Jordan participated in the ministerial-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council during its 117th regular session, held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in Cairo.
اضافة اعلان
Jordan’s delegation was headed by the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States, Ambassador Amjad Al-Adaileh. The session was chaired by Algeria, the current chair of the Economic and Social Council. The ministerial meeting was preceded by preparatory meetings at the level of senior officials.
During its deliberations, the Council approved the proposal submitted by Jordan regarding the Arab Network for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), expressing appreciation for Jordan’s initiative, which is expected to serve Arab economic cooperation, contribute to economic integration among member states, and strengthen communication among entrepreneurs and SMEs across the Arab region.
The Council also discussed Jordan’s initiative to develop the first interactive Arab glossary of sustainability and circular economy terms, a new step in advancing Arab economic affairs, particularly in light of the evolving dimensions of sustainability and the economy toward innovative and entrepreneurial frameworks.
The Jordanian delegation delivered interventions and remarks aimed at fostering consensus among Arab states on issues related to economic and social cooperation included on the Council’s agenda, contributing to the achievement of shared objectives pursued by the Economic and Social Council under the umbrella of the League of Arab States.
The meeting’s agenda included key topics that had been studied and prepared by technical experts, specialists, and senior officials accredited by Arab states to the Economic and Social Council. The meeting also examined the difficult humanitarian and economic conditions stemming from instability in several Arab countries, foremost among them the humanitarian situations in Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, and Somalia.
Discussions further covered the Greater Arab Free Trade Area and developments related to the Arab Customs Union, investment in Arab countries as a driver of economic growth, the establishment of the Arab Ministerial Council for Artificial Intelligence and the future impact of AI on the labor market, support for the developmental needs plan and infrastructure projects in the Republic of Yemen, support for Palestinian airlines, the development of Sudanese human resources capacities, and the launch of the Arab Population Excellence Award.
The Jordanian delegation, headed by Ambassador Al-Adaileh, included Economic Attaché Wafaa Jreis, Diplomatic Attaché Hussein Al-Shibli, Assistant Economic Attaché Mohammad Abu Al-Ragheb, as well as Rami Al-Qudah and Shaimaa Al-Masarweh from the Directorate of External Trade Policies at the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
In his opening address, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit addressed the protracted humanitarian crises in Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, and Somalia, noting that more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are living under dire humanitarian conditions. He added that Sudan is experiencing the longest disruption to education in modern history, with around 12 million children deprived of schooling for three consecutive years, carrying catastrophic consequences for the country’s future.
Aboul Gheit pointed out that the global economy is undergoing a difficult testing phase amid rising protectionist policies and declining confidence in international trade relations. He emphasized that the Arab world possesses an important comparative advantage in its shared language and cultural proximity, enabling it to build an integrated system of interdependence if this advantage is effectively leveraged.
He stressed that artificial intelligence represents a strategic opportunity that Arab countries should not miss, calling for the development of effective Arab mechanisms to exchange expertise and best practices in a manner that serves higher Arab interests and safeguards national constants, while also paying close attention to its challenges and impacts on the labor market.
The Secretary-General also highlighted the Arab Vision 2045, adopted by the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in Baghdad, which is based on six main pillars: security, justice, innovation, balanced development, diversity, and cultural and civilizational renewal.
— (Petra)
