Four arab countries to discuss setting up of free trade zone next week in Rabat
Regional, Economics, 5/3/2001

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia will hold a meeting in Rabat May 9 to look into the possibility to set up a free trade area between the four states.

The meeting, to convene at Morocco's initiative, will elaborate a new approach meant to guarantee a climate likely to give momentum to inter-Arab economic cooperation in the prospect of the creation of a common Arab market, a statement by the Moroccan ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation said.

The setting up of such a zone will help the emergence of a strong economic grouping able to take up the challenges of world economic developments and globalization by the deadline of 2010 when a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area is set to be created.

The creation of the free-trade area between the four Arab states will have as a frame the accords setting free-trade areas between these countries at the bilateral level as well as the partnership accords binding them or to bind them to the European Union, the statement said.

Egyptian vice-foreign minister in charge of cooperation with the EU, Jamal Bayoumi, had said last week in Cairo that the Rabat meeting will probe means of coordinating and consolidating the four states' stands in negotiations with the European Union.

Previous Stories:
  Four Arab states hold meeting in Rabat to coordinate stands with European Union   (4/24/2001)
  Why Egypt sees the need for an Arab Common market   (4/18/2001)
  Cabinet considered the decision to hold the First Arab Economic Conference in Cairo in November   (3/31/2001)

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