Regional Economic Integration: MENA - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... This was further strengthened because of the development of contemporary technologies in construction, telecommunication, heavy machinery, overland, sea and air transportation, and the development of the Internet (Ludema & Wootonb, 2000). The MENA region can be divided in various different segments. Two major resources of the region are the abundance of oil and the availability of human resources. MENA countries can be divided into three groups: a) Countries with enormous mineral resources and with large populations such as Algeria, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. b) States/countries that have small indigenous populations and huge mineral resources and they need to import manpower, such as This group of countries comprises the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) and Libya. c) Countries which have minimal resources and need to import oil and gas such as Egypt, Djibouti, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia and the Palestinian Authority. National integration was necessary in this region because the countries have the same status that is they have the lease natural resources and need to import gas and oil. The countries are neighbours and linked via land routes. They all same share the same religion and culture, and the products produced are compatible with their living standards and life styles. By removing tariff barriers, they can obtain goods from each other at very competitive prices than if they had to import the same product from some distant country. Cost of freight could double the product’s market price. When neighbouring countries increase trade with each other, they develop infrastructure such as roads, railways etc. including communication networks. Increased trade brings prosperity to all countries involved which boosts employment (Booz & Company, 2012). MENA COUNTRIES These countries were selected because the data available can be analyzed properly. The countries have the same characteristic such as the implemented economic reforms and the type of economic integration so that they can be amply compared with each other in particular and the world in general. The economies of these countries are more service oriented. The major countries participating in bilateral trade agreements are Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco. Jordan has bilateral free trade agreements with Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt. The UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, all signed since 1998. The country also has similar agreements with Libya, Algeria and Yemen. Egypt has agreements with Syria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Jordan and Iraq, and Tunisia has agreements Algeria, Egypt, and Libya. MENA states have increased their participation in the WTO, and during the last ten years the area has witnessed an increase in bilateral between the Arab States in the region. The rise in trade agreements are because these countries are seriously interested in encouraging cooperation for the export of jointly produced goods. Another good reason is that countries all over the world are gaining enormous through intraregional trade agreements, and the countries comprising MENA also need to take advantage of such agreements. The Arab world has a history of failed agreements concluded in their region. Bilateralism is necessary as a response to the increasing numbers of European and American free trade agreements, and also as a means to maintain some semblance of equilibrium in trade ...Download file to see next pagesRead More