THE MULTILATERAL TALKS
WORKING GROUP ON REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Rabat - June 15-16, 1994
The round of talks at Rabat centered around two major subjects:
1. Advancing the implementation of the Copenhagen Action Plan which
comprises 35 projects.
2. Establishing a monitoring committee as a tool to formulate a regional
agenda and set priorities for the Working Group on Regional Economic
Development.
The Copenhagen Plan set forth an ambitious program. In an effort to invest
the talks with practical and substantial content and to make the Rabat
round a stimulus for significant progress in the Working Group, the
European gavel holder proposed the establishment of a monitoring
committee. This committee, a kind of steering nucleus, is to serve as a
permanent working framework for the Working Group.
The Monitoring Committee:
The major effort of the Rabat round centered around the proposal of the EU
gavel holder to set up the monitoring committee. The tasks of the
committee were defined as follows:
a. To monitor the implementation of the Copenhagen Action Plan.
b. To organize expert meetings and subcommittees, as required, in the
various fields of regional economic cooperation.
c. To identify and promote 'priority projects' to be presented to the
Working Group.
It was agreed that the monitoring committee would strive:
a. to encourage the free movement of people, goods, services, capital
and information among the partners in the region;
b. to stimulate economic development and to reduce regional economic
disparities.
c. to promote the region's integration in global markets.
d. to fully exploit respective advantages by promoting regional trade,
facilitating investment and developing infrastructure.
Progress on Specific Projects:
- Transportation: The working group heard a report on the Paris workshop,
which developed a working plan to advance regional cooperation on
transportation in highway infrastructure, railways and ports, as well as
in the areas of motor transportation and civil aviation.
- Energy: The working group heard a report on the results of a survey on
linking the electricity grids of Israel, the autonomy, Egypt and Jordan,
as well as an initial study on the alternatives of a Mediterranean-Dead
Sea or Red Sea-Dead Sea hydroelectric project.
- Tourism: Progress was reported on the formulation of modes of regional
consultation and cooperation. The Cairo workshop (February 1994)
highlighted the importance of cooperation in the private sector. The
current round of talks in Rabat was preceded (on June 13) by a meeting
between the regional parties, designed to identify common regional
priorities in the area of tourism. Tourist experts from the region were
invited to attend a workshop in Tokyo (January 1995) to observe management
methods of small and medium tourist enterprises.
- Agriculture: The working group heard a report on the Cordoba workshop
(March 1994), where there was an initial formulation of an agenda for
regional agricultural cooperation, as well as on the area survey conducted
in the region (May 1994). Special emphasis was placed on creating a
framework for regional cooperation in the area of veterinary services
(Sharm a-Sheikh workshop, April 1994). The working group also heard a
report on plant protection, and a workshop for regional experts in this
area has been planned.
- Financial markets in the Middle East: The working group heard a report
on the intersessional conference held in London on this subject (April
1994), which discussed possibilities for regional cooperation in the area
of financial markets and stock exchanges. Further activity is planned in
this area, in the training of banking personnel in the autonomy.
- Trade: The working group heard a report on the results of a preliminary
sruvey conducted in the area on the possibilities of developing regional
trade.
- Training: The working group heard a report on plans to promote training
programs in various economic fields.
Results of the Round:
1. The monitoring committee represents a qualitative leap in the
institutionalization of the regional dialogue. With the establishment
of this committee, the principle of regional cooperation has been
anchored in specific subcommittees in the different fields of economic
activity (e.g. agriculture, tourism, trade, energy, etc.), and no
longer relies solely on ad hoc meetings.
2. The Copenhagen Action Plan has been revitalized, with the emphasis on
concrete projects:
a. The establishment of a regional tourist center in Egypt, probably in
Ismaliya, this coming September.
b. A business conference to be held in Marakesh in October/ November
1994.
c. Meetings of tourist agents to be held in Cairo and Amman in October
and December 1994.
3. Parallel with these developments, the World Bank is considering holding
a regional workshop to study ways to integrate the private sector in
infrastructure projects.