- Arab countries: The Euro-Arab Centre for Studies is organising its ninth colloquium in Beirut (Lebanon) on 13, 15 and 16 February 2001 on "Perspectives and Guarantees of Euro-Arab Investments", with the cooperation of the Arab League, the Council of Saudi Chambres of Commerce and Industry, the Arab-British Chambre of Commerce and the Arab-French Chambre of Commerce, under the Auspices of his Excellency The President of the Lebanese Republic, General Emile Lahoud. The Centre wants to place emphasis on developments in Euro-Arab relations and study joint opportunities through investment which, it says are one way. Indeed, European direct investments in the Arab countries are said to be practically non-existent and foreign investments not all that present, whereas Arab investments abroad are estimated, on the contrary, at some $750 bn. The main goals of the colloquium, for which the working languages will be French, English and Arab, are: i) to present the essential characteristics of the Euro-Arab economy in the frame of its integration in the globalisation process; ii) to study the economic and social fields of the actual investment and its future evolution; iii) to analyze the organisational, structural, legal and financial aspects of the status and perspectives of Euro-Arab investment at present and in future; iv) to reveal the present facts concerning the direct and indirect investment and study of the attractive and encouraging propositions for investors; v) to determine the practical propositions necessary to develop and vary the sources, methods and trends of investment; vi) to review the role of investment in the local, regional and international economic equilibrium. European Commission President Romano Prodi will be present, alongside other representatives of the European Executive, the European Investment Bank, European economists and many personalities from the Arab world. Contact: Euro-Arab Centre for Studies, 91 avenue des Champs-Elysée F-75008 Paris - Tel: (33-1) 53 57 43 30; fax: 53 57 43 31; e-mail info@ceea.com; Internet: http: //http://www.ceea.com .