REGIONAL BUSINESS INITIATIVEExpanding Trade and Economic Cooperation among Jordan, Iraq and the West Bank

USAID has recently launched the Regional Business Initiative, a one-year program consisting of a series of events held through September 2011 that will gather businesses and government officials from Jordan, Iraq and the West Bank to discuss potential exchanges, and to help solve main obstacles to trade and joint business activities. The program is funded by USAID’s Office of Middle East Programs and implemented by SEGURA/IP Partners LLC, in cooperation with the American Chamber of Commerce of Jordan (AMCHAM/Jordan), USAID Missions in Iraq, West Bank/Gaza and Jordan, and the Missions’ respective Economic Growth programs and implementing partners.

Two types of methodologies will be followed over the life of the program:

B2B Meetings These are two-to-three day events where businesses in all three regions will be invited to submit an application together with detailed information that will allow targeted matchmaking between businesses. Companies interested in meeting with their potential counterparts will pay a participation fee that will give them access to the events including participation in all plenary sessions, business to business meetings, social gatherings and access to relevant information of all companies attending the event. Participants will also have discounted rates for hotels, airfare, and other services. All participant companies will be included in the network of activities to be carried out during the year.

Task Force Meetings As a second component of the program, government officials at key decision-making levels will participate in meetings to review obstacles to regional trade identified in the B2B meetings. The meetings will follow methodologies of problem resolution, where parties will discuss alternative solutions and proceed to advance key decisions to be taken in a defined timeline.

The first event will be a B2B session in Amman on December 14-16, 2010. Attached is the B2B event description, agenda for the meeting and the Company Profile Form. Payment of fees will be done at a later stage by those companies that will have matching counterparts. Additional information will be posted on the Program website at www.rbiproject.com

Key Dates for First Event:November 9: Organizers start distributing information including Company Profile FormNovember 16: Companies last day for submission of Company Profile Form (early submissions encouraged)November 24: Organizers notify companies of interested counterparts for B2B eventNovember 28: Companies last day for confirmation of participation and payment of feeDecember 14-16: B2B event

Important Information: In order to maximize the effectiveness of the B2B event, it is important that company profile forms should be

completed carefully and submitted on time. Companies that do not have matches for this event will be considered for future events.

Points of Contact:AMCHAM/JordanMustafa MustafaTel. +962 6 565 1860Email: Mustafa.mustafa@amcham.jo

SEGURA/IP3Jose A. ValdezTel. +1301 469 4724Email: jvaldez@segura-co.net

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REGIONAL BUSINESS INITIATIVE B2B MEETING

December 14-16Intercontinental Hotel

Amman, Jordan

Purpose

Business to Business (B-2-B) events are designed to a) introduce potential buyers and sellers to facilitate the building of relationships that will lead to business transactions, b) identify potential sectors/industries where business linkages can likely take place, c) develop a network of business leaders and organizations that can serve as focal points for the business community in promoting trade linkages, and d) lay the groundwork for Business Facilitation Events (BFEs), which are the next generation Business to Business (B2Bs) meetings. They are typically designed for buyers and sellers that have already participated in “get acquainted” B2Bs.

B-2-Bs focus on building initial relationships and providing follow up to nurture those relationships in such a way as to facilitate business linkages, whether in the form of trade, services, and or production. Using this model, the USAID Jordan Economic Development Program will collaborate with the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan, SEGURA/IP3 Partners LLC and other stakeholders to host a “Iraq-Jordan-West Bank B2B Event” in Amman, Jordan during the week of December 14-16, 2010. The event will feature a defined group of company representatives from Iraq, Jordan, and the West Bank, which are pre-vetted to ensure their interest in development cross-border business relationships. The event may include a small product/services exhibition and it will be professionally facilitated by the USAID Jordan Economic Development Program and SEGURA/IP3 team members.

The purpose of B-2-Bs is not to generate immediate transactions, but rather to begin the process of connecting like-minded and interested businesses from the target areas together so that relationships can develop, which lead to business opportunities. Follow up will include facilitation of one-on-one meetings between interested companies, marketing support, and the design/implementation of BFE’s, which will further cement business relationships.

The B2B event is the first of a series of events under USAID’s Regional Business Initiative, which is designed to promote business linkages between firms in Iraq, Jordan, and the West Bank. In doing so, the organizers will focus on creating matches between compatible companies, as well as promoting issues that will lay the groundwork for additional business opportunities. The end result of these events, which are embedded in an overall strategy, will be to create jobs, enhance revenues, increase exports, and create investment opportunities.

