Lebanese-Egyptian committee on Arab common market

The supreme Lebanese-Egyptian meeting will convene from August 7-8 under the chairmanship of the prime ministers of two countries Dr. Ganzouri and Mr. Hariri.

A meeting for the preparatory committee will meet prior the supreme committee’s meetings, discuss and review the agenda which will tackle joint cooperation topices especially economic.

The establishment of an Arab common market will top the meeting's agenda, said an informed economic source.

This topic, according to the Egyptians, can deal with the existing economic blocs, added the source.

The two-day meeting will focus on establishment of a free trade zone between Lebanon and Egypt to be an example Arab market to help promote economic relations and trade between the two countries.

The supreme committee also discuss establishing joint companies in the commodity storage and marketing fields .

The size of Lebanese trade with Egypt in 1995 was 79 million U.S dollars, which dropped to 73 M.V.S dollars in 1996, 65 M. US dollars of which were from Lebanese imports of Egyptian products.