Preliminary Meeting in Geneva to Launch Arab Coalition for Bilateral Trade

    The Coalition will strengthen the role of the services sector within the global trade system - Abu-Ghazaleh

GENEVA --- January 16, 2008 --- On behalf of founders of the Arab Coalition for Bilateral Trade, which is still in its development phase, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman of the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAGorg), called for a preliminary meeting to convene on February 4, 2008 at the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva, to officially announce the launch of the Coalition.

"The Coalition will support the role of the services sector in bilateral trade and national economies of the Arab countries," Abu-Ghazaleh said.

"This preliminary meeting will determine the specifics of establishing such a coalition; its administration and headquarters as a regional and private Arab foundation," he added.

Also participating in the meeting will be His Excellency Mr. Adnan Kassar, President of the Union of Chambers of Industry and Commerce in the Arab countries. Additionally, officials from the WTO, Arab ambassadors in Geneva and high-ranking leaders from the private sector in the Arab world, will also be attending.

It is worth noting that the services sector represents 80% of the national economy, and according to the definition of the WTO, includes 154 major sectors, each of which includes various activities.

The establishment of this coalition comes in harmony with the rapid development in information and communications technology as well as e-commerce sectors in the Arab region. 

Representatives from chambers of commerce, businesses, societies and companies in the services sector, are expected to attend the meeting.