Sana’a Conference joins forces for Arab Industries development [Archives:2002/40/Business & Economy]

REPORTED BY MAHYOUB AL-KAMALI
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
The Regional Conference on Arab Industries Development (RCAID) has united Arabs efforts in two orientations; (1), the development of national industries and self-reliance and (2), facing foreign attempts for dumping Arab markets with foreign products and consumer protection.
The conference, held in Sana’a on 15-18 September 2002, had constituted an important axis for discussing specifications and standardizations on which Arab national industries are based in order to compete with commodities imported from outside the Arab region. The Yemeni party, represented by the Center of Market Studies and Researches, that sponsored the conference, was able to get acquainted with Arab countries experiments to benefit from them in tackling hindrances facing Yemeni industries and to embark on increasing Yemen’s exports to Arab markets.
Working papers of the RCAID had confirmed the importance of habilitating the Arab industries and engaging civil society organizations in protecting Arab consumer against harms of the excessive inflow of foreign industries products into Arab markets.
Visions of participants in the RCAID were with one accord regarding continuation in coordination of efforts among all Arab countries for building Pan-Arab industry creating inter-Arab trade and establishing Arab Free Zone.
The conferees were also unanimous about the exchange of information, experiences and experiments for facing challenges of world industry in the Arab world and for protecting the consumer. The conference had also focused on studying the Arab industries current situation by reviewing experiments of 15 Arab countries, circumstances emerging from fears of negative impact for liberalization of world trade.
Moreover, opinions were unanimous on the significance of offering facilities to industrialists in ports and transport as well as providing metal raw materials and working for easing customs and taxes restraints imposed on local goods.
The conferees have also discussed the negative reflections and opportunities provided by agreements of the World Trade Organization for development and protection of less developed nations industries. In the very same direction , the working papers have confirmed that there are inconveniences that must be avoided and should not be repeated especially as the Arab countries, members of the World Trade Organization, have become a market for only industrialized countries.
The conference has also drawn the attention to the necessity of differentiation between freedom of trade and free trade and also preparation of studies on world markets and opportunities available for exporting to them.
It is therefore the conference is considered an Arab regional economic demonstration aimed at uniting Arab energies, enhancing exchange of expertise in a bid to develop and upgrade Arab industries and to developing trade exchange among the Arab countries. Arabs are in further need to unify their investments in industry and draw their assets abroad to be operated in this field and face the challenges of globalization.

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