1/19/2011 Arab leaders commend HH Kuwaiti Amir's SMEs initiative
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Several Arab leaders spoke highly of the initiative announced by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for establishing a fund for financing small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Addressing the Second Arab Economic and Social Development Summit, which kick-started here earlier in the day, Arab leaders hailed the first summit held in Kuwait in January 2009 for having produced effective resolutions and recommendations, chiefly the USD-2-billion-capital fund initiated by HH the Kuwaiti Amir.
Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir called for speeding up the implementation of previously agreed Arab projects, including power and railway linkage.
He also emphasized that the initiative launched by the World Bank and the Arab world in 2007 should be put in place, saying that it is complementary to HH the Amir's fund.
In his speech, Somali President Sheikh Sherif Ahmed extolled the outcomes of the Kuwait Summit, especially its significant economic and social resolutions.
He said today's gathering in Sharm El-Sheikh is a genuine opportunity for Arab leaders to follow up on the execution of resolutions made during the first economic gathering in Kuwait.
Moroccan King King Mohammed VI commended HH the Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his praiseworthy efforts to implement the resolutions of the first summit.
In the speech, read out on his behalf by Moroccan Prime Minister Abbas El-Fassi believed that to give concrete substance to Arab development efforts, it is necessary to achieve genuine cooperation, complementarity and integration. He also stressed the significance of encouraging the exchange of good practices and skills, within the framework of a comprehensive approach that can help enhance national programs, while making optimal use of tremendous human and natural resources in the Arab world.
Syrian Prime Minister Naji Al-Utri said the summit comes to show that Arab countries are determined to work together to ease out the reflections of the global financial crisis.
Arab countries need to achieve economic integration based on effective economic and financial strategies, he said.
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said social development involving education and human development is the key element for notching up comprehensive and sustainable development goals.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2139205&Language=en
