle East Trade Facilitation and Logistics Modernization Report” and joint policy advocacy to promote new trade corridors and access points in the region to move goods, in coordination with security and trade experts, government officials, and interested businesses.

Movement of Goods and Market Access

• Enhancing SEZ regimes though joint development-management efforts, creating mechanisms for knowledge sharing, enhancing vocational training, and identifying investment opportunities to connect and expand zones throughout the region.

Special Economic Zones

• Launching a new Middle East and North Africa Venture Network to enhancing connections between high tech entrepreneurs and investors across the region, Identifying and remove bureaucratic and legal obstacles to entrepreneurship, and promote investment in small business.

Entrepreneurship Development

• Promote greater women representation on boards of organizations and companies across the region through awareness and advocacy campaigns to affect the perception of women in leadership roles and by developing programs to empower women leaders.

Women in Business

• Promoting policy and project ideas to advance a strong energy future for the region, including development of natural gas, renewable energy technology cooperation, and water management solutions.

Natural Resource Cooperation

International Advisory Board

Function

• Offer strategic guidance and recommendations to the MECC and national steering committees.

• Provide diverse, senior-level perspective to the MECC.

Form

• Organized board of former senior government officials, CEOs, and top executives.

What is the strength of the MECC?

It leverages the infrastructure of existing business organizations.

It is driven by business interests not only corporate social responsibility.

It focuses on regionally-oriented on commercial issues.

It brings U.S. corporations and expertise to support policy and project work.

MECC Plan of Action and Timeline

Building a new regional architecture

Organize regional meetings with key stakeholders

Form national steering committees

Build sector-specific task forces

Organize architecture for MECC

Expanding capacity and reach

Organize regional conferences

Open MECC office(s) in the region

Commission commercial studies

Launch MECC projects

Ensuring growth and sustainability

Create Forum for Innovation in the Middle East

Create training and grants program

Build fund for entrepreneurs

December 2012-2013 May 2014 – May 2015 May 2015…

Contact Us

Please send all inquiries to MECC@uschamber.com.