Cairo, 01 Dhu-AlHijjah,1438 AH, 23 August,2017 , SPA -- The Arab Economic and Social Council held its 100th session here today at the level of senior officials under the chairmanship of the Director General of the Department of Arab and Islamic Economic Relations in the Ministry of Finance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Hussein bin Shuwaish Al-Shuwaish. In his inaugural address, Al-Shuwaish explained that the council held its current 100th session which ended 50 years of its inception, noting that the council has historical achievements in the field of joint works in terms of conventions and the application on the ground. "The Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) is the most important achievement of this Council as a practical application of the agreement on the administration and development of trade exchanges between Arab countries," he said, stressing that this area has had a significant impact on increasing the volume of intra-Arab trade. -- SPA 16:03 LOCAL TIME 13:03 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w472213