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TENTATIVE AGENDA B2B MEETING

DECEMBER 14-16, 2010AMMAN, JORDAN

Day One: Tuesday, December 14

3:00 p.m. Registration Opens7:00-9:00 p.m. Networking Reception

Royal Automobile MuseumHOST: AMCHAMRemarksSenior Official from the Government of JordanSenior Official from the Government of the United States

Overview of B2B SessionsLaith Al QasemChief of PartyUSAID Jordan Economic Development Program

Day Two: Wednesday, December 15

9:00 a.m. Registration10:00 a.m. Welcome and Panel Discussion I:

“Opportunities and Challenges of Doing Business in Iraq, Jordan, and the West Bank”

Panel Chair:Mohammad Bataineh, ChairmanAmerican Chamber of Commerce in Jordan

Panelists:Leader of Iraq DelegationLeader of West Bank Delegation

Panel Discussion II:“Working Together to Promote Regional Trade”

Panel Chair: Mustafa Mustafa, CEOAMCHAM JordanSenior Government Officials from Iraq,Jordan, and the West Bank

12:30-1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30-3:30 p.m. B2B Round Table DiscussionsFacilitated by USAID Jordan Economic Development Program Team Members

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3:30-6:30 p.m. Business Exchange Lounge Open forOne-to-One Meetings

7:00-9:00 p.m. Networking ReceptionIntercontinental HotelHOST: Jordan Investment Board

Day Three: Thursday, December 16

8:30 a.m. Networking Breakfast

Welcome Remarks:Mohammad Bataineh, Chairman AMCHAM Jordan

Keynote Address:“Best Practices in Creating SuccessfulCross Border Initiatives”Kevin Murphy, CEOJ.E. Austin Associates

10:00 a.m. Business Exchange Lounge Open for One-to-One Meetings

1:00 p.m. Closing Luncheon

Welcome: AMCHAM CEOSpeakers:HE Prime Minister of JordanHE U.S. Ambassador to Jordan

2:30 p.m. Adjournment

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REGIONAL BUSINESS INITIATIVE

B2B MEETING

Company Profile Form

A. Contact Information 1. Company Name: __________________________________________________________

2. Contact Person:___________________________________________________________

3. Address:_________________________________________________________________

4. City:________________________________ Country:_____________________________

5. Telephone Number:_____________________FAX Number:________________________

6. E-Mail Address:_________________________ Website Address:____________________

B. Company Information

7. What year was your company founded?

8. How many people do you employ?

9. Does your company have more than one location? If so, where are these locations?

10. What products/services does your company produce?

11. Is your company currently involved in regional trade and/or business linkages. If so, what kind (e.g. joint ventures, exporting, importing, sales)?

12. In what countries other than your own do you have trade and/or business linkages?

C. Expectations for B2B Meetings

13. In what sector(s) does your company operate? (Please check the most appropriate from the list below)

_____ICT _____Light Manufacturing _____Agriculture/Agribusiness_____Stone/Marble _____Medical/Pharmaceuticals _____Tourism_____Other (please specify)……………………………………………………………………

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14. Please list the products/services that your company sells (include HTS code if possible)

15. Please list the products/services your company buys (include HTS code if possible)

16. What types of trade/business linkages would you like to pursue during the B2B meetings (please check all that apply)

_____ Interested in selling products/services to regional partners (exporting)

_____Interested in purchasing products/services from regional partners (importing)

_____Interested in identifying joint venture partners for sales/service

_____Interested in franchising opportunities

_____Interested in identifying registered representatives for my products/services

17. Please list any specific company, or type of company, you would like to meet through the B2B event. Include sector, country, name of company, etc.

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You are welcomed to bring company brochures in both English and/or Arabic if you have them. You will have the opportunity to distribute them at various times during the event. Also, bring business cards! They are the most important marketing tool for this event.

Please submit this profile to:

AMCHAM/JordanMustafa MustafaTel. +962 6 565 1860Email: Mustafa.mustafa@amcham.jo

SEGURA/IP3Jose A. ValdezTel. +1301 469 4724Email: jvaldez@segura-co.net

Profiles submitted by November 16 will be included in the Regional Business Initiative- B2B Meeting booklet, so it is imperative that you meet the deadline.

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