By Emad al-Askar
(with photos) DAMASCUS, Nov 30 (KUNA) -- A Syrian economic official hoped here Sunday that the planned Arab economic summit in Kuwait in January could lead to speedily freeing service trade, establishing an Arab customs union and deregulating capital among Arab countries within five years' time.
Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Assistant Minister of Economy and Trade Khalid Salwata stressed the significance of facilitating the movement of Arab businessmen and representatives of commerce, industry and agriculture in order to boost pan-Arab trade.
He emphasized that Arab standardization criteria should be completed, a database of development projects be compiled.
He called for developing energy trade among Arab countries and putting an Arab open sky deal in place.
The Syrian official added that his country would propose during the Kuwait summit in January the establishment of a pan-Arab railway, a trade naval fleet for human and cargo services and a link between Arab Mashreq and Arab Maghreb.
Syria's proposals also include the reduction of medicine prices, expansion of power generation services, distribution of Arab power systems and diversification of conventional and renewable energy sources amid a looming high demand for power in the coming three decades, he said.
Damascus will also present a working paper on the fight against poverty and social protection, he added. (end) om.mt KUNA 301650 Nov 08NNNN