The UAE is currently participating in the 44th meeting of the implementation and follow-up committee of the Arab League Economic and Social Council, which started today in Cairo at the level of high-profile officials, to discuss efforts of the pan-Arab Greater Arab Free Trade Area, GAFTA, to facilitate trade between Arab countries.

The UAE delegation was headed by Mohammed Saleh Shelwah, Advisor to the Minister of Economy, and included Ahmed Abdullah bin Sulaiman, Representative of the Department of Agreements and Joint Committees at the Ministry.

Ambassador Kamal Hassan Ali, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs at the Arab League, stated that the three-day meeting will discuss several items, most notably a follow-up report on the implementation of GAFTA, in the light of the resolutions issued by the 100th session of the Arab League Economic and Social Council, and those concerning a proposed mechanism to oblige Arab countries to adopt the council’s resolutions.

In his remarks on the sidelines of the meeting, Ambassador Ali spoke about several issues related to the liberalisation of services trade, as well as tackling a disputed settlement mechanism for Arab countries that are members of GAFTA.