"There are many deals," Peres told reporters. "A private investment bank in the Middle East was established yesterday involving three countries Egypt, Jordan and Israel."
The conference had also agreed in principle to set up a regional development bank for the Middle East, Peres said. The joint bank agreed between the three countries would be separate, he added.
The private investment bank will be the first joint bank between Israel and Arab nations since the Jewish state was established in 1948. Egypt was the first Arab state to sign peace with Israel and Jordan signed a treaty last week.
Peres, speaking to reporters before entering the final session of the Middle East and North Africa economic conference, also said Jordan and Israel had agreed to undertake a feasibility study to convert the airport at the Red Sea port of Aqaba into an international airport serving both countries. He did not say which banks in the three countries would be involved in the joint banking project.
Some 2,000 politicians and business leaders from around the world are taking part in the Casablanca conference which aims to build new economic bridges in an area at peace for the first time in nearly half a century.
Israel had also concluded agreements in tourism with various countries, Peres said, but he did not name them.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
