Committee: Arab League
Topic: Deepening Arab Trade and Intra- Arab Economic Integration
Main Submitter: Delegate of Saudi Arabia
Co- Submitters: Delegate of UAE, and Delegate of Qatar
Recalling the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) as a key framework to eliminate
tariffs among Arab countries,
Acknowledging the weakness of logistical connectivity and digital infrastructure across
many Arab countries as a core barrier to economic integration,
Noting with concern that political instability, armed conflict, and inconsistent legal
frameworks deter intra-Arab investments and trade flows,
Recognizing the importance of private sector participation, including SMEs and regional
investors, in accelerating integration goals,
Conscious of the digital divide between Arab states and the potential exclusion of Least
Developed Arab Countries (LDACs) from regional benefits,
Recognizing the crucial role of economic integration in achieving the goals of the Arab
League, including stability, prosperity, and political solidarity,
Affirming the need to empower the Arab private sector and promote entrepreneurships
as essential components for sustainable regional growth,
Noting with concern the persistence of tariff and non-tariff barriers, infrastructure
limitations, and regulatory differences that hinder the full realization of intra-Arab trade,
Encouraged by regional initiatives aiming to promote joint investments, industrial
linkages, and free zones as tools for accelerating economic integration,
1. Recommends the full operationalization of the GAFTA Compliance Authority (GCA)
under the Arab League to:
a. Ensuring transparency in tariff reduction commitments;
i. ensuring this transparency by reporting monthly analysis stating all the
progress done during that period;
b. Regularly auditing and publishing compliance reports by member states;
c. Collaborate with the Arab Monetary Fund to provide technical assistance for
reforms;
i. In order to reach deeper regional integrations
ii. Funded by the strong gulf nations such as KSA, UAE, and Qatar
d. Establishing a digital GAFTA portal for real-time trade data and updates;
i. A regionally-interoperable e-payment system supported by Arab central
banks and MENA Fintech Association,
2. Calls for the establishment of the Arab Integration Support Fund (AISF) under the Arab
Monetary Fund, to:
a. Offer loans to countries modernizing customs systems and logistics;
i. provide funds by GCC countries and Arab countries that have the ability to
fund;
ii. contribute to the countries by the supervision of AMF and economic and
social council;
b. Provide subsidies for SMEs engaged in intra-Arab trade;
c. Be managed by a joint board of representatives from AMF, Arab League, and
Chambers of Commerce;
3. Works on diversifying the economy of Arab Nations through increasing the funding and
focus on other economic sectors in the country such as:
a. Agriculture, technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, service sectors…;
b. Performing studies by each government that will focus on researching the most
profitable economic sectors to increase funding and working on them which will help
in diversifying the economy away from oil;
i. Taking into consideration the 2030 Vision of Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, Qatar and the most integrated energy market;
4. Encourages developing current trade corridors and joint infrastructure in order to
connect Arab countries:
a. Enhancing infrastructure projects to facilitate trades between Arab countries by
making transportations costs cheaper and more feasible;
b. The infrastructure will be constructed by local business and the money from it will be
provided by countries willing to fund such as Bahrain, KSA, UAE, and Qatar etc;
c. The GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), Arab Industrial Development
Organization, and national quality agencies,
i. Which will draft unified protocols for product safety, licensing, and labeling by
2027;
ii. Establishing unified product certification processes,
iii. Promoting mutual recognition of licenses and standards;
5. Encourages political dialogue and stability frameworks to ensure safe trade zones, by:
a. Focuses on peace economic corridors under Arab league supervision in post-conflict
regions (e.g. Libya, Yemen, Sudan, Syria);
b. With support from Arab League Unity Council, and regional diplomacy with legal
support from OECD Investment Policy Division;
c. Have a mediator ([Link]) to ensure peaceful diplomatic dialogue in order to solve
regional conflicts;
d. Implement the blue helmets who will focus on ensuring safety on the trade boarders
of internally unstable countries;