By Khalid Al-Enizi
KUWAIT, Sep 15 (KUNA) -- The Arab economic summit to be held in Kuwait next January is an initiative of goodness by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, an official said Monday.
Head of the economic department at the Foreign Ministry Ambassador Sheikh Ali Al-Sabah told KUNA the summit would increase the inter-Arab intimate relations.
He pointed out that His Highness the Amir and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak proposed the idea of holding such a summit, to be attended by all Arab countries and a number of international organizations like the International Monetary Fund.
The summit's supreme organizing committee, headed by Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Faisal Al-Hajji, will meet with the Arab League's general coordinator Mervat Al-Talawi and Assistant Secretary General Mohammad Al-Twaijry to discuss the event's preparations.
In addition, technical programs are prepared by a national Kuwaiti committee that is headed by the Finance minister and that includes representatives of the Finance, Foreign, and Commerce ministries and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED).
He said that participants in the summit will discuss improving the financial status of Arab people, combating poverty by issuing new laws, developing transportation, tourism, and production, increasing trade among Arab countries, easing the transfer of information, increasing cooperation in the field of energy, building balanced economic relations with economic blocs, and developing peaceful uses for nuclear energy in the process of sustainable development.
He added that they will also discuss a joint strategy for Arab economic and social work, the joint defense treaty, and issues related to economic cooperation, encouraging joint Arab investments and scientific research, education, discrimination against women, rights of people of special needs, health care, environment protection, combating traditional and new contagious diseases and other diseases like the AIDS and malaria, and raising the participation of the private sector in Arab economic and social work.
He said one of the main topics to be discussed is the role of the private sector in the development of the Arab world.
The private sector would help in finding many new job opportunities through the building residential areas, malls, markets, and factories.
The official said the decision of holding the conference in Kuwait was taken during the regular Arab summit in Riyadh in March 2007.
He stressed that the decision was taken as the Arab world faces serious challenges, that exceed safety, security, and independence concerns, adding that those issues involve economic, developmental, cultural, and social concerns.
Poverty and unemployment rates are high, trade among Arab countries is little, capitals and outstanding Arabs are moving to foreign countries, many Arab countries suffer from poor infrastructure in the fields of roads, water, electricity, and transportation, while education is not fulfilling the needs for development and for international competition, he said.
The official noted that the summit would be a big economic event that would be preceded by "important" lectures, meetings, and forums like the meeting of Arab chambers of commerce The success of the summit will be success for everyone, he emphasized. (end) ke.no.ris KUNA 151236 Sep 08NNNN