Arab states give greater focus to African cooperation

Arab states' permanent representatives on Thursday held a meeting chaired by the Arab League's assistant secretary general for political affairs to discuss means of reactivating Afro-Arab cooperation.

The representatives will discuss proposals to boost this cooperation and draft an Arab perspective on how to implement such cooperation so as to submit it to the next meeting of the AL council on the foreign ministers level to be convened next Tuesday.

The representatives assigned the General Federation of the Arab Chambers of Commerce to draw an information base on opportunities for investment, commercial exchange and establishing joint chambers of commerce, giving top priority to the establishment of an Arab-African trade zone as well as to assigning the council of Arab ministers of communication to enact a plan for developing land, sea and air communications between the two groups.

Many in the Arab states' business companies see great opportunities to expand their sales into the African market with Egypt making greatest inroads and effort in the region.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa briefed Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri yesterday on the results of his tour with African businessmen during which it was decided to pursue the implementation of the agreement between Egypt and African countries and to establish permanent exhibitions for Egyptian products in African capitals.