The agreement with ITTF-North America follows a similar deal signed with the equivalent organisation in Oceania last month and sees the body maintain a pledge to assist the development of its continental members.

It will also be the "framework for future agreements" with the rest of ITTF’s continental bodies, with whom they are already in discussion.

"Due to having great commercial results since we took back the marketing rights at the start of 2017, we are continuing to work with our continental partners to look at how to grow all of our commercial businesses, and at the same time, grow the sport globally," said ITTF President Thomas Weikert.

"North America is a place that the ITTF has always seen as a big potential growth market, so we are very excited to have this opportunity to work hand in hand with ITTF-North America to make this happen.”

The deal involves the International Federation investing significant financial and human resources into the region to assist its commercial growth.

It will also seek to boost the popularity of the sport in the region which, according to the ITTF, has an "enormous amount of potential for table tennis".

No North American player has a won a table tennis medal at the Olympic Games, but the United States have won 13 gold medals at the Paralympics while Canada have one.

"This strategic investment offers ITTF-North America the opportunity to build a sustainable organisation that will focus on bringing regular international events to North America, such as regular ITTF World Tour events with qualified staff to implement these events at a professional level," added ITTF-North America President Tony Kiesenhofer.

“Further, the increased capacity resulting from this agreement provides an opportunity for ITTF-North America to found a professional league in North America which, in turn, will inspire and offer professional opportunities to the next generation of North American table tennis athletes.”

Weikert is currently campaigning to retain the leadership of the ITTF at the expense of the only other remaining candidate, Jean-Michel Saive of Belgium.

The German remains the favourite to continue in the role as he seeks to be elected onto the post for the first time.

The 55-year-old has served as ITTF President since September 2014, but he assumed the position automatically as he was Adham Sharara's deputy when the Canadian stepped down.