HIBAPRESS
The focus of workshops that started their activities on Thursday in Marrakech was "Defining the advantages granted within the framework of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area," with the participation of representatives from public institutions, economic actors, and professionals.
These workshops, organized by the League of Arab States (Economic Integration Department) in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services of the Marrakech-Safi region, aim to define the contents of Arab trade agreements and review best practices in the field of trade. They also aim to open an interactive discussion on the challenges facing national exports when accessing Arab markets and propose practical solutions to overcome them, in addition to enabling economic actors, especially small and medium enterprises, to access preferential privileges and simplify commercial procedures in a way that enhances their competitiveness. In a speech on the occasion, the head of the Commercial Relations Department with African, Arab, and Islamic countries at the State Secretariat in charge of Foreign Trade, Moulay M'hamed Moukail, confirmed that the Greater Arab Free Trade Area represents a promising strategic framework for strengthening Arab economic integration, given the market it provides, which includes more than 400 million consumers, noting, however, that "the volume of inter-Arab trade is still below the available potential, as it does not exceed 12 percent of the total trade of Arab countries." He highlighted a set of challenges related to non-tariff barriers, the complexity of procedures, and weak logistical connections, reviewing in this context support programs for companies, especially small and medium enterprises, to strengthen their presence in foreign markets. For her part, the Deputy Director of the Arab Economic Integration Department at the League of Arab States, Jawahir Badr Sultan, stressed that the current regional and international circumstances, which are characterized by accelerating economic transformations, require strengthening the benefit of existing integrative frameworks, foremost of which is the Greater Arab Free Trade Area. She pointed out that achieving Arab economic integration remains dependent on the extent of the private sector's involvement and its ability to invest in the opportunities provided by trade agreements. For his part, the General Director of the Regional Investment Center, Mahfoud Messaad, confirmed that the Kingdom has made economic openness and diversification of partnerships a strategic choice, which has enabled it to enhance its attractiveness as a destination for investment, production, and export. He noted that benefiting from free trade agreements, including the Arab region, requires strengthening the support for companies and facilitating their access to information, calling for a transition from the stage of potential to the stage of activation by transforming these agreements into tangible opportunities for the benefit of the economic fabric. In turn, the First Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services of the Marrakech-Safi region, Abd Elmoula Bellouti, highlighted that Morocco occupies a distinguished position within its Arab environment, thanks to its strategic location and its involvement in various economic initiatives, recalling the role played by the Kingdom, under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in consolidating economic partnerships based on the exchange of benefits and encouraging investment. He also pointed out the economic potentials of the Marrakech-Safi region, which qualify it to play an important role in trade exchanges, highlighting in this regard the chamber's efforts in supporting companies, enhancing their competitive capabilities, and facilitating their access to Arab markets. The program of these workshops, which will last for two days, includes a number of themes, including opportunities for access to Arab markets, rules of origin, and the Kingdom's position within the Arab trade space, in addition to the challenges associated with the flow of inter-trade, and the role of chambers of commerce in facilitating trade. The work of these workshops is expected to culminate in the formulation of a set of recommendations aimed at developing a future action plan to enhance cooperation with chambers of commerce, industry, and services, and support the integration of national companies into their Arab economic environment.
