By NNN-SANA
Damascus : Arab senior economic experts and officials have concluded the preliminary meeting of the Arab Economic and Social Council, chaired by head of the Syrian side, Dr Ghassan Habash.
The council concluded discussions Tuesday on economic issues that should bolster and develop Arab joint economic work. Draft resolutions include a mutual strategy for economic and social work, cooperation in transport, improving healthcare, the Arab joint market, the Arab Free Trade Organisation, and other issues related to agriculture, industry, communications, scientific research, and education.
The draft resolutions and issues discussed during the meeting will be presented during the upcoming meeting of the Arab Economic and Social Council, which includes Arab ministers of economy, trade and finance. The meeting will kick off here Wednesday in preparation for the Arab Summit.
The council will discuss the economic agenda prepared by Arab officials during the past couple of days, which includes economic plans and projects that will be presented to the Arab Economy and Development Conference, which will be held in Kuwait in 2009, in addition to discussing other issues related to Arab joint work.
The agenda includes means to revitalize overall development strategies and bolstering Arab economic work, particularly in the field of infrastructure. It also discusses linking Arab countries via a network of roads, bridges, railroads and airlines, in addition to freeing the services sector and using scientific research for development.
The agenda also includes a tourist strategy, a complete project for financing and establishing an Arab organisation for financing, and proceeding with the Arab joint market plans.
During the meeting, Secretary-General of the Arab Economic Unity Council Dr Ahmad Juwaili will present a request for renewing the Arab Minimum Food Security Programme, demanding a minimum of USD 20 billion to be paid over five years.