Issue No. (53) of the Arab Economic Bulletin is issued for the first semester of 2022, including a distinguished set of economic studies and research that deal with the economic outlook for the Arab world in 2022, and the current reality of Arab countries in the scales and rules of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. It also includes a reading of the results of the survey of the Union of Arab Chambers for the year 2021 regarding the progress of work in the Greater Arab Free Trade Zone, which defines the aspirations of the private sector from Arab governments in light of challenges, and dedicates a research to corporate social responsibility in terms of protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.

The issue contains four research papers related to the strategy required for entrepreneurship, in terms of the ability of startups to transform from requesting solutions to providing solutions in the scope of social responsibility, sustainability and governance. In terms of the regulating environment and mechanisms of access to finance, technological connectivity, incubation and accelerators, as well as in terms of the strategic role of the Union of Arab Chambers, with the expansion of the role of agricultural business incubators in filling the missing links from farm to market chains.

The issue devotes two research papers to digital transformation and e-commerce. It also deals with Arab international relations from different angles. Highlighting the lessons that can be learned from the experience of Vietnam and its transformation into a semi-industrialized country, also in terms of the need to draw a new cooperation map with the European Union, and in terms of promising new opportunities for cooperation with Brazil and India, and with Germany, especially in the health field.

We hope that this issue will receive the attention it deserves, and that the year 2022 will bring goodness, hope, peace, health and safety to the Arab countries and the world as a whole.