Economic and Social council meets in Doha

The Economic and Social Council on Friday held a preparatory meeting for the 24th session of Arab summit, which will be hosted by Qatar next Tuesday and Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Arab ministers of finance, economy and commerce as well as members of the delegations. At the outset of the meeting HE the Minister of Economy and Finance Youssef Hussein Kamal assumed the presidency of the meeting, replacing Iraqi Trade Minister Dr Khairallah Hussein Babiker, who presided over the 23rd session of the Arab summit. The meeting discussed follow-up to and implementation of economic and social decisions approved by the previous Arab summits, in addition to difficulties hindering the completion of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area. The meeting also discussed an initiative presented by the State of Palestine on the development of infrastructure in Palestine, as well as means to strengthen the work of the specialized Arab organizations, in addition to a study proposed by the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) to create a funding mechanism to sustain agricultural development over the next two decades and an emergency food security program in the Arab world. In the area of social affairs and in the framework of the fight against illiteracy amongst women in the Arab region, the council discussed raising the efficiency of learning and training targeting women to enable them become self-reliant and engage them in political, social and economic life.