140 likes | 241 Views
LEVANT BUSINESS FORUM. LEVANT BUSINESS FORUM. Two rounds of meetings ( Beirut , Istanbul ) Set up in December 2010 ( Istanbul Declaration ) Represents the private sector ( permanent dialogue and cooperation mechanism ). Goal :.
E N D
LEVANT BUSINESS FORUM • Tworounds of meetings (Beirut, Istanbul) • Set up in December 2010 (IstanbulDeclaration) • Representstheprivatesector (permanentdialogueandcooperationmechanism)
Goal: • Tocreate a freetradeandmobilityareaamongfourcountries in theEasternMediterraneanRegion (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria an Turkey)
Objectives: • Promotetrade • Increaseinvestments • Contributeto a conduciveinvestmentandbusinessenvironment • Fostertechnology, know-howtransfer, R&D • Supportupgrading of logisticsinfrastructure • Mutuallyenhanceeconomic, cultural, tourismactivities
Long-termobjective: • Create a widearea of welfareandstabilitythrougheconomicinderdependence • “Vision of ThreeSeas”: Mediterranean, RedSea, ArabianGulf
RoadMap: • To be agreeduponbyallparties • Strongintegration can only be achievedthroughgoodwill, dialogue, mutualeconomicinterdependence, culturalinteractionandpublicsupport
Chapters: • Mobility of GoodsandPeople • LogisticsandCommunication • Entrepreneurship • FinancialActivities • Intra-regionalinvestmentactivities • Agriculturalcooperation • Energycooperation
Chapters: • Tourism • Cooperation on infrastructureprojectsandprojectfinancing • Enhancingsocialrelations • Activitiesforinstitutionalcapacity-buildinganddevelopment • Educationand R&D • Culturalinterchange • Businesscooperation in thirdcountries
Chapters: • Designatean “integrationleader” fromeachcountryforeach of the 14 chapters • Form a “technicalcommittee” foreachchaptertoprepare a detailedroadmap
Activities: • Sustain a highlevelbusinessdialogue • Prepare a WorkingPaperandAction Plan fortheImplementation of a freetradeandmobilityarea • Lobbyingrespectivegovernmentsforquickpolicylegislationandimplementation • Sourceanddisseminatebusinessinformationandproducerelevantpublicationsandstudiesrelatedtotheintegrationprocess
Structure: • TemporaryHeadquarters: Istanbul • PermanentHeadquarters: to be decidedupon at thefirstmeeting of theExecutiveCommittee
Structure: • Executive Board: • Shall be formedby 4 membersfromeachcountry • Shallmeet on a quarterlybasis (moreoftenifrequired) • Shallmeet in eachcountry on a rotatingbasis • ThecountryhostingthemeetingwillholdtheChair of theExecutive Board • Will form technicalcommittees (mandateandcompositionwill be decideduponbythe EB) • Willappoint a Secretary General
Structure: • Theactivitieswill be runbythe Office of theSecretary General • Thenecessarystraffwill be hiredbytheSecretary General frommemberorganizations on an equalbasis • Workinglanguage: English
Tasks: • Complete a comprehensiveandmulti-dimensionalanalysis of theintegrationprocess • Cooperatewithrelevantpublicinstitutionsandotherrelatedfriendlyregionalandinternationalorganizations (WB, UNDP, IslamicDevelopment Bank, ArabFundetc) • Prepareandpublish an annualprogressreport • Carryourpromotionalactivitiesforawareness-raising