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Arab socio-economic summit to be milestone in integration - Al-Shimali

CAIRO, Aug 26 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shimali said on Tuesday the Arab Economic Social and Development Summit would be a milestone in the pursuit of economic integration among the Arab countries.
He made the statement in an interview with KUNA following an expanded meeting between him and his party on one hand with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and other senior officials of the league on the other.
The two sides are making concerted efforts to ensure the success of the coming summit due on January 19, 2009, he pointed out.
The summit will seek to encourage the private sectors of the Arab countries play greater roles in the economic development as well as the development of human resources, Al-Shimali said.
The private sector, as the mainstay of economic development, has to invest heavily in large projects in order to contribute to the fight against poverty and unemployment, he underscored.
Tuesday's meeting also mulled the gigantic Arab projects such as the multi-party power grids and the road networks all well as ways to lobby for such projects, he added.
In similar statements to KUNA, Moussa praised Kuwait's efforts to prepare for the summit which would open new stage in the history of Arab joint action.
The talks with the Kuwaiti delegation also probed Kuwait's preparations for the an Arab trade fair where the products of the private sector companies will take high-profile, Moussa noted.
Representatives of the private sectors and civil society institutions of the Arab countries are scheduled to meet ahead of the summit to work out the guidelines of the coming stage of regional cooperation, he added. (pickup previous) mab.gb.
KUNA 270036 Aug 08NNNN