English - unctad xiii
English - unctad xiii
English - unctad xiii
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of natural persons, outsourcing of ICT-enabled business services, construction and<br />
tourism. Among the Arab countries, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco rely on<br />
services for over 40 per cent of their total exports while a few countries have become<br />
important players in certain services, such as Egypt in transport and tourism, and<br />
Kuwait in communication services.<br />
Most Gulf countries, on account of their large oil exports, have a very low<br />
reliance on services exports (in the range of 3-10 per cent), which represents a<br />
challenge for our economies. However, we are also witnessing the emergence of<br />
world class service industries and firms in the region, such as in the areas of marine<br />
terminal operations and development, logistics, communication and financial services.<br />
As a vibrant service sector represents a formidable opportunity for economic<br />
diversification, employment creation and greater competitiveness, the sector is a<br />
“must” for any country wishing to attain incisive and sustained growth to build<br />
effective regulatory and institutional frameworks on services. Services also represent<br />
the future for youth and women in the Arab world. International and regional trade<br />
cooperation and integration also play a key role.<br />
Ladies and Gentlemen,<br />
We are here today in our capacities as governmental leaders, business leaders,<br />
regulators, practitioners, civil society and other stakeholders. We share a common<br />
stake in a healthy and prosperous services economy and trade. As such, we have the<br />
responsibility to promote economic and regulatory conditions necessary to make<br />
services economies and trade effective instruments for inclusive development and<br />
poverty eradication.<br />
Therefore, it is my hope that this Forum will provide us with an opportunity to<br />
reflect on challenges and opportunities facing the services industries, to engage in an<br />
exchange of experiences and lessons learned in our search for best practices, and to<br />
consider options for future actions and partnership in order to respond to the<br />
challenges posed upon these industries in the 21st century.<br />
One of the concrete outcomes of the Forum will be to expand our networks<br />
and partnerships among our governments, organizations and businesses, and place our<br />
cooperation on a lasting foothold. Therefore, building on this success, I would suggest<br />
institutionalizing the Global Services Forum so that we can all meet regularly.<br />
I strongly encourage the establishment of an Arab Coalition of Services<br />
Industries to increase production and exports of services in the region. As you may be<br />
aware, an effective and cooperative structure among services industries, firms, and<br />
national services associations in the region is yet to be fully developed, despite its<br />
vibrant services economy. Such a regional institutional framework will be useful not<br />
only in promoting our cooperation within and beyond the region but also in<br />
showcasing to the world the importance attached to services by the region.<br />
I wish you all a great success in your deliberations.<br />
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