Cairo / Information Office / February 07

The 103rd session of the Arab Economic and Social Council at the level of the Arab ministries of economy starts Thursday at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League chaired by the Sultanate of Oman.

The State of Qatar is participating with a delegation headed by HE Deputy Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the Arab League Ambassador Hassan Al Mutawa.

The topics on the agenda come as part of advancing the course of economic and social development in Arab countries.

Ministers are discussing the preparation for the economic and social topic for the Council of the League of Arab States at its 30th session to be held in Tunisia in March, which is one of the main topics being discussed today, through the recommendations of the ministerial committees and specialised organization on the matter.

The session will also follow up on the decisions of the Arab-African Summit, and preparations for the fifth session to be held in Riyadh at the end of this year, which is important for promoting cooperation between both sides through developing joint work plan, which will positively reflect on the development conditions in the two regions, and will strengthen the common positions in international forums.

The ministers will also discuss means of enhancing Arab-international cooperation as one of the complementary items to enhance Arab cooperation with all partners, in addition to continuing the efforts of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area, follow up the developments of the Arab Customs Union, the implementation of the sustainable Arab agricultural development strategy and the executive plan of the emergency program for Arab food security, together with the need to strengthen the Arab Council for Population and Development as one of the important Arab initiatives in this field.