Arabic News Weekly Edition for Economics, 2/15/1999
Weekly Edition, Economics - Week of February 15, 1999
- Egyptian petroleum minister is due to Turkey soon
Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Hamdi El-Banbi is going to visit Turkey on February 25, at the invitation of Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Ziya Aktas to discuss the exportation of Egyptian gas to Turkey. Egypt-Turkey, Economics, 2/20/1999 - Canadian trade minister to visit Saudi Arabia on Monday
Canadian Minister of International Trade Seirgio Marchi will begin a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia on February 22, in which he will meet his Saudi counterpart, Osama Jafar Faqih. Saudi Arabia-Canada, Economics, 2/20/1999 - Morocco cuts phone tariffs
The prices of inter-city calls were lowered by 50% while those of long distance and mobile phone subscription fees were decreased by 25%. Morocco, which counts 28 million inhabitants, has about 1.4 phone subscribers and over 80,000 cellular phone clients. Morocco, Business, 2/20/1999 - A conference for bank's alliance of Middle East countries on coming August
A banking alliance between Middle East banks is to be established to confront the deterioration of economic performance and the spread of unemployment on the regional level. Regional, Economics, 2/20/1999 - Morocco produces 60 million pairs of shoes annually
Morocco counts 145 shoe factories employing 9,000 persons and producing annually 60 million pairs of shoes. Morocco, Economics, 2/20/1999 - Saudi Arabia, Switzerland sign agreement Saudi Arabia-Switzerland, Economics, 2/20/1999
- Jordan, Iraq holds economic talks Jordan-Iraq, Economics, 2/20/1999
- Bahrain - oil show Regional-Bahrain, Economics, 2/20/1999
- Spain to talk to Morocco on hiring temporary workers
Spanish Labor and Social Affairs Minister Manuel Pimentel Siles told a press conference that the Spanish government is currently studying the possibility of granting foreigners temporary work permits for limited periods. Morocco-Spain, Economics, 2/20/1999 - Italian NGOs agree to assist Morocco in handicraft Morocco-Italy, Economics, 2/20/1999
- Japan funds drinking water projects in Morocco
Japan has donated Morocco $2 million to finance drinking water projects in the North African country. Morocco-Japan, Economics, 2/20/1999 - International celebration in front of Dahshour pyramids Egypt, Business, 2/19/1999
- Egyptian - Danish commercial negotiations Egypt-Denmark, Economics, 2/19/1999
- Structure of Syrian agriculture sector in public, cooperative and private activities
The control of the government in Syria on the agricultural sector was established through the creation of special state-run organizations which are responsible for the process. Syria, Economics, 2/19/1999 - Euro will ease business access to European markets, minister says
The use of the euro, the European single currency, will ease the Moroccan firms' access to European markets, the Moroccan economic forecast and planning minister said on Thursday. Morocco, Economics, 2/19/1999 - Morocco sets up social development agency Morocco, Economics, 2/19/1999
- Seven garages in Cairo working by B.O.T system Egypt, Economics, 2/19/1999
- Chinese delegation to Egypt tomorrow
A Chinese business delegation is due to visit Egypt on Sunday under the patronage of the mayor of Shirten, Lee Dini, accompanied by nine businessmen from the investment, trade and foreign development sectors. Egypt-China, Economics, 2/19/1999 - Islamic bank lends Morocco $30 million for water projects Morocco, Economics, 2/19/1999
- 35 countries in Cairo International Market Egypt-International, Economics, 2/19/1999
- Moroccan-Saudi accords must be updated, Moroccan minister says
Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance Fathallah Oualalou, who is on a visit to Saudi Arabia at the head of a large business delegation, stressed the need to update Moroccan-Saudi cooperation accords, some of which are 30 years old. Saudi Arabia-Morocco, Economics, 2/19/1999 - Lebanese airline may be privatized Lebanon, Business, 2/19/1999
- UAE - bank merger United Arab Emirates, Business, 2/19/1999
- UAE - tourism United Arab Emirates, Economics, 2/19/1999
- UAE - copyrights United Arab Emirates, Economics, 2/19/1999
- 300 companies in Tehran fair for Egyptian products Egypt-Iran, Economics, 2/19/1999
- Two British offers to buy an Egyptian insurance company Egypt-UK, Business, 2/19/1999
- Lebanon is ready to sign investment protection accords with Morocco Lebanon-Morocco, Economics, 2/19/1999
- Seven Egyptian electricity companies to be raised for sale
Egyptian Minister of Electricity Maher Abaza said that a percentage of seven Egyptian electricity companies' shares will be raised for general subscription (stocks). Egypt, Economics, 2/18/1999 - Eight new agreements between Egypt and Belgium
Egyptian Minister of Trade Ahmed Goweili told ArabicNews.com that these agreements include establishing a joint company in Egypt and Belgium for developing the commercial exchange and cooperation agreement Egypt-Belgium, Economics, 2/18/1999 - Saudi Arabia and Morocco determined to enhance economic relations
Talks focused on ways of intensifying and diversifying economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries.The Moroccan and Saudi officials agreed to increase investments, foster contacts between the two states' private sectors, lower all obstacles hampering the development of trade exchanges and enhance air-sea links. Saudi Arabia-Morocco, Economics, 2/18/1999 - UN pays $84 million to victims of Iraqi invasion of Kuwait Kuwait-Iraq, Economics, 2/18/1999
- 4.7 million tourists visited Tunis
Tunisian Minister of Tourism Salah El-Din Moawi who is currently visiting Cairo said that the Tunisian tourism market was able to attract 4.7 million tourists to visit Tunisia, who spent nearly $2 billion and among whom were one million German tourists while the rest were mostly from Europe. Tunisia, Economics, 2/18/1999 - Morocco and Croatia agree to boost trade exchanges
Morocco and croatia agreed Wednesday to develop and diversify their trade exchanges and economic cooperation. Morocco-Croatia, Economics, 2/18/1999 - Maltese commercial delegation to visit Cairo
20 Maltese businessmen are to visit Cairo starting from Saturday through Monday, marketing their products as well as finding agents, importers and distributors. Egypt-Malta, Business, 2/18/1999 - Jordan: No disputes with Israel on water
The Jordanian embassy in Cairo announced today that there are no disputes with Israel on providing Jordan with the water from Tabria lake. Jordan-Israel, Economics, 2/18/1999 - Ukrainian - Egyptian tourist cooperation Egypt-Ukraine, Economics, 2/18/1999
- Lebanon - Egypt free trade area agreement ratified by parliament
The implementation of the executive program in support of trade exchange between Egypt and Lebanon is expected very soon after the Eyptian Parliament ratified on Monday night the said program, being ratified on Thursday by the Lebanese parliament. Egypt-Lebanon, Economics, 2/17/1999 - Jordan denies that Israel is cause of water problem
Jordanian Minister of Water and Irrigation Hani al-Mulki has denied reports which stated that Israel has halted the pumping of water to Jordan from al-Yarmouk river and Tabaria lake via Dajania pipeline due to drought and the reduction of the water level. Jordan-Israel, Economics, 2/17/1999 - $130 million from UAE to support Jordanian king
Banking sources announced today that the United Arab Emirates is going to deposit $130 million in the Jordanian central bank to help support King Abdullah bin Hussein. Jordan-United Arab Emirates, Economics, 2/17/1999 - Saudi Arabia receives prominent Moroccan economic delegation
The 68-member Moroccan delegation which is touring the six countries forming the Gulf Cooperation Council arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday for talks with Saudi officials and economic operators on means of enhancing bilateral cooperation, especially in economic matters. Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Economics, 2/17/1999 - Spain offers Moroccans 27,000 seasonal jobs
Regarding the stringent measures enforced by Spain to limit access to the Moroccan northern town of Sebta, that is still under Spanish rule, the Spanish official said the measures are meant to restrict the entrance of Africans who use the city to emigrate illegally to Europe Morocco-Spain, Economics, 2/17/1999 - Spain hopes Morocco will renew fisheries agreement with EU
According to chairman of the Moroccan sea fisheries Federation, Abderrahim Laabidi, Morocco slid from the world 1st fish-producing country to the 14th rank while several species have disappeared. This situation compelled 45 percent of the national fleet to freeze activities. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 2/17/1999 - Swedish Ericsson company implements projects in Syria
Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud al-Zou'bi on Tuesday in Damascus received the director general of the Swedish Arexon communications company, Sven Christian Nelson, and members of the accompanying delegation. Syria, Business, 2/17/1999 - Saudi airlines to carry 25,000 Indonesian pilgrims
Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) has obtained the right to carry 25,000 of the 71,126 Indonesians who will be performing the haj (pilgrimage) to Mecca this year, a spokesman for Indonesian flag carrier "Garuda" said here Tuesday. Saudi Arabia-Indonesia, Business, 2/17/1999 - Belgian group ready to assist Morocco renovate its railway network
The Moroccan railway office announced it has earmarked around $ 121 Million for a project to revamp and extend the railway network in Morocco. Morocco-Belgium, Economics, 2/17/1999 - UAE pensions, social security United Arab Emirates, Economics, 2/17/1999
- Bahrain merger Bahrain, Business, 2/17/1999
- PA - Israel tourism agreement Palestine-Israel, Economics, 2/17/1999
- US - Gulf petroleum trade Gulf-USA, Business, 2/17/1999
- Morocco's railway company settles debt, sees activities on the rise
The Moroccan state-owned railway company (ONCF) said it paid its debt on time and intends to increase its activities and investments in 1999. Morocco, Business, 2/17/1999 - British businessmen to visit Toshka Egypt-UK, Economics, 2/17/1999
- Cypriot minister of trade and tourism due to visit Egypt next week Egypt-Cyprus, Economics, 2/17/1999
- Mubarak: Toshka is the future project for opportunities to the youths
Mubarak said those who criticize the project did not pay it a visit to get more information about it. He added that the South Valley Project aims at providing lands for agriculture and work opportunities for youths as well as a chance for a good life for Egypt's citizens outside the narrow valley. Egypt, Economics, 2/16/1999 - Egyptian minister of tourism: 3.5 million tourists visited Egypt last year Egypt-Italy, Economics, 2/16/1999
- Morocco's GDP to fall by 1.9 to 2.6 percent because of dismantling custom barriers with Europe, official
The dismantling of custom barriers between Morocco and the European Union will cause Morocco's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to fall by a rate of 1.9 to 2.6 percent, a Moroccan official said. Morocco, Economics, 2/16/1999 - Kuwait receives Moroccan economic delegation
At a similar meeting with the Kuwaiti minister of trade, the two sides discussed means of upgrading trade exchanges through tax exemptions and the setting up of a joint businessmen council. The possibility to reactivate the air links between the two states to promote tourism was equally examined. Kuwait-Morocco, Economics, 2/16/1999 - Morocco and Turkey activate free trade zone projet
Morocco and Turkey on Monday voiced determination to activate the setting up of a free trade zone to spur trade exchanges and boost economic cooperation between the two countries. Morocco-Turkey, Economics, 2/16/1999 - Morocco to sell phosphates to Norway
Morocco's state-owned phosphate group (OCP) signed on Monday an agreement with Norwegian "Norsk Hydro ASA" company making of the Moroccan firm its "privileged supplier" of raw phosphate products. Morocco-Norway, Business, 2/16/1999 - Batelco - rates Bahrain, Business, 2/16/1999
- Egyptian - British works council to meet today Egypt-UK, Economics, 2/16/1999
- Moroccan and Italian businessmen to upgrade partnership in leather industry
Moroccan and Italian businessmen started Monday in Casablanca a three-day meeting to give a new momentum to partnership between the two countries in matters of leather industries and related sectors. Morocco-Italy, Business, 2/16/1999 - Morocco hosts Arab meeting on electricity
The Executive Bureau of the Arab Ministers Council in charge of Electricity will meet in Morocco this Feb. 17-18 to review a number of electricity projects in the Arab world and ways of enhancing the exchange of experiences and data. Regional-Morocco, Economics, 2/16/1999 - Morocco surprised at EU official's statement over fisheries agreement
Morocco expressed on Monday "surprise" over a statement made by chief of the European Union's delegation in Rabat that Moroccco "will be the loser if it does not renew the fisheries agreement with the European Union." Morocco-European Union, Economics, 2/16/1999 - Maghreban Workers Union meets in Morocco Maghreb, Economics, 2/16/1999
- 222 billion pounds in deposits in Egyptian banks Egypt, Economics, 2/15/1999
- Casablanca and Bahrain stock exchanges sign memorandum of understanding
This accord, the first ever concluded by the Casablanca bourse with an Arab financial market, will contribute to sustaining Arab economy, as put by the chairman of the administrative board of the Casablanca bourse. Morocco-Bahrain, Economics, 2/15/1999 - Turkey to import Egyptian gas via Syria
The Turkish news bulletin NTF said on Sunday that the Turkish government intends to open a line for importing Egyptian gas via Syria. The television report added that this measure comes following the calm prevailing in Syrian - Turkish relations following the crisis pertaining to the leader of the Kurdistani Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan. Egypt-Turkey, Economics, 2/15/1999 - Bahrain and Morocco initial accord on guarantee and protection of investments
Morocco and Bahrain have initialed an accord on the guarantee and protection of investments. Bahrain-Morocco, Economics, 2/15/1999 - Bahrain - taxes Bahrain, Economics, 2/15/1999
- Arab civil aviation organization meets in Morocco
The Executive Bureau of the Arab Organization of Civil Aviation opens this Monday in Rabat a meeting to look into liberalization of inter-Arab air transport and ways of reinforcing cooperation ties in air safety and airport management. Regional, Economics, 2/15/1999 - Sudan to begin pumping petroleum at the end of June Sudan, Business, 2/15/1999