Transport ministers and representatives from 12 Arab countries on Thursday approved a Jordanian plan to facilitate inter-Arab trade and formed a technical committee to study details of the blueprint. During a one-day consultative meeting in Amman, the Arab ministers discussed the proposal and approved it as an advanced step before making new moves toward cooperation in transportation sector, Transport Minister Sahel Majali said. In a joint press conference with Mohammad Twaijri, assistant secretary general of the Arab League for Economic Affairs, following the meeting, Majali said the ministers selected Jordan to head the committee, adding that it will include seven members: Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Tunisia, Oman and Kuwait in addition to the general assembly of the Arab League. Jordan and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia prepared the proposal, which is considered the first practical move by an Arab country towards better joint Arab action, Twaijri said. “Although integrating the transport system in Arab countries faces many obstacles, the ministers showed determination to overcome such difficulties,” Majali said. “We have to provide Arab leaders with our plan by 2011” Twaijri said, adding that “today's meeting is part of the ongoing efforts to overcome the rising challenges relating to integration of Arab transportation.” “As part of the proposal, we have discussed several issues, including custom procedures between Arab countries, visa and movement of people, goods and services, in addition to the establishment of a railway network to connect regional markets,” Majali added. “For the first time ever, we are talking about an Arab customs union,” Twaijri said. He commended the Jordanian initiative adding that the first step to reinforce Arab cooperation in transportation sector is to “obtain political will from the countries”. The Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported that after concluding their gathering, the Arab ministers briefed Prime Minister Nader Dahabi on the objective of their meeting, especially the committee that was agreed upon. Dahabi said Jordan supports efforts of the Arab Transport Ministers Council to facilitate inter-Arab trade. He stressed that Jordan will cooperate with neighboring Arab countries in this regard.
