Founding of the Federation

Engineering Industries are of great importance to the Arab World economic development. In recent years, they have been experiencing a rapid growth thanks to the wide industrialization programs undertaken by Arab countries after the end of colonization. Substantial efforts are continually devoted to Engineering Industries.

Thus the idea of founding a federation was launched as a fundamental step in the development progress of Arab countries. The actual situation of Arab Engineering Industries is differ from one country to another. But, progressively moving from light industries (repair and maintenance) to heavy industries (such as automobile, machine and equipment manufacturers).

No Arab country has achieved a real industry. Yet, even if some countries have built giant complexes with capacities exceeding their national needs.

In order to bring about coordination and integration among those industries, and following the recommendations of the Third Arab Industrial Meeting in Tripoli, Libya (April 7-14,1974), the State Organization for Engineering Industries (Iraq), took initiative with the Council for Arab States and the Industrial Development Center for Arab States (IDCAS) to convene a meeting of all Arab countries with the objective of establishing the Federation for Engineering Industries.

The meeting took place in Baghdad from 27-29 December, 1975 It was attended by four Arab countries (Algeria, Egypt, Kuwait and Iraq) and representatives from the Economic Unity Council for Arab States, the IDCAS, the Engineering Design Development Center and the Egyptian Industries Federation.

The meeting established the Arab Federation for Engineering Industries,headquarters in Baghdad, which is temporarily operated from Damascus, Syria.

Definition of Engineering industries