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Arab eco summit projects will focus on infrastructure development -- official

Director of the Gulf and Arab Economic Cooperation Department Yousef Al-Roumi
Director of the Gulf and Arab Economic Cooperation Department Yousef Al-Roumi

By Ahmad Hajjaji

(with photos) KUWAIT, Nov 16 (KUNA) -- Projects that will be presented at the Arab Economic Summit, set to be held in Kuwait on January 19, will focus on infrastructure development to facilitate the movement of people and goods across Arab borders, said a Finance Ministry official on Sunday.
Director of the Gulf and Arab Economic Cooperation Department Yousef Al-Roumi told KUNA that the summit would not be a regular meeting as it would be discussing specific projects that would then be referred to the Arab leaders.
These projects, he explained, would have a great impact on Arabs, citing as examples the Arab electricity grid, achieving food security, the railway project, and tackling unemployment issues, among others.
Moreover, Al-Roumi said the ministerial committee tasked with preparing for the summit, headed by Kuwait's Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shimali, had placed a number of guidelines to determine which projects would be presented to leaders during their Arab Summit, namely that the projects were on the list of Arab action priorities.
A meeting of the preparatory committee will be held on November 18 to review the projects that would be presented at the Economic Summit, plus another meeting on the 20th at the ministerial level.
Moreover, the official said an economic forum would be held on the sidelines of the summit to discuss the global financial crisis and its impact on the Arab world, as well as such issues as commerce, transport, investment, scientific research, energy, development, and reform in Arab action.(end) ahj.ema KUNA 161111 Nov 08NNNN