Pan-Arab maritime link to foster trade

The setting up of a Maritime link "Mashreq-Maghreb (Arab east and west)" among the Arab states will foster their trade, said in Casablanca Tuesday director of Morocco's Merchant Navy, Miloud Loukili.

Speaking at the opening of the second meeting of Arab maritime transport experts, Loukili stressed the importance of merchant navy assets, which, he said, must be exploited to give a fresh impetus to inter-Arab trade.

He called for the upgrading of the Arab fleet to cope with the globalization of markets, where international groups, which absorb 72% of the world market, are consolidating their positions.

Such upgrade is necessary, especially that 90% of Arab trade is conducted by sea, he insisted.