The Arab region is far from unleashing its potential



[ad_1]

The Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said that despite the efforts made in recent years to improve economic conditions, particularly in the infrastructure, transport and communications sectors, the Arab region is still far from launch its potential and achieve its aspirations.

Aboul Gheit said in his speech before the opening session of the Arab economic and social summit in the Lebanese capital Beirut today that it is still more than half of world exports of Arab oil products, emphasizing that there is a greater need to work for diversify economies to protect them from the associated fluctuations Energy prices.

"There is also the need to improve the business environment, improve competitiveness and stimulate entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship," he said.

"However, the region, with few exceptions, still lacks sufficient volume of economic activity with high productivity and high added value and is also unprepared to engage in the digital economy of the future, based on innovation and creativity.

He underlined that the "Beirut Summit" takes place after an absence of six years, during which we have had the most difficult events, during which some of our countries have faced – and still are – the various types of security challenges, political unrest and humanitarian crises. The most serious associated with achieving global development, and responding to crises and social problems that often accompany the process of growth and modernization.

The Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, declared: "The facts of the Arab world in its contemporary history have shown that development, security and stability are all gaps in a single interconnected system … without continuous development without an umbrella of stability and security, and ensuring the continuation of its journey without interruption .. And no real stability and sustainability without global growth that touches the aspects of life of all human beings .. and meet and improve quality.

In a speech, Aboul Gheit addressed the opening session of the Arab economic and social summit in the Lebanese capital of Beirut today. "The right to development has become known, even if not easy or accessible, determining factors and requirements The first, of course, is the attainment of high rates of economic growth of at least 6 or 7% per year over a long period of time, although there is a slight improvement in the rate of economic growth expected in the Arab region, which is 2.7% during the year However, these rates are still insufficient to support Moreover, the continuation and continuity of the matter depend from the stability of the political situation and security that some of our countries and our communities are still paying the price of their absence in recent years.

Therefore, the main gap that separates us from developments in the world economy is mainly linked to human capital: knowledge and innovation, not production or services, have become the largest generator of high added value. under the acceleration of the phenomenon called the Fourth Industrial Revolution with its various applications.

"Preparing to face the consequences of this technological revolution should be our highest priority in the next phase: more effort is needed to narrow the digital divide with other regions of the world: more than half the population of the Arab world is not connected to the Internet, Arabs are among the youngest in the world: if we do not exploit this "demographic window", this youth block will turn into a burden for economies and even an engine of unrest, and probably a fertile environment for various forms of religious and political extremism.

In turn, he said, "Desired growth is a human instrument and its human purpose is human and can only be achieved by investing in education and health, food and clothing, culture and awareness … education, which is the main factor in the construction and accumulation of human capital.The Arab world needs a real pause with regard to low levels of education and deterioration in it.The most serious is the growing gap between education and the labor market and the weak relationship between educational outcomes and the needs for overall growth.

"If we talk about education and results, we should not lose sight of the central role of the educational system, as well as the media, in combating extremist ideology and building a true social conscience that wastes the extremism and the extremism in all its forms and manifestations. " We follow your efforts, Majesty, Excellencies and Elevations. "Addressing this wrong thinking with all the courage and spirit of historical responsibility to defend the future of this nation, which will be built only on true awareness, and a culture that accepts diversity and diversity, and a mind that speaks with the other giving and giving, acceptance and rejection … without causing dialogue to hate or rejection becomes violence. "

The Arab League general secretary Ahmed Aboul Gheit said: "The right to accelerate the recovery of the greatest number of people from the abyss of extreme poverty is the best way to dry up sources of extremism and terrorism. it is measured not only by income indicators, but by educational opportunities, by the availability of health care and by the conditions of life. It is true that the Arab countries have achieved remarkable successes in reducing extreme poverty. However, a considerable mass of the population in a number of Arab countries is still Centered around it, this year the Secretariat undertook, in collaboration with United Nations GS, the issuance of a comprehensive report and the reviewer on the "Arab Strategic Framework" to eliminate multidimensional poverty ".. contains a series of recommendations and ideas taken into consideration and consideration".

Aboul Gheit said in his speech at the opening session of the Arab economic and social summit in the Lebanese capital Beirut today, the social question, saying: "In addition to the urgency of the social question, some of our countries have experienced crises that have caused waves of asylum and displacement Unfortunately, about half of the refugees and displaced people in the world … Just know that about 4 million children in the Syrian Republic have left their schools because of the war there for seven years ".

"Just follow the serious humanitarian crises in both Somalia and Yemen, without forgetting the tragic reality that our people in Palestine suffers every day because of the closure, siege and unfair practices imposed by the Israeli occupation: just know all this, The battle for development in many parts of our Arab world is not conducted in natural conditions or in a favorable environment, but in difficult conditions and in a fragile environment ".

Aboul Gheit said that "the hope here is to show more solidarity and solidarity to support and support companies under pressure from these humanitarian crises, including Lebanon and Jordan, which have brought many things to fulfill the Arab religion. and the duty of humanity ".

"Challenges for sustainable development require that Arab governments take the future into account," he said, "we need to tackle difficult or postpone questions without delay … questions about food for over 360 million Arabs … conservation of scarce Arab water resources, which does not exceed 1% of the world's fresh water resources, how to develop them and guarantee their sustainability Questions on managing the energy mix relying more on renewable sources Questions on global Arab plans to tackle the world's confusing phenomena such as climate change and development. Technologies that threaten traditional works ".

"There is a bright spot that deserves to be mentioned: the negotiation of the Great Arab Free Trade Area has already achieved its goal: about 95% of the detailed rules of origin have been completed and it is hoped that this complementary economic system will be completed, Commercial services, as soon as possible .. It is not acceptable that interchange between our countries at current rates, which do not exceed 12% of the total trade of Arab countries.

"It is not acceptable for the Arab region to remain the least global in terms of economic integration, with all the potential offered by this integration to promote Arab economies and contribute to the diversification of its activities." The topics on the agenda for this summit include a series of initiatives, Economic Integration, and we are all eager to implement these initiatives to bring us closer to the path of Arab economic integration. "

Abul-Gheit concluded by saying that "our people throughout the Arab world seek stability, far from the evils of turbulence and a complete rebirth that brings them to the age with its subsequent developments, shareholders who are not spectators … who interact and do not receive … they do not see the time to see their children live A better life than those who lived … healthier, more educated and more authoritative … and we are confident that our country is able to recover.

[ad_2]
Source link