The ARAB-EU Business Facilitation Network is an alliance of 15 leading Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) from the MENA region (Middle East and Northern Africa).

The Network was launched in 2010 and consists of BMOs from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Yemen. The Confederation of Danish Industry (DI) acts as a facilitating organisation.

The purpose of the Network:

The purpose of the Network is to create a platform from which business associations from the region can discuss the challenges for businesses and identify shared solutions and policy recommendations. A specific emphasis is on improving access to the EU market for businesses in the region.

The Network will contribute to the creation of a more enabling environment for the private sector in the region for the benefit of growth and development in general.

The participating BMOs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work strategically together, promoting relevant policy issues within and between their respective countries and internationally.

Founding Partner Organizations:

The founding partner organizations are the following:

• Algeria – Forum des Chefs Des Entreprises (FCE)
• Bahrain – Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI)
• Denmark – Confederation of Danish Industry (DI)
• Egypt – Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI)
  1. Chamber of Food Industries (CFI)
  2. Environmental Compliance office and Sustainable Development (ECO)
• GCC – Federation of GCC Chambers (FGCCC)
• Jordan – Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI)
• Kuwait – Kuwait Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI)
• Lebanon – Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI)
• Libya – Libyan Businessmen Council (LBC)
• Morocco – Confédération Générale des Entreprises du Maroc (CGEM)
• Oman – Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OMCI)
• Palestine – Federation of Palestinean Chambers of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (FPCCIA)
• Qatar – Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QCCI)
• Saudi Arabia – Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC)
• Syria – Damascus Chamber of Industry (DCI)
• Tunisia Union Tunisienne de l’Industrie, du Commerce et de l’Artisanat (UTICA)
• UAE – Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce.

The Mission of the Network:

The mission of The Network is: To enhance private sector growth through public-private dialogue, B2B activities, knowledge sharing, business service development and policy advocacy aimed at improving the general business environment in the MENA region and to enhance commercial links between the EU and MENA.

The Network is achieving this mission by:

• Coordinating and supporting activities of the members;
• Organizing conferences, events, working groups and taskforces;
• Representing the opinions and interests of its members in political and administrative relations in MENA and in Europe;
• Collaborating at national, regional, and international levels with relevant organizations and professional entities incl. participation conferences in areas of relevance to the mission of the Network.
• Promoting to its members the availability of services rendered by other members;
• Defining common policy position formulation and subsequent dialogue with governmental counterparts on the opportunities to improve the business environment conditions;
• Facilitating exchange of information, knowledge and best practices, through a newsletter, a website and other means.
• Influencing of public opinion on the societal gains of private sector development;
• Stimulating research in the field of private sector growth and the barriers for this and by disseminating information on current research findings.

The Network Meetings within Egypt

In cooperation with ECO FEI, The Arab EU held its first meeting in Cairo from 2 to 4 June 2015. And the second meeting was from January 16 to 19January 2017.

The meetings aim to promote the growth of the Arab private sector through public-private dialogue, exchange of trade activities and strengthen the trade links between the EU and the Middle East and North Africa.

The meetings included bilateral meetings between industrial men in Egypt and their counterparts in the Arab region, which resulted in cooperation agreements in the fields of medium industries in the textile, metallurgical, engineering, building materials, pharmaceutical, leather industries and tanning leather industries.

On the sidelines of these meetings, B2B meetings were held with Egyptian companies to discuss aspects of joint cooperation. Representatives of the participating Arab business organizations were also honored by ECO FEI.