Arab economic unity council proposes to enhance inter-Arab trade

KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Arab Economy Unity
Council called on Friday for strengthening efforts to boost bilateral trade
exchange and free trade in the Arab world.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa
attends a press conference in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Jan. 16, 2009.
Moussa on Friday highlighted the importance of the incoming Kuwait summit,
while conceding the ongoing Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip shadows
the first-ever Arab economic gathering. (Xinhua/Noufal Ibrahim)

Photo
Gallery

The council has proposed a program to develop
inter-Arab trade, especially in light of the global economic crisis, in a
working paper to be submitted to the Arab Economic, Development and Social
Summit scheduled to be held in Kuwait on Jan. 19-20, said Kuwait's official news
agency KUNA.

The proposed program aims to raise the proportion of
inter-Arab trade in the total foreign trade of Arab states from 11.4 percent to
20 percent in five years, which requires a remarkable increase in the size and
value of inter-Arab trade equivalent of 7.5 billion U.S dollars, said the
report.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa
attends a press conference in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Jan. 16, 2009.
Moussa on Friday highlighted the importance of the incoming Kuwait summit,
while conceding the ongoing Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip shadows
the first-ever Arab economic gathering. (Xinhua/Wang Haijing)
Photo Gallery

The council also made it clear in the program that
the trade gap in the various Arab commodities and goods estimated to be around
93 billion dollars annually.

The council said some Arab countries are witnessing a
surplus in some of their goods while others experience a deficit in the same
goods, stressing importance on a better Arab coordination to address this issue.

The upcoming Arab economic summit, the first ever in
the Arab world, would focus on the global financial crisis, infrastructure in
the Arab world and social issues, in addition to Gaza crisis, according to
coordinators for the summit.

Arab economic summit to discuss Iraq's reconstruction process

Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Foreign
Minister Hoshyar Zebari said here Thursday that the first Arab Economic,
Development and Social Summit, to be held in Kuwait on Jan. 19-20, will include
a discussion on Iraq's reconstruction process, the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)
reported.

Zebari made the remarks upon arrival at the Kuwaiti
capital to represent his country at an Arab foreign ministers meeting on Friday.

He said the Iraqi government "is making determined
efforts to encourage Arab countries and investors to invest in the
reconstruction process which will serve the interests of all partners."

He hailed that the historic Arab economic summit is a
timely event to enhance cooperation and economic integration among the Arab
countries amid the ongoing world economic recession.

The two-day Kuwait summit is the first for the
22-member Arab League to exclusively devote to Arab economic, development and
social matters. The summit is expected to map out steps to improve Arab nations'
economic and social development and strengthen Arab economic integration.

Following the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has so far killed some 1,077 Palestinians and wounded over 5,000, the Gaza war is expected to top the agenda of the summit. Arab leaders are expected to review the latest developments in the Palestinian enclave, and to find a solution to end the Israeli attacks which began on Dec. 27 last year.