This workshop on “The
Regional Economic Integration in the Arab Countries: Survey Research and Policy Issues” was organized by
The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies and the Center
for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan.
The workshop
presented the results of a two-year program of general public opinion
surveys and sectoral firm surveys in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine
and Syria, investigating the perceptions and attitudes of the general
public and major economic actors (in agriculture, industry, tourism
and information technology) toward economic and trade relations between
the five countries.
The research program was conducted by researchers
belonging to five partnering centers: The Center for Strategic Studies
at the University of Jordan (Coordinator), The Lebanese Center for
Policy Studies in Beirut, Al-Ahram
Center for Strategic Studies in Egypt, The Center for Strategic
Studies at Damascus University in Syria, and The
Jerusalem Media and Communication Center in Palestine.
The research program,
the first of its kind, covered issues such as characteristics of imports
and exports among the five countries; market opportunities and perceived
competitive advantages; evaluation of the customs, quotas, trade barriers,
and other obstacles to integration: assessment of existing treaties
and protocols; marketing and competition strategies; issues of corporate
capacity and internal management; attitudes towards export and transaction
potential and closer economic and trade integration and other issues
affecting the development of strong economic relations between the
Arab Machrek countries.
Presented by the research
teams of the five countries, the results were followed by a discussion
of the policy implications and changes required to better promote
economic integration and sustainable development among concerned Arab
countries, by expanding their capabilities and preparedness for intra-regional
and international trading and cooperation.
