Arabic News Weekly Edition for Economics, 6/29/1998
Weekly Edition, Economics - Week of June 29, 1998
- Morocco's trade deficit down 14.3 percent first two months
Morocco's trade deficit decreased in the first two months of 1998 by 14.3 percent, going down from 5.2 billion dh ($541.6 million) in January-February 1997 to 4.5 billion dh ($468.7 million) this year. Morocco, Economics, 7/4/1998 - Jordan seeks to buy Iraqi oil
Iraq said on Saturday that it will provide Jordan with oil at reduced rates for the rest of 1998, even outside the two countries' trade protocol, the Jordanian news agency reported. Jordan-Iraq, Economics, 7/4/1998 - Morocco records slight growth in 1998 industry, energy and mining
The index of mining production in Morocco posted a 0.8 percent growth in the first three months of 1998, compared to the same period of 1997. Morocco, Business, 7/4/1998 - Egypt and South Africa to cooperate on water and energy
Egyptian minister of electricity Maher Abaza said that he will hold important discussions with Penuell Maduna, minister of mineral and energy affairs in South Africa, during Maduna's visit to Cairo tomorrow to support methods of cooperation and exchanges of expertise between the two countries in the fields of water and energy. Egypt-South Africa, Economics, 7/4/1998 - UAE - trade surplus United Arab Emirates, Economics, 7/4/1998
- Oman - minimum wage Oman, Economics, 7/4/1998
- Gulf Air - profit Bahrain, Business, 7/4/1998
- EU provides Tunisia with 500 million EUROs Tunisia-European Union, Economics, 7/4/1998
- Sarajevo asks Islamic countries for economic support Regional-Bosnia, Economics, 7/4/1998
- Moroccan insurance companies make public offerings
Two of the major insurance companies said they are joining Casablanca's stock market at the beginning of the coming month as a first step in the Moroccan insurance sector for developing corporate savings and solidarity funds. Morocco, Business, 7/4/1998 - Baghdad imports French sugar through Syrian port
Iraqi minister of Trade Muhammad Mahdi Saleh has unveiled a contract he signed with the Syrian government according to which Baghdad will import 100,000 tonnes of sugar through the Syrian port of Tartous. Iraq-Syria, Business, 7/3/1998 - Coordination among the specialized Arab organizations
The annual meetings for organizations and Arab unions working under the Arab League's umbrella will begin on the day after tomorrow at Arab League headquarters. Regional, Economics, 7/3/1998 - Casablanca invention show opens
The week-long event will reward the best inventions made in various disciplines such as irrigation, electronics, electricity, water and energy saving, agronomy, desalination and other industrial sectors. Morocco, Business, 7/3/1998 - Fisheries accord will not be renewed, minister says
The Moroccan Fisheries Minister reiterated Wednesday Morocco's decision not to renew the fisheries accord binding Morocco and the European Union. Thami Khyari, who termed the accord as "unfair", said the agreement does not give Morocco the possibility to preserve its sea resources. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 7/3/1998 - Marine, trade transport agreement signed by Lebanon, Jordan Lebanon-Jordan, Economics, 7/3/1998
- British - Egyptian company to connect natural gas lines to southern Egypt
Britain and Egypt agreed to establish a joint-stock company named the Nile Valley Gas Company to implement an exclusive project to deliver natural gas to upper Egypt with investments that reach 1.5 billion pounds. Egypt-UK, Business, 7/2/1998 - World Bank loans for Morocco, Egypt
In a statement released in Paris on Wednesday, the World Bank said that it approved on Tuesday a loan to Morocco estimated at US $200 million and another to Egypt at US $143 million to cover expenditures on projects covering various sectors. Egypt-Morocco-World Bank, Economics, 7/2/1998 - Egyptian rice for Iraq
Awni Hashim, the manager of the Egyptian commercial center in Baghdad, said yesterday that Egyptian companies won contracts worth $10 million to import 25,000 tons of Egyptian rice to Iraq within the fourth stage of the oil-for-food agreement. Egypt-Iraq, Economics, 7/2/1998 - Arab Tourism Ministerial Council calls for unified Arab visa
The Arab tourism ministerial council, at the end of its first meeting in Damascus Tuesday, called for a unified visa for foreign tourists wishing to visit one of the Arab states, similar to the Shengen visa in force in some European states. Regional, Economics, 7/1/1998 - Crown prince launches extension works of Thomson plant
Crown Prince Sidi Mohammed launched Monday in Morocco's economic capital city of Casablanca the extension works of a microelectronics plant operated by the international holding company SGS Thomson Electronics. Morocco, Business, 7/1/1998 - Syria's help to Iraqi people underlined
During his meeting with Iraqi Minister of Trade Muhammad Mahdi Saleh and members of the accompanying delegation, Syrian Health Minister Eyad al-Shatti stressed Syria's commitment to providing the necessary aid and support to the people of Iraq Syria-Iraq, Economics, 7/1/1998 - UAE - jobs United Arab Emirates, Economics, 7/1/1998
- Oman - foreign investment Oman, Business, 7/1/1998
- Egyptian food exports to Iraq total $130 million Egypt-Iraq, Business, 7/1/1998
- Moroccan opposition criticizes the presentation of the budget
The presentation of the first budget draft from Abderrahman al-Youssoufi's government before the Moroccan parliament, aroused a wide debate among the opposition parties who felt that the presentation of the financial draft was made within an unconstitutional frame. Morocco, Economics, 7/1/1998 - Moroccan carrier to fly more than 1,500 Moroccans back home Morocco, Business, 7/1/1998
- Libyan PM arrives in Morocco for joint high commission meeting
Libyan Prime Minister Mohamed Ahmed Al-Mankouch, arrived Tuesday in Rabat to take part in the third session of Moroccan-Libyan high cooperation commission to convene this week in Morocco. Libya-Morocco, Economics, 7/1/1998 - Egyptian tourism minister: 100 billion pounds is tourist investment target through 2017 Egypt, Economics, 7/1/1998
- UN Sanctions Committee agrees upon Jordanian export contracts
Jordan's Minister of Industry and Trade Hani Mulki confirmed that the UN Sanctions Committee agreed upon 34 new contracts for Jordanian companies in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the UN and Iraq known as the oil-for-food agreement. "The total sum of the contracts is $28.61 million," he said. Jordan-Iraq-UN, Economics, 7/1/1998 - Egypt admitted into COMESA
Egypt was admitted into the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) as the 20th member of the economic grouping and the first north African state to come on board Egypt, Economics, 6/30/1998 - Arab handicraft and its history can be seen in Damascus
To stroll through the souks (streets) of old Arab cities as Damascus, Baghdad, Cairo and Beirut and watch craftsmen producing attractive hand-made works of art is to enjoy the sight of industries from the bygone ages. Regional, Business, 6/30/1998 - Arab tourism ministerial council meets
Syria's prime minister opened on Monday in Damascus the Arab tourism ministerial council with a call for removing the barriers that hamper Arab states' endeavors for economic integration. Regional, Economics, 6/30/1998 - Palestine hopes donor countries money continue to flow
The donor countries have so far paid to the Palestinian government almost half of the amount of money they pledged back in October 1993 to allot for the Palestine, said Mohammed Ishtayeh, a leading Palestinian economist. Palestine, Economics, 6/30/1998 - Arab League discusses the Arab Union project
A meeting of the Arab League's seven-member committee was held in Cairo on Monday to discuss the Arab Union projects proposed at the Arab League Summit in 1997. Regional, Economics, 6/30/1998 - First Arab tourism conference opened in Damascus
Under the patronage of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, the first session of the Arab ministerial council for tourism opened in Damascus on Monday, and Syria was represented by Premier al-Zou'bi. Maghreb, Economics, 6/30/1998 - AL calls on Arab states to import Somali meats
The Arab League has called upon its members to resume importation of meats from Somalia after the Somali livestock was proven free from fever and cattle diseases, especially as meat exports generate the main income for Somalia. Somalia-Regional, Economics, 6/30/1998 - 2.6 million tourists visit Egypt within three months
A report issued by the Information Technology Institute of the Egyptian Cabinet confirmed that the number of tourists who visited Egypt during the first three months of 1998 reached 2.6 million, accounting for 17.3 million tourist nights. Egypt, Business, 6/30/1998 - Morocco 1998-99 appropriation bill focuses on economy
The draft bill, which aims at maintaining the budget deficit at 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), will have a significant social dimension through insisting on the struggle against poverty, improvement of living standards in rural areas and promotion of low-cost housing projects. Morocco, Economics, 6/30/1998 - Preparatory meeting for joint high commission between Morocco-Libya
The joint commission, set up in 1990, explores ways of boosting partnership between the two Maghreban countries in various industrial and commercial sectors. Libya-Morocco, Economics, 6/30/1998 - Damascus: the cheapest city for tourists
The annual report on living expenditures in 150 cities around the world, issued by the "Resources Groups Corporation" in Geneva said Damascus is the cheapest city in the Middle East for tourists. Syria, Business, 6/30/1998 - Joint Jordanian-Algerian business council set up
Jordan and Algeria announced the formation of a joint Jordanian-Algerian business council that will include several private-sector corporations in the two states. Jordan-Algeria, Economics, 6/29/1998 - Bahrain - food safety Bahrain, Economics, 6/29/1998
- UN Compensation Committee meets Iraq-UN, Economics, 6/29/1998
- Spanish Telepizza wants to install in Morocco Morocco-Spain, Business, 6/29/1998
- Beginning the works of the Arab tourism council.
The Arab Tourism Council's conference began this morning in Syria, in which tourism ministers from 20 Arab countries and their representatives are in attendance. The conference will last for two days. Regional, Economics, 6/29/1998 - Prince al-Walid buys Echo bank shares Saudi Arabia, Business, 6/29/1998