The Chairman of the Jordanian Chambers of Commerce in Amman, Khalil Al-Haj Tawfiq, announced on Tuesday, July 1, preparations to hold a Jordanian-Syrian technical forum in Damascus during this July, according to the Jordanian channel “Al-Mamlaka.”

Al-Haj Tawfiq confirmed that Jordan possesses strong capabilities in the information technology sector and can play an “active role” in supporting Syria during the reconstruction phase, which he considered to have effectively started with the decision to lift U.S. sanctions, following the executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump to lift sanctions on Syria.

He stated that “Jordan is qualified to be the gateway for Syria’s reconstruction phase,” pointing out that Syria needs “almost everything,” from infrastructure to education, and that Arab countries must stand by Syria before any international entity.

He affirmed that the Jordanian Chambers of Commerce are ready to contribute their expertise, especially in the fields of construction, technology, and education, noting that a Jordanian economic delegation visited Damascus last May.

Economic Integration

During the visit of the Jordanian delegation to Syria in May, a “joint committee” was formed, including representatives from the manufacturers of the Damascus and Rural Damascus Chamber of Industry, as well as from the Jordan and Amman Chambers of Industry.

The Chairman of the Jordan and Amman Chamber of Industry, Fathi Al-Jaghbeer, told Enab Baladi earlier that the committee’s mission is to discuss issues and obstacles, study trade exchange mechanisms, as well as address partnership matters, study the markets in both countries thoroughly, and prepare a working paper to submit to the governments of both countries to increase trade exchange.

Al-Jaghbeer added that the goal of the Jordanian economic delegation’s visit to Syria is to achieve integration rather than competition among manufacturers, especially since production costs in Syria, particularly labor, are lower than in Jordan—where a worker’s salary in Syria is about one-quarter of the salary in Jordan—requiring the committee to address these issues, the goods allowed for import and export, to achieve market integration and prevent the risk of factory closures in both countries.

He pointed out that the presence of Syrian investors in Jordan could greatly facilitate work mechanisms, and that lifting the sanctions on Syria helped reduce obstacles to trade exchange between Syria and Jordan.

The joint committee was given a maximum period of one month to resolve outstanding industrial issues between the two sides.