On Saturday, the Libyan Minister of Economy and Trade in the Government of National Unity (GNU), Mohamed Al-Hwaij, took part in the 111th session of the Arab League Economic and Social Council (ESC) held at the ministerial level at the Arab League premises in Cairo.
In a statement, the Libyan Ministry of Economy and Trade stated that they discussed ways to activate the Greater Arab Free Trade Zone and a number of economic and social files in the Arab region. These contribute to enhancing trade exchange and facilitating the flow of goods and services among all Arab countries.
Al-Hwaij stressed that the meeting attached great importance to many economic and social issues that directly affect Arab citizen. This requires intensified efforts to face the difficulties and challenges facing the region, especially with regard to challenges of food security as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
Notably, the attendees requested a study of a proposal to launch a funding agency for food imports to the most vulnerable Arab states, emphasizing the need to provide the institutional and legislative environment as well as work with the international community and United Narions (UN) organisations.
In addition, the council members urged Arab agriculture companies to benefit from the Arab Digital Gate for the export of food commodities as well as to utilise the services it provides to build networks with stakeholders and improve their exporting competitiveness.
The session reviewed the agenda of the upcoming 31st Arab League Council Summit, which will be held in Riyadh in 2023. This includes the requirements for the establishment of an Arab trade zone and customs union, bilateral tourism agreements, a telecommunications strategy, and the Arab digital agenda.
The council also welcomed the membership of Somalia in the greater Arab free-trade zone and welcomed an initiative by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to establish a platform to address the obstacles to the greater Arab free-trade zone.
Furthermore, Arab countries were asked to provide technical support for the establishment of a logistics zone in the state of Palestine as well as investments in Jerusalem in support of the Palestinian economy.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Libyan Ambassador met with the Palestinian Minister of Economy, and they agreed to send a delegation of Libyan businessmen to Palestine to consider ways of enhancing cooperation in the field of investment and trade exchange.
He also exchanged views with the Tunisian Minister of Trade on ways aim to foster bilateral cooperation between the two countries.