The GCC has already committed $20 billion (Dh73 million) to Oman and Bahrain for capital projects. It could be just the beginning. In these pages we have argued that targeted economic aid to other areas of the Middle East, Egypt in particular, may be necessary for regional stability. And yesterday, The National reported that Saad al Ajmi, a former Kuwaiti minister, has called for a $100 billion fund to help Egypt's economic recovery.
In recent weeks, many voices have advocated an Arab-style "Marshall Plan", modelled on the US economic reconstruction in western Europe after the Second World War. Amid the cacophony, however, many seem to forget what the Marshall Plan actually was. More importantly, there have been few details about how a similar plan would be applied here.
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