27 December 2017
Beirut, Lebanon
Statement by Mr. Mohamed Ali Alhakim
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
Executive Secretary of ESCWA
Opening of the Committee on Liberalization of Foreign Trade,
Economic Globalization and Financing for Development
Executive Secretary of ESCWA
Opening of the Committee on Liberalization of Foreign Trade,
Economic Globalization and Financing for Development
Mr. Ali Sadiq, Ambassador of the Sudan to Lebanon, and representative of the office of the tenth session of the Committee on Liberalization of Foreign Trade, Economic Globalization and Financing for Development,
Ms. Alya Abbas, representative of Mr. Raed Khoury, Minister of Economy and Trade of Lebanon, the ESCWA host country,
Members of the Committee on Liberalization of Foreign Trade, Economic Globalization and Financing for Development,
Representatives of national and regional organizations and experts,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to the opening of the eleventh session of the Committee on Liberalization of Foreign Trade, Economic Globalization and Financing for Development at the United Nation House in Beirut. The agenda comprises various topics and developments of importance to the Arab region in this field that have emerged since the previous session, held in Cairo on November 2015.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The world is witnessing economic growth indicators that will positively impact international trade and Arab countries, which have begun to slowly recover from the political transitions and instability that have affected some member States since 2011.
Over the past two years, the world has undergone rapid developments in terms of accession to and succession from global trade agreements and blocs, in additions to significant changes in production and presentation techniques and strategies. The role of global value chains has grown in global trade movements. In this context, global experiences have shown that regional trade agreements, such as the Greater Arab Free Trade Area Agreement, cannot achieve their desired goals if they are not part of broad and comprehensive economic policies that transform those agreements into an effective tool for building productive and competitive capacities that attract investments and revitalize exports.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The considerable changes taking place in the world today require Arab countries to alter their plans and strategies and modernize macroeconomic, sectoral and trade policies to strengthen competitiveness and improve their opportunities to integrate into global value chains and to create regional value chains that can compete in Arab and foreign markets.
Limiting trade cooperation to agreements on the trade in goods, as is the case with most trade agreements signed by Arab countries between themselves and other countries, is insufficient to achieve economic and social development. Such cooperation must be complemented with broad trade agreements that guarantee
the movement of people, services, goods and capital as a basis for economic transformation to facilitate integration into global value chains, making trade cooperation a key lever of inclusive and sustainable development.
As such, the establishment of an Arab customs union is a major step towards Arab economic integration and empowering the region to face increasing foreign competition. Negotiations of the project, despite their difficulties, are themselves a vital mechanism for considering the nature of the obstacles facing the Greater Arab Free Trade Area and how to overcome them. This ambitious project requires coordination between Arab trade policies, and reducing their complex links to trade agreements between Arab countries and other countries across the world. The project also necessitates a detailed review of the structure of various macroeconomic and sectoral policies to facilitate the establishment of a competitive Arab market, which invests in sectors that do not over-exploit Arab natural resources.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Over the past few years, ESCWA has intensified and focused its efforts on trade issues by preparing several technical reports and holding numerous meetings on the various aspects of intra- and inter-regional trade development, by focusing on mechanisms to liberalize trade in goods and services in the Arab region, and by promoting integration projects by facilitating labour force and capital movements.
ESCWA has also worked on developing consistent Arab trade policies to achieve the aims of trade agreements, as a driver of trade movement and an engine of growth.
The agenda items of the current session provide us with an opportunity to discuss economic challenges and the varied sources of economic growth, including advancing Arab economic integration or expanding it to cover other economic blocs, such as African countries and the European Union. The Committee will consider technical papers prepared by ESCWA specialists, which highlight the various aspects of the issues under consideration and provide recommendations to member States on comprehensively restructuring the economy and its sectors.
In conclusion, I would like to thank Bahrain for chairing the previous session of the Committee, and to wish Tunisia every success in chairing the current session. I would also like to thank our esteemed guests for their attendance and participation in this ESCWA activity. I hope that we all, through concerted efforts at every level, will move towards growth and prosperity for our countries and peoples.
Thank you.
Ms. Alya Abbas, representative of Mr. Raed Khoury, Minister of Economy and Trade of Lebanon, the ESCWA host country,
Members of the Committee on Liberalization of Foreign Trade, Economic Globalization and Financing for Development,
Representatives of national and regional organizations and experts,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to the opening of the eleventh session of the Committee on Liberalization of Foreign Trade, Economic Globalization and Financing for Development at the United Nation House in Beirut. The agenda comprises various topics and developments of importance to the Arab region in this field that have emerged since the previous session, held in Cairo on November 2015.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The world is witnessing economic growth indicators that will positively impact international trade and Arab countries, which have begun to slowly recover from the political transitions and instability that have affected some member States since 2011.
Over the past two years, the world has undergone rapid developments in terms of accession to and succession from global trade agreements and blocs, in additions to significant changes in production and presentation techniques and strategies. The role of global value chains has grown in global trade movements. In this context, global experiences have shown that regional trade agreements, such as the Greater Arab Free Trade Area Agreement, cannot achieve their desired goals if they are not part of broad and comprehensive economic policies that transform those agreements into an effective tool for building productive and competitive capacities that attract investments and revitalize exports.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The considerable changes taking place in the world today require Arab countries to alter their plans and strategies and modernize macroeconomic, sectoral and trade policies to strengthen competitiveness and improve their opportunities to integrate into global value chains and to create regional value chains that can compete in Arab and foreign markets.
Limiting trade cooperation to agreements on the trade in goods, as is the case with most trade agreements signed by Arab countries between themselves and other countries, is insufficient to achieve economic and social development. Such cooperation must be complemented with broad trade agreements that guarantee
the movement of people, services, goods and capital as a basis for economic transformation to facilitate integration into global value chains, making trade cooperation a key lever of inclusive and sustainable development.
As such, the establishment of an Arab customs union is a major step towards Arab economic integration and empowering the region to face increasing foreign competition. Negotiations of the project, despite their difficulties, are themselves a vital mechanism for considering the nature of the obstacles facing the Greater Arab Free Trade Area and how to overcome them. This ambitious project requires coordination between Arab trade policies, and reducing their complex links to trade agreements between Arab countries and other countries across the world. The project also necessitates a detailed review of the structure of various macroeconomic and sectoral policies to facilitate the establishment of a competitive Arab market, which invests in sectors that do not over-exploit Arab natural resources.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Over the past few years, ESCWA has intensified and focused its efforts on trade issues by preparing several technical reports and holding numerous meetings on the various aspects of intra- and inter-regional trade development, by focusing on mechanisms to liberalize trade in goods and services in the Arab region, and by promoting integration projects by facilitating labour force and capital movements.
ESCWA has also worked on developing consistent Arab trade policies to achieve the aims of trade agreements, as a driver of trade movement and an engine of growth.
The agenda items of the current session provide us with an opportunity to discuss economic challenges and the varied sources of economic growth, including advancing Arab economic integration or expanding it to cover other economic blocs, such as African countries and the European Union. The Committee will consider technical papers prepared by ESCWA specialists, which highlight the various aspects of the issues under consideration and provide recommendations to member States on comprehensively restructuring the economy and its sectors.
In conclusion, I would like to thank Bahrain for chairing the previous session of the Committee, and to wish Tunisia every success in chairing the current session. I would also like to thank our esteemed guests for their attendance and participation in this ESCWA activity. I hope that we all, through concerted efforts at every level, will move towards growth and prosperity for our countries and peoples.
Thank you.
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