The governments of Jordan, Israel and Egypt have agreed to initiate a major regional integrated development project to foster regional economic co-operation in the area.

A common vision for the co-ordinated development of the area was developed by the three countries at a planning workshop in Amman in 1995. 

The concept envisages co-operation between the three regional parties in economic and social matters in the co-ordinated development of specific sectors of the economy. 

Each country is pursuing its own national development plans while, at the same time, working together to develop a co-ordinated framework which will ensure long-term sustainable development in the region as a whole.

The Team Area

The Gulf of Aqaba, bordered by Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, extends about 180 km south from Eilat and Aqaba and joins the Red Sea at the Straits of Tiran. It is about 28 km wide at its widest point.

The towns of Aqaba, Eilat and Taba are situated on it’s northern and western shores and the project area comprises:- In Egypt: The town of Taba and the triangle defined by the in-land road to Ras El Naqab and Nuweiba including Nuweiba seaport and Ras El Naqab airport. In Israel: The city of Eilat with a depth of 17 km within the Israeli borders. In Jordan: The city of Aqaba extending out to the administrative borders of the Aqaba Regional Authority. A flexible approach will be followed in defining the Planning Area. For example, in the case of tourism St. Catherine in Egypt and Petra in Jordan might be considered for inclusion.

The TEAM Steering Commitee

The planning process is directed by a TEAM Steering Committee, chaired by the EU, comprising members from each of the regional parties.

Each country has agreed to co-operate in mutually advantageous development initiatives. This co-operative effort will not prejudice the national development objectives of the individual countries. 

The TEAM Technical Support Unit

An EU financed Technical Support Unit (TSU) has been appointed to support the TEAM Steering Committee over a two year period in achieving and promoting effective and productive regional co-operation in economic and business development between the partners of the TEAM area.

The Approach to Regional Development

The approach adopted by the Steering Committee for regional development involves:

• Setting up a framework for co-ordination for regional development.
• Achieving economies of scale through regional co-operation
• Strengthening infrastructure links between the countries.
• Attracting private sector investments
• Co-ordinating environmental protection. 
  

Development will be concentrated on adding value to the region’s productive assets, including its natural and human resources, and in promoting its position as an additional window for the countries of  the region to the world.

Public/Private Sector Partnership

The public/private sector partnership will be one in which an attractive range of incentives and an efficient and effective planning regime are used as a catalyst to encourage the private sector’s involvement.

The public sector's role is to provide the framework for private sector investments to flow into the TEAM Area. This will be done by the public sector providing the infrastructure and an environmentally sound framework together with a friendly legal, economic and regulatory environment that will ensure an attractive rate of return on the private sector’s investments.

Priority Sectors

Four priority development sectors have been selected on the basis that they constitute the sectors which have the greatest potential for economic growth in the TEAM Area:

• Tourism
• Industry
• Trade

The Planning Process

This consists of an ongoing and transparent dialogue with the regional parties, in which each study is generally divided into separate phases as follows:-

Phase 1: Collection and collation of existing data and information, assessment of resources and future developments, and evaluation leading to the identification of possible solutions and alternatives.

Phase 2: Technical, economic, financial and environmental feasibility study of the preferred  solutions and alternatives.

Tourism

The approach is based on broad initiative for the development of a comprehensive TEAM Area Tourism Development and Marketing Strategy, encompassing inter alia:-

• Complementary, co-ordinated and sustainable development.
• Environmental protection.
• Comprehensive marketing.
  

In recognition of the need for positive concrete results in the short term, the development of Specific Short Term Initiatives in the Tourism Sector will proceed in parallel with and in support of the longer term strategic development of Tourism in the TEAM Area. To assist the Regional Parties in the pursuit of their vision towards the development of a co-ordinated tourism management framework which will ensure long-term sustainable development, the EU are funding a Tourism Development Officer to work as part of the TEAM Technical Support Unit and closely with the Regional Parties.

Transport

A major deficiency in the region is the absence of good cross border connections linking Egypt, Israel and Jordan on the circumferential route within the TEAM Area. A detailed pre-feasibility level study of the circumferential route, and associated logistic services, for the TEAM Area is required to address such matters as:

• Circumferential route requirements to service both local and through passenger and goods traffic.
• Border crossings.
• Associated logistic facilities and other services.

Trade and Industry

Special Economic Zones have been utilised as economic policy instruments since the late 1950's.  Such zones take many forms and over twenty different types have been defined to date.

The traditional strategic approach to the development of an SEZ has been based on a 'master-plan' type concept, potentially with a large industrial park-type central core. There is a need for a different focus, however, in the context of the TEAM Area. which should mirror the overall approach to the TEAM Project.

The strategy must be predicated upon the creation of a broad approach covering the four priority sectors of tourism, transport, industry and trade. Such a strategy involves co-operation in the formulation and implementation of practical short-term and medium-term Action Plans to build confidence in regional co-operation and facilitate balanced and sustainable development of the region.

To assist in the formulation and implementation of the Action Plans the EU is funding a Regional Economic and Social Development Officer to work as part of the TSU.

The existing national telecommunications infrastructure in the TEAM Area, together with work already under construction and planned augmentation of the systems, are adequate for requirements for the foreseeable future. There is no apparent need or demonstrable economic justification for any major new investment in telecommunications infrastructure.

To support the business and domestic community and facilitate cross-border co-operation in the TEAM area the following initiatives are being investigated:-

The reduction of current international tariffs for a calls and cross-border leased lines within the TEAM Area to a local tariff.
 
The development of the TEAM Area teleport concept, aimed at providing businesses, researchers and information technology industries in the area with a base of state of the art telecommunications technology.

TEAM Steering Committee

H.E. Ambassador Soliman Awad,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cairo, Egypt.
Tel: +20 2 574 7826 - Fax: +20 2 574 9713

The President,
Aqaba Regional Authority, Aqaba, Jordan
Tel: +962 3 315 600 - Fax: +962 3 314 206

Mr. Refael (Rafi) Benvenisti, Special Adviser,
Ministry of Finance, Jerusalem, Israel.
Tel: +972 2 5635 539 - Fax: +972 2 5666 703  

TEAM Technical Support Unit

Jennings O’Donovan (Ireland) - IDI (Ireland)
Tel: +353 71 61416 - Fax: +353 71 61080

TEAM TSU Office, Aqaba
Tel: +962 3 322825 - Fax: +962 3 322826

TEAM Steering committee Photography: 

• Hagop of Aqaba
• Rod Abbotson of Aqaba
• Photo Geogre of Aqaba
• Getty/Tony Stone Images