Arabic News Weekly Edition for Economics, 1/17/2000

Weekly Edition, Economics - Week of January 17, 2000

• Jordan intends to purchase shares of Turkish water
  Jordanian Irrigation Minister Kamel Mahadin asserted his country's intention to purchase a quantity of Turkish water from the Turkish Manaogat River, adding that his country is about to continue discussing the final technical matters concerning this subject, whether on the Jordanian side or through the talks it holds with the Turkish side. Jordan-Turkey, Economics, 1/22/2000
• Sudan, UAE sign memorandum of understanding
  Sudan and the United Arab Emirates have signed a memorandum of cooperation and coordination in the area of establishing free zones, providing for exchanging information and data, developing natural resources, marketing, exchanging technical consultancy and qualifying national cadres. Sudan-United Arab Emirates, Economics, 1/22/2000
• Forming a joint business council between Jordan and Syria
  Preparations are currently being made in Amman and Damascus to form a joint business council between Jordan and Syria in implementation of the agreements signed in the framework of the joint high committee between the two states last year. Jordan-Syria, Economics, 1/22/2000
• Morocco announces creation of fund to list enterprises on stock market
  Morocco's Industry, Trade and Handicraft Ministry is planning to create a capital development fund with a capital of $10 million to help industrial enterprises be listed on the stock market. Morocco, Economics, 1/22/2000
• IMF ready to help Algeria
  The Director General of the International Monetary Fund, Michael Camdessus, currently visiting Algeria, has asserted the fund's readiness to help Algeria in all fields and that Algeria has to decide its needs according to the program of the new government. Algeria, Economics, 1/22/2000
• Egyptian neglect in promoting exports to affluent Japan
  The Japanese foreign trade organization, Jetro, said that it is still waiting for a plan to be presented by Egypt to develop Egyptian exports to the Japanese market despite of the passage of three months since the two sides' agreement on implementing a campaign. Egypt-Japan, Economics, 1/22/2000
• Asia Connect conference commences in the Emirates
  More than 100 airline companies and trip organizers as well as airport authorities from all over the world are participating in the Asia Connect conference 2000 which started in the United Arab Emirates. Regional-United Arab Emirates, Business, 1/22/2000
• Morocco, Palestine agree to cooperate in public health
  Morocco and Palestine signed on Friday a cooperation agreement in health matters, providing for the exchange of expertise between practitioners of the two countries. Morocco-Palestine, Economics, 1/22/2000
• French chamber of trade and industry discloses 6 month program
  The French chamber of