The preparatory meetings for the 24th Arab Summit scheduled to be held in Doha on March 26-27 started yesterday with a meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ESC) at the level of senior officials.

The ESC meeting at the ministerial level will be held today, while the Arab League Council meeting will be held tomorrow at the senior officials level and on Sunday at the ministerial level. On Monday, the presidents and leaders of the participating Arab nations would start arriving in Doha.

Yesterday's meeting dealt with the difficulties that hinder the completion of the requirements of the executive programme of the announcement of the Greater Arab Free Trade Zone, implementation of item No (7) of resolution (29) of the third Arab economic and social development summit, held in Riyadh in January 2013, and resolution No 1045 issued at the 91st session of the ESC on February 14 to overcome the difficulties that hinder the start of the free trade zone.

The meetings also discussed ways to develop small and medium industries and their role in the economic and social development of the Arab countries. The Arab Organization for Industrial Development and Mining has prepared a detailed study on how to develop these industries, as well as the means to increase their competitiveness.

Another study prepared by the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development deals with issues like an Arab mechanism to finance agricultural development and food security.

Meanwhile, the organizing committee for the Doha Arab Summit has completed all the required logistical support for a successful summit, an official statement said.