The Secretary General of the Union of Arab Chambers, Dr. Khaled Hanafy, pointed out that "the relationship between the Arab countries, Argentina and South American countries is not new, and it has continued to develop and progress in various circumstances and times, as it has proven in the recent difficult period its strength and prospects for future development."
Hanafy’s words came during the launching the permanent exhibition hall is an interactive web platform by the Arab-Argentine Chamber, in which the Argentine and Arab exporter is able to display and promote his products and contact importers directly, under the auspices of the President of the Argentine Republic, and the presence of the Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs and the national and regional authorities, in addition to the participation of a group of representative entities of Argentine production.
Hanafy noted the importance of this platform mainly aimed at promoting trade in a market of more than 500 million consumers who need to import not only foodstuffs but also industrial products such as medical and technological products, electrical installation products, metallurgy industry, agricultural machinery, software industry, fashion industry, besides the rest of the industrial sectors.
He also pointed out that “the Union of Arab Chambers, which is the true representative of the Arab private sector, contributes 75 percent of the Arab GDP, employs 75 percent of the labor force, and includes 22 federations of Arab chambers, in addition to 16 joint Arab-Foreign chambers, one of them is the Argentine Arab Chamber, which has played a very vital role in promoting cooperation and common interests, and exploring prospects for future cooperation in line with the ambitious aspirations of both sides.
He stressed that despite the negative repercussions caused by the spread of the "Covid-19" virus, trade between Argentina and some Arab countries continues to register growth and has shown flexibility and vitality,
Hanafy considered that "the current circumstances necessitate deepening cooperation and moving forward by building sustainable industrial networks and strengthening supply chains by focusing on cooperation in the areas provided by the Fourth Industrial Revolution."
He also considered that "the challenge today is not limited to establishing productive projects, but rather to produce high-quality products and services linked to the ability to creativity, innovation, leadership and solutions that keep pace with new challenges," noting that "we need to invest what the Arab-Argentine cooperation provides in the framework of the fourth industrial revolution and its digital components from big data, the Internet of things, artificial intelligence, block chain, and 3D printing, which have enormous economic potential, in addition to other technologies such as Nano and renewable energy technologies.
He also stressed that the Corona pandemic imposed a new reality, which should be dealt with by changing the traditional pattern of economic cooperation based on import and export, to go beyond building a strategic partnership, and from this point of view it is important to cooperate to employ these energies in the fields of e-commerce, investment sectors, traditional and renewable energy, science and technology, industry, health, tourism, rural development and technological agriculture, in addition to enhancing investment in commercial cooperation projects, especially logistics and marine services, financial technology, research and development.
Hanafy considered that the existing cooperation between the Arab countries and the countries of South America, especially Argentina, is not consistent with the tremendous economic, trade and investment capabilities of the two parties, pointing out that there are still abundant areas for expanding and deepening cooperation through maritime and logistical links, calling for creating a stimulating environment for attracting investments in the Arab region and the South American region, through quick procedures and the application of mechanisms and initiatives such as the single window system for all procedures or the accreditation of licensed economic agents, in addition to signing agreements on mutual recognition of the procedures adopted by each country to facilitate and accelerate intra-trade.
Source (Union of Arab Chambers)
