Arab Organization for Industrial and Mining Development preparatory meeting

The Arab organization for industrial and mining development (based in Rabat) opened in Rabat Saturday works of the preparatory committee of the organization's 16th ministerial council.

Opening the meeting, director general of the organization, Talaat Ben Dafer Addafer, highlighted the efforts made by the organization's executive council in drafting decisions which meet the changes sweeping over the economies of the Arab states and its support to the actions aimed at setting up an Arab free- trade area.

He surveyed the organization's activities for the last two years describing as positive the achievements made by this institution.

He further described as ambitious the organization's action plan for the two years to come which is likely to contribute to the development of industry in the Arab states and appealed to the Arab states to provide the organization with financial and human means to help fulfill its goals.

The organization's 16th ministerial council will be held June 13-14 to examine the organization's agenda and budget for the two coming years and ways to implement the convention on trade exchanges through the setting up of a large Arab free trade zone. A draft agreement on certificates of origin of Arab industrial products is also on the agenda.