Pan-Arab economic, social council starts talks in Cairo

CAIRO, Aug 29 (KUNA) -- Senior officials from Arab countries, including Kuwait, assembled in the Egyptian capital on Sunday for talks on economic and social matters, ahead of a forthcoming regional summit slated for Bahrain next year.

Chief among the matters to be discussed is efforts to enhance food security in the wider Arab region, the Cario-based Arab League's Assistant Secretary General and Social Affairs chief Hayfa AbuGhazala told the gathering, citing the establishment of a free Arab trade zone as another pressing matter.
Plans to bring sustained development goals to fruition, which include pushing forward a digital drive in crucial sectors such as education as part of a 2030 long-term strategy, will also top the agenda for the talks, the official added.
The chiefs of the Yemeni and Mauritanian delegations, Ali Mousa and Husni Al-Fakiya, respectively, agreed that the talks come at a critical juncture, one which is rife with hardships ranging from inflation to power shortages, all of which have been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. (end) mfm.nam.