Funal Communique of the Second Session of RABC

06/28/2004

Moscow, June 28-29, 2004

The Second meeting of the Russian-Arab Business Council convened on June 28-29, 2004, on the initiative of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Russian and Arab members of the Council took part in the meeting.

The speakers were: the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, S. V. Lavrov, who read an address by President Putin; the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Ye. M. Primakov, who read an address by the Russian Prime Minister, M.Ye. Fradkov; the Chair of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Chair of the Arab Section of the RABC, Khaled Abu Ismail; the Chair of the Russian Section of the RABC, V. P. Yevtushenkov; and the Deputy Chair of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries, Adnan Al-Kassar.

The speakers agreed that contacts between the Russian Federation and Arab countries should become more active so that trade and cooperation expand and the economic potential of both parties is realized.

The state of Russian-Arab commercial and economic relations and their potential for development were reviewed by the RABC Director, T. Gvilava, and the Secretary General of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries, Dr. E. Ghantous. Those issues were also discussed during working meetings by other participants: the Chair of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Abdulrahman Al-Jeraisy; the Secretary General of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce, Dr. Abdul Rahman Attar; the Chair of the Sudanese Federation of Chambers of Agriculture and Animal Farming, Hashim Hago Ibrahim; the Chair of the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce, Abud Al-Tufaily; and the Advisor for Relations with the State of the Oman Oil Company, Mohammed Al-Sheikh.

As a result of this discussion the parties have agreed on the following:

1. There are vast opportunities for expansion of Russian-Arab commercial and economic links which have deep historic roots and a good potential for development. The strengthening of those links will be based on permanent cooperation of the private sector in Russia and Arab countries which would serve the interests of both parties. To achieve that goal, entrepreneurs must enhance their contacts, maintain a permanent dialogue with a continuous exchange of information.
2. The large Arab free trade zone should be used to expand opportunities for cooperation between Russia and Arab countries in trade, economy and technology, especially in terms of joint economic projects.
3. Mutual investments in industry and banking should become the chief means to stimulate exchange of goods and services. To advance that goal, the RABC is calling for a dialogue between companies and financial groups on both sides for the purpose of strengthening the practical foundations of cooperation, especially by creating joint Russian-Arab banks that may make mutual payments and provide credits for trade and by employing the capabilities of Russian and Arab banks, particularly in encouraging export.
4. Investing maximal effort in development of commodity circulation by increasing production volume, improving the exchange of goods, particularly with respect to certification, pricing and delivery, distribution of trade information, bartering, exchanging trade delegations and participating in Russian-Arab exhibitions.
5. Using cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and Arab chambers of commerce to settle trade disputes by reaching a consensus.
6. Encouraging Arab and Russian exporters to use electronic trading techniques to make trade exchange easier. To that end, it is necessary to share experience and train Russian and Arab staffs in information technologies, communications and programming.
7. Using existing capabilities to create a highly developed industry that would promote development of Arab countries and Russia. Investing jointly, primarily in the oil and gas industry, food production, metallurgy, production of machinery, and the automobile industry. Cooperating in the development of an infrastructure for the investigation of underground water resources and for sea water desalination.
8. Simplifying the process of obtaining entry visas for entrepreneurs, developing the means of communication and links between Russia and Arab countries, and promoting joint tourism projects.

The Russian-Arab Business Council gratefully accepts the invitation extended by the Lebanese Union of Chamber of Trade, Commerce and Agriculture to conduct the 3rd joint meeting in January 2005 in Beirut, the capital of the Republic of Lebanon.

The Arab section of the Council greatly appreciates the effort that the Russian Section of the RABC and the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry have invested in the organization of the joint meeting as well as the extension of hospitality and cooperation.

This communiqué was signed by:Khaled Abu Ismail, President Arab Section of the RABC and Vladimir Yevtushenkov, President Russian Section of the RABC. Moscow, June 28, 2004