Establishment of AESPDF

Abu-Ghazaleh announces the Establishment of the “Arab Economic and Social Policies Development Forum” under the Auspices of the Arab League

AMMAN – April 10, 2016 -

HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh announced recently the establishment of the Arab Economic and Social Policies Development Forum, as a not-for-profit Arab entity, working under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council hosted by the Economic Policies Development Forum (EPDF) in Jordan.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stated that the idea of establishing the Forum came from a group of Arab business and economy leaders with the objective of supporting the decision-making mechanism in the Arab countries and to spend efforts for coordination with a group of business leaders in the Arab world as well as Arab economic institutions, civil society organizations, Arab industrial association, academics and others to study the most significant Arab and international causes, challenges faced today as well as exchanging ideas and developing solutions to face these challenges.

The forum encourages the participation approach among participating entities through meetings and initiatives which the Forum intends to hold periodically.

Dr. Abu- Ghazaleh indicated that the Forum allows Arab political, economic and social leaderships to meet together periodically to discuss significant causes and work together to encounter economic, social and environmental challenges, notably globalization and its consequences on Arab countries. 
He added that the Forum shall provide a dialogue platform through which Arab governments and economic and social leaderships can discuss several vital causes and perform comparisons in the field of policies, successful experiences, searching for answers on mutual problems as well as determining good practice and working to coordinate local and international policies as to serve the sustainable Arab economic development.

This shall be accompanied with providing freedom of thought, argument and writing under the logo of the Forum as well as publishing the outcomes broadly concerning economic, social and environmental issues, agreements and guiding principles and standards agreed on within the mission of the Forum. These shall be studied and accredited by the Economic and Social Council and shall be put on the course of economic and social policies at the Arab world level.
Dr. Abu- Ghazaleh expressed gratitude to the previous Minister of Industry and Trade, Dr. Hatem Al Halawani, for his support of this project from the beginning as well as adopting it. He supported the project at the Economic Council, then, the current Minister, HE Ms. Maha Al Ali, followed up this project until reaching to the final decision for the approval of the Arab League.

The permanent offices of the Forum shall be in the capital of Jordan, Amman. It shall be hosted by the EPDF , and chaired by Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh. The Forum shall bear the administrative, financial and legal responsibility and no financial or legal burdens or obligations shall be entailed on member countries and the General Secretariat of the Arab League.
It is worth mentioning that the Forum shall contribute to enhancing the economic democracy concept and the concept of partnership between the public and private sectors as well as engaging the parties of the social equation, from both sectors, and civil society organizations in decision making and creating initiatives contributing significantly to achieving Arab economic integration. 
The Forum shall give due attention for several crucial economic causes such as corruption, unemployment, poverty, margining as well as working to enhance productivity and operation, developing education, the heath level, improving livelihoods and developing policies to combat hunger in Arab countries.