His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Maliki, head of the Economic Affairs Sector, participated in the fifth meeting of the Board of Directors of the Aid for Trade Programme for Arab Countries (AfTIAS 2.0), held at the headquarters of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, in Jeddah.
In his opening remarks, His Excellency underscored the importance of cooperation between the League of Arab States' Economic Affairs Sector and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), as well as the significance of the activities implemented within the framework of the project supporting the advancement of the Arab Economic Integration System, which seeks to increase intra-Arab trade. He also stressed the programme's vital role in promoting sustainable economic development in the Arab region, stating: "The League of Arab States' participation in this programme reflects our commitment to strengthening Arab economic integration and providing technical and financial support to member states in addressing global trade challenges. We are committed to expanding the scope of projects to include more countries and to deepening regional partnerships."
At the conclusion of his speech, His Excellency welcomed the approval of a new cooperation project entitled "Enhancing the Competitiveness of Arab Countries to Improve Access to Global Markets," which represents a new model of productive cooperation between the General Secretariat and the Corporation.
The meeting discussed several key topics, including the future plans of the programme in its second phase (AfTIAS 2.0), aimed at improving the regional trade environment and enhancing the economic competitiveness of Arab countries. It reviewed the efforts of participating entities to promote economic and trade integration among Arab states, evaluated the outcomes of previous projects, and explored ways to further develop the programme to address regional economic challenges. The meeting also reviewed the programme's efforts to strengthen the trade capacities of Arab countries by facilitating access to international markets and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in addition to assisting Arab countries in joining the World Trade Organisation, improving trade infrastructure, enhancing trade corridors, and training youth and workers in export-related fields—efforts that will contribute to improving the overall trade system in the Arab region.
