July 11, 2002
Regional Economic Integration in the Arab Countries

The workshop presented the results of a two-year program of general public opinion and sectoral firm surveys in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, and Syria that investigated attitudes of the general public and major economic actors towards economic and trade relations among the five countries. Topics of discussion included characteristics of imports and exports among the five countries, market opportunities and perceived competitive advantages, and an evaluation of the customs, quotas, and trade barriers preventing integration.
Participants discussed expanding each country’s capability and preparedness for intra-regional and international economic cooperation in order to bring about sustainable development.
The workshop was organized by the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies and the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan.