Beirut, 19 May 2006 (United Nations Information Service)--UNESCWA Executive Secretary Mervat Tallawy headed to Sharm El Sheikh to participate in the World Economic Forum on the Middle East to be held on 20-22 May 2006. Mr. Mahmoud El-Hibr, Maritime Transport Team Leader at UNESCWA, and Mr. Bassam Annani, Senior Economic Affairs Officer in the Globalisation and Regional Integration Division of UNESCWA, are part of the UN Regional Commission’s delegation.

Tallawy will be the main speaker at one of the forum’s workspaces entitled “Rethinking Regional Transport Infrastructure” specially that growth is dependent on the capacity to move people, resources and merchandise. The regional transportation is vital for increasing tourism and trade and for promoting regional cooperation and integration. This workspace’s objective is to develop a preliminary map of the ideal transport infrastructure requirements for the Middle East.

Participants in the forum will be the highest level of government and business, as well as top experts and civil society representatives.