Arabic News Weekly Edition for Economics, 3/22/1999
Weekly Edition, Economics - Week of March 22, 1999
- Commercial talks between Egypt and Uganda Egypt-Uganda, Economics, 3/26/1999
- Foreign curreny reserves down in Egypt
Monthly news from the Egyptian central bank indicated that the reserves of foreign currency fell to $19.8 billion in December 1998 from $20 billion in November 1998 and $20.22 billion in December 1997. Egypt, Economics, 3/26/1999 - European community contributed 80 million euros to Moroccan-Spanish power connection
The European community has contributed 80 Million euros to the Moroccan-Spanish electricity interconnection which was dedicated in 1998. Morocco-Spain, Economics, 3/26/1999 - Morocco's premier calls for speeding Arab free trade zone process
Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi, called Thursday, in a meeting with Lebanese businessmen, for speeding up the process leading to the creation of a free trade area in the Arab states. Regional-Morocco, Economics, 3/26/1999 - US mulls aid package for peace process
US Undersecretary of State Indyk indicated a strong link between US economic and political goals in the Middle East, saying, "With a GNP approaching $100 billion and a standard of living equal to much of Western Europe, Israel is now able to stand on its own feet economically and this has enabled the Congress to begin the phase-out of economic assistance to Israel. On the other side, Israel's Arab partners in the peace process face daunting economic challenges Regional-Palestine-USA, Economics, 3/26/1999 - Selling Egyptian governmental cement company
The Egyptian holding company for chemical industries announced its intention to sell its entire share in an affiliated cement company in April. Egypt, Business, 3/26/1999 - 17,000 rooms in Red Sea cities Egypt, Economics, 3/26/1999
- Egyptian - Moroccan cooperation in contracting
Egypt and Morocco have agreed to enhance cooperation between them in the fields of housing, contracting, training in the craft of building, constructing utility and road projects, exchanging experience and information in the field of housing, and forming mutual companies. Egypt-Morocco, Economics, 3/26/1999 - Industrial production index progresses, mining and energy regresses
The index of industrial production in Morocco has posted a 2.4% increase in 1998, compared to 1997, says the Moroccan statistics department. Morocco, Economics, 3/26/1999 - Some 120,000 foreign tourists visited Morocco last January Morocco, Economics, 3/26/1999
- Inaugurating six tourist villages in Sinai Egypt, Economics, 3/26/1999
- UAE - Holidays tours increase United Arab Emirates, Business, 3/26/1999
- ABC Islamic Bank provides funds for turbine purchase United Arab Emirates-Bahrain, Business, 3/26/1999
- Syrian Parliament ratifies a contract with US company to explore Syrian gas Syria, Business, 3/25/1999
- Moroccan minister calls Arab states to improve quality of industrial products
Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade, Alami Tazi, called Wednesday Arab states to improve the quality of industrial products to enhance competitiveness of Arab economies and counter global market challenges. Regional, Economics, 3/25/1999 - A report confirms increase of petroleum consumption in Arab nation Regional, Economics, 3/25/1999
- Israel buys a Kazakhstan uranium company
An Israeli company has been licensed by President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev to buy the biggest company for uranium production in Kazakhstan. Israel-Kazakhstan, Business, 3/25/1999 - Japan grants Palestine $ 7.45 mln for road maintenance and sanitation improvement
The Japanese government has granted Palestine an aid of U.S.$ 7.45 million (879 million yen) for a project to maintain and improve roads in the West Bank and improve the sanitation system in Khan Yunis. Palestine-Japan, Economics, 3/25/1999 - Iraq, Jordan communicate to establish petroleum line
Iraqi Minister of Petroleum Amer Mohammed Rashid said the communications continued with Jordan to implement a project for an Iraqi - Jordanian petroleum pipeline. Jordan-Iraq, Economics, 3/24/1999 - Moroccan public TV, radio and paper workers protest poor work conditions
Newsmen and technicians from the Moroccan public Radio and Television (RTM) and of the state-owned "Al-Anbaa" daily staged Tuesday a sit-in in front of the departments of finance and communications to protest their poor working conditions and financial situations. Morocco, Economics, 3/24/1999 - Chilean economic delegation shortly in Morocco
The visit that might result in the setting up of a Moroccan-Chilean business council is meant to upgrade trade exchange, which does not exceed $5 million (50 Million dirhams) per year, at a time when each of the two countries exports products that are needed by the other side. Morocco-Chile, Economics, 3/24/1999 - Saudi pharmaceutical company obtains right to manufacture antibiotics Saudi Arabia, Economics, 3/24/1999
- Palestine unemployment rate at 20% Palestine, Economics, 3/24/1999
- Report: Moroccan electricity board eyes Spanish energy market
The Moroccan national electricity board "ONE" has obtained a concession to act as an external agent in the Spanish energy market, reports Spanish business daily "Expansion." Morocco-Spain, Business, 3/24/1999 - Moroccan business center dedicated in Paris
Located on the prestigious "Avenue des Champs Elysees" in Paris, the center will serve as an information and assistance cell for the setting up of investment projects or partnership ventures between entrepreneurs of the two countries. Morocco-France, Economics, 3/24/1999 - King Abdullah meets with French business delegation
King Abdullah of Jordan on Tuesday reviewed fields of cooperation and French investment opportunities in Jordan with a French business delegation led by the chairman of the Middle East department at the business committee. Jordan-France, Economics, 3/24/1999 - Morocco launches bond issue to reduce debt servicing
Morocco launched on Monday a bond issue, worth 138.7 million euros (one billion FF), guaranteed by the French development fund, a Moroccan official announced here. Morocco, Economics, 3/23/1999 - Morocco and France optimistic over cancellation of more Moroccan debts
French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry Dominique Straus-Khan, said in Paris Monday that he is optimistic that the "Paris Club" will decide to write off all of Moroccan debt or at least raise the current 20% ceiling of the amount of debts convertible into investments. Morocco-France, Economics, 3/23/1999 - Palestinian milling company ceases work
the general manager of the company, Shaker Alafa, said that the company's mills, which are supposed to produce 210 tonnes of fine flour daily in addition to 40 tonnes of other derivatives, were paralyzed because some Palestinian merchants whose interests are connected to Israel have flooded Gaza markets with Israeli flour. Palestine, Business, 3/23/1999 - Morocco and France sign package of economic agreements
The covenants include a convention to set up a guarantee fund to help improve the competitiveness of Moroccan enterprises in international markets. The fund, with a capital of 200 million FF, will be used to guarantee long and middle terms loans contracted by Moroccan small and medium-sized enterprises with Moroccan banks. Morocco-France, Economics, 3/23/1999 - Contract for first power station in Tunisia to be endorsed tomorrow
Tunisia is to endorse tomorrow the contract for constructing the first power station financed by the private sector in Rades, an area of the Tunisian capital. Tunisia, Business, 3/23/1999 - Pumping of Iraqi oil to Turkey suspended
An oil source in Baghdad said on Monday that pumping of crude oil to Turkey has been suspended following an explosion in Iraq that took place on Friday in the Turkish part of the oil pipeline between the two countries. Iraq-Turkey, Economics, 3/23/1999 - African Development Bank, Morocco's second fund donor
The African Development Bank (ADB) is Morocco's second-largest fund donor after the World Bank with the financing of some sixty projects worth $3.8 billion, said ADB President Omar Kabbaj. Morocco-Africa, Economics, 3/23/1999 - Generous rainfall in Damascus following a season of drought Syria, Economics, 3/22/1999
- 3 billion pounds to upgrade Sinai electricity network Egypt, Economics, 3/22/1999
- Report: Economic changes in Syria
The United Arab Emirates' al-Bayan daily said that Syria will make economic changes to cope with the international situation, while adhering to Syrian principles. Syria, Economics, 3/22/1999 - Egyptian bank sells investments in 21 companies Egypt, Business, 3/22/1999
- On the Iraqi pipeline through Syria
A well-informed Syrian source told a Kuwaiti daily on Sunday that the issue of pumping Iraqi oil though a pipeline which passes through the Syrian territories is no longer in the foreseen future. Syria-Iraq, Economics, 3/22/1999 - 2.5 million expected to visit Dubai shopping festival
The committee organizing the Dubai Shopping Festival which began last Thursday expects that 2.5 million visitors will attend the festival, spending more than 4 billion dirhams during the festival's third session. United Arab Emirates, Economics, 3/22/1999 - International meeting on nuclear energy regulations held in rabat
An International meeting on the regulations and latest safety norms used in nuclear energy was held over the weekend in Rabat. Morocco, Economics, 3/22/1999