LOC15:22
12:22 GMT
RAMALLAH, Nov 23 (KUNA) -- A planned Arab economic summit due to be held in Kuwait in January 2009 is expected to boost the role of the Arab private sector in response to diverse crises.
The gathering will boost opportunities for the Arab and international private sector to resolve the current world economic turmoil, Samir Helila, CEO of the Palestine Development and Investment Company (PADICO), told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
Asked if Palestine may take part in the gathering, he said Palestine would attend the summit both on formal and informal levels.
He said: "We are an effective part of the region, and we want to communicate with the world in spite of Israeli conditions and obstacles." He believed that many obstacles and problems were still blocking pan-Arab trade despite many earlier resolutions to open markets and borders among Arab countries.
Helila voiced hope that the Arab economic summit in Kuwait would come up with recommendations and proposals that could reinforce pan-Arab trade. (end) nq.mt KUNA 231522 Nov 08NNNN