UN Official Calls for Revitalization of Investments in the Arab World

Doha, May 06 (QNA) - Head of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Office in Bahrain Dr. Hashim Hussein has underlined the need to revitalize and stimulate domestic and foreign investments in the Arab world and to bring in advanced technology to overcome the current economic problems. In a speech he gave today at the opening session of the International Trade Conference Dr. Hussein stressed the necessity of supporting and developing small and medium enterprises to empower them to compete and create, calling for work to modernize the services provided to these institutions by support and services parties that contribute to enhancing economic development and participation in increasing productivity and organizational performance of social and charitable institutions. He praised the role played by the State of Qatar in the field of effective development of small and medium enterprises and work for their progress, especially in light of the country's increasing financial and human resources and its qualitative projects at the regional and international levels. The economy in the Arab world and the Gulf in particular is based on the number of elements the most important of which being support of creative entrepreneurs, formulation of supportive policies, technology development, scientific research and investment, in the shadow of the Arab world's suffering from obstacles and challenges foremost of them comes the need to address unemployment and the creation of job opportunities for the youth who represent 62 per cent of the age groups that do not exceed 29 years, Dr. Hussein said noting that the population of the Middle East and North Africa will rise by 26 per cent by the year 2025. (QNA)