Arab Maghreb finance ministers discuss the free zone

Ministers of economy and finance in the Arab Maghreb states unanimously said that the regional and international economic conditions following the incidents of September 11 makes it imperative for the Maghreb Union to implement projects pertaining to the foundation of a free Maghreb trade area, to establish a Maghreb Bank for trade and foreign investment. Projects which were all agreed upon during the 10th session of the ministerial committee in charge economic and financial affairs which met in Tripoli ( Libya) in March 2001.

The five finance ministers in the Arab Maghreb member states considered during the 11th session of the ministerial committee in charge of economy and finance which met in Rabat that the task of this session will be on putting the final touches to approve these two projects and ratify them at the ministerial level and then submit them to the council of the Union's presidium.

The Tunisian minister of state for economic affairs Muhammad Omar said that the project to found a free Maghreb free zone was initiated since 1994 and that the project has now become ready at the level of experts as well as the work team formed to complete the project and now it is time to for implementation.