Sharp increase in Arab states' economic growth rate

The gross domestic products of 13 Arab countries have grown by rates ranging from four percent to 7% in 1996.

A statement by the Kuwait-based Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation said last month that the highest growth was registered by Mauritania at seven percent followed by Tunis at 6.90%. Jordan's GDP grew by 5.2% last year, Egypt's by 4.9% Sudan's by 4.7%, Yemen's by 4.5% and Algeria's by 4.4%. GDPs of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon and Morocco grew by four percent each.

The statement noted that the provided information was based on data supplied by the countries themselves.

It also noted Palestinian self-rule areas registered a negative growth (three percent last year).