His Excellency Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed Minister of Transportation and Acting Chief Executive of the Economic Development Board stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between Arab countries in order to improve transportation infrastructure and services during the 26th Session of the Arab Transport Ministers’ Council held in in Alexandria, Egypt. The meeting was attended by the General Secretariat and member states of the League of Arab States.

His Excellency also highlighted that several issues related to land transportation of mutual concern were discussed including the railway project that will link the Arab countries and the progress made following the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

His Excellency further added that the council meeting reviewed other major topics related to ports and maritime transportation which included reviewing the progress made on the feasibility study and action plan for operating some of the sea routes and ports linking the Arab countries which was presented in a working paper by the Arab Federation for Shipping . A third draft of the cargo and passenger maritime transport project between Arab countries was also presented during the session.

The Ministers were also presented with the recommendations of the maritime education and training workshop and means to further develop air and maritime transport’s role in increasing trade between Arab counties and the South American countries. The Ministers also reviewed various issues related to air transport including the relations between the Arab counties and the European Union and the unified guide for negotiating with the European Union and member states as well as conducting a study on developing a multi-modal transport and logistics system and integration between all Arab States. Upon concluding the meeting, the Ministers reviewed topics related to the Arab Ministers’ Council and setting a date for the 27th session of the Council Meeting and the 53rd session for the Executive Office.