LOC16:35
13:35 GMT
DOHA, Nov 16 (KUNA) -- Recommendations of the Arab Forum on Development and Employment will be passed on to the Economic, Developmental and Social Summit in Kuwait next January, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in Kuwait Mohammad Ali Al-Kandari said here on Sunday.
The recommendations touched upon Arab development and unemployment realities in light of the global financial crisis, Al-Kandari told KUNA at the conclusion of the two-day forum, adding that the forum was the fourth of its kind to be held before the anticipated summit in Kuwait, due on January 19-20, 2009.
The recommendations give emphasis to work as a humane value with economic and social aspects to it, Al-Kandari noted, pointing out that unemployment rate in Arab countries was among the highest in the world.
They also call for focusing on small businesses and supporting them and putting into account importance of training and rehabilitation of Arab labor, the Kuwaiti official said.
He added that the forum also urged for pan-Arab investment agreements to be expanded, mainly in the field of invigorating farm lands, especially with the looming food crisis.
Al-Kandari said the Kuwaiti delegation to the forum was participating with its three arms, the government sector, the private sector and labor sector, which reflected the country's keenness to develop on the whole.
The forum sought after building grounds for meeting basic challenges facing the Arab world; chiefly poverty, unemployment, dearth of harmony between education output and training and labor market needs, deteriorating standards of living and outflow of capital and minds. (end) ma.hb KUNA 161635 Nov 08NNNN