LOC20:48
17:48 GMT
Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al-Saleh
KUWAIT, Sept 24 (KUNA) -- Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al-Saleh
headed to Ankara on Tuesday to attend the first Arab-Turkish economy, trade
and investment minister meeting due a day later at the southern coastal city
of Mersin.
Ahead of his departure, the minister told reporters at Kuwait International
Airport that "we (Kuwait) are keen to seek pan-Arab coordination, firstly, and
Arab coordination with developing and active economies, secondly, in order to
achieve prosperity for our nations and further opportunities through the
exchange of exceptional expertise in the various fields of development."
The meeting will discuss investment in small and medium-sized industries,
food security, the reciprocal encouragement and protection of investment, and
means to develop and support Arab-Turkish economic relations in the wake of
the global financial crisis, he added.
The event comes a few days following the China-Arab Expo, said the
minister, referring to the event held at China's northwestern region of
Ningxia, which focused on bi-regional cooperation in the fields of energy and
trade.
Some 15 Arab countries are to attend the event, along with the Arab League
Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs Mohammad bin Ibrahim
Al-Towaijri, who had received a personal invite by Turkey's Economy Minister
Zafer Caglayan.
The minister is to head a Kuwaiti delegation consisting of the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry and representatives of the Finance Ministry and the
Kuwait Investment Authority. (end)
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KUNA 242048 Sep 13NNNN