Khalifa Al Thani: The Necessity of Revitalizing the Intra-Arab Trade

  • Doha, State of Qatar
  • 30 August 2021
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The President of Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, emphasized the "necessity of revitalizing the intra-Arab trade, which is still weak and below the level of ambitions, as it represents only 10 percent of Arab countries' trade with the world."

H.E. pointed out that "this issue still needs solutions capable of returning intra-Arab trade to the right path. This weakness in the level of intra-Arab trade is no longer acceptable despite the existence of enormous potential, and despite the passage of two decades since the establishment of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area, that includes full customs exemptions, which is a catalyst for revitalizing intra-trade.

Sheikh Khalifa praised the meetings of the 131st session of the UAC Board of Directors, which was held recently with the participation of the heads of the federations and the heads of the chambers of commerce and industry in the Arab member states of the Union, and dealt, in addition to several topics, to the issue of revitalizing the inter-Arab trade. He also pointed out that "there is continuous coordination between the Arab Chambers of Commerce and Industry in this regard, as all parties are doing diligent work in order to promote the intra-Arab trade and mutual investments, and the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Arab Countries works through all its members from the Arab federations and chambers to encourage intra-regional trade and supporting the GAFTA, leading to the Arab Common Market.

Source (Al-Raya Newspaper-Qatar, Edited)