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. Please visit mecc.uschamber.com for more information.

1. Winter 2014
An Introduction to the MECC

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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).

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. The MECC organizational structure
Middle East Commercial Center
Task Forces
Movement of Goods and
Services
Movement of
People
Pillars of
Growth

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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…

18. Contact Us
Please send all inquiries to MECC@uschamber.com.