Elias T. Ghantous
Economic Consultant
Republic of Lebanon

Elias Ghantous is an Arab economist and former secretary general of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries.  He has been involved in the Arab region for more than four decades in regional economic cooperation and integration and economic consulting work.  He has made substantial contributions towards the promotion of private sector activity, enhancing its role in privatization and development.  From 1975 to 1985 he was a lecturer in the economics of the Arab Middle East at the American University of Beirut. He has published books, articles and conference papers on economic regionalism and international cooperation and holds a Ph.D in economics from Durham University in the United Kingdom.