Amman: Jordan took part in the extraordinary session of the Economic and Social Council at the ministerial level, held at the General Secretariat of the Arab League and chaired by the Kingdom of Bahrain. The session convened in preparation for the fifth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit, set to be held in Baghdad, Iraq, this May.
According to Jordan News Agency, Jordan’s delegation was headed by Economic Advisor at the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Jordan, Counselor Muhannad Gash. During the meeting, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Affairs Sector at the Arab League, Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, highlighted the significant challenges facing the Arab region. She pointed in particular to the continued inhumane practices of Israel, the occupying power, against the Gaza Strip and other occupied Palestinian territories, as well as the severe repercussions of these actions on Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. She noted that armed conflicts and instability in several Arab countries have seriously undermined development progress.
Abu Ghazaleh reviewed key items on the draft agenda of the upcoming summit, based on the outcomes of the senior officials’ meeting held a day earlier. Topics include water security in the Arab region, the Arab stance for the Second World Summit for Social Development, the impact of technological advancements and artificial intelligence, food security, the Greater Arab Free Trade Area, completion of the Arab Customs Union, solar energy development, investment in human capital, and initiatives to improve health and education in schools and universities. The agenda also covers the economic and social empowerment of women.