Arab League: Rabat calls for enhanced economic cooperation & integration

The Moroccan government has called for strengthening Arab economic cooperation and integration to counter the current economic and social challenges.

Addressing the Arab Economic and Social Council meeting, which opened Thursday in Cairo, Moroccan Ambassador to Egypt & Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ahmed Tazi stressed the need to speed up the implementation of economic and integration projects to give Arab economies a common competitive edge on the international scene.

The Russia-Ukraine crisis, the soaring food & energy prices, the surge of inflation rates and continued disruptions in global supply chains are exacerbating the economic and social challenges in Arab countries, said the diplomat.

The former meeting of Arab Economic & Social Council, chaired by Morocco, was crowned with the adoption of several important decisions related to the Greater Arab Free Trade Area, the Customs union, maritime transport, Arab food security and the Arab strategy for aquaculture, said Mr. Tazi, noting that these projects aim to strengthen complementarity and regional integration.

During the current Cairo meeting, participants are discussing several economic and social issues to be submitted to the upcoming Arab Summit scheduled in 2023 in Saudi Arabia and preparations of the 5th Arab Summit for Economic & Social Development due in Mauritania in November 2023.

The Council’s agenda also includes the Arab FTA, the evolution of the customs union, coordination to reduce disaster risks, investments in Arab countries and Arab food security.