The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS) and the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan organized the workshop on “The Regional Economic Integration in the Arab Countries: Survey Research and Policy Issues”.

The workshop presented the results of a two-year program of general public opinion surveys and sectoral firm surveys in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine and Syria, investigating the perceptions and attitudes of the general public and major economic actors (in agriculture, industry, tourism and information technology) towards economic and trade relations between the five countries.

The research program was conducted by researchers belonging to five partner centers: The Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan (Coordinator), The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies in Beirut, Al-Ahram Center for Strategic Studies in Egypt, The Center for Strategic Studies at Damascus University in Syria, and The Jerusalem Media and Communication Center in Palestine.

The research program, the first of its kind, covered issues such as characteristics of imports and exports among the five countries; market opportunities and perceived competitive advantages; evaluation of the customs, quotas, trade barriers, and other obstacles to integration: assessment of existing treaties and protocols; marketing and competition strategies; issues of corporate capacity and internal management; attitudes towards export and transaction potential and closer economic and trade integration and other issues affecting the development of strong economic relations between the Arab Machrek countries.

The research teams of the given countries gave a presentation of their results. This was followed by a discussion of the policy implications and changes required to better promote economic integration and sustainable development among Arab countries concerned, by expanding their capabilities and preparedness for intra-regional and international trading and cooperation.

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