Session of Arab economic, social council kicks off in Cairo

CAIRO - 20 December 2018: Session of the Arab Economic and Social Council kicked off on Thursday at the headquarters of the Arab League (AL), headed by Iraqi Trade Minister Mohamed Hashim Al Ani, and in the presence of the two AL aides to secretary general for social and economic affairs.

The meeting is expected to identify the agenda's items of the upcoming Arab summit slated for January 2019 in Beirut.

The agenda includes 23 items, notably the AL secretary general's report on the joint Arab economic, social and development action, and a report on following up the implementation of resolutions issued in previous Arab summits.

Among the topics scheduled to be raised in the next Arab summit are the issue of Arab food security.

Concerning the Arab food security, the Arab leaders will review Sudanese President Omar al Bashir's initiative on Arab food security, and the Arab food security emergency program, as well as livestock products in the Arab region.

The Arab Summit is slated to discuss an item on the developments of establishing a greater Arab free trade zone and finalizing requirements for constructing an Arab customs union, the Arab charter for promoting the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector, in addition to the Arab strategy for sustainable energy 2030, and the launching of an Arab common market for electricity.

The Arab Summit is scheduled to shed light on means of supporting Palestine's economy and providing funding for development purposes, in addition to an Arab strategy for child protection in the Arab region.

The Arab leaders are expected to probe a proposal offered by Jordan on the economic and social burdens it endures for hosting Syrian refugees, in addition to challenges faced by the UNRWA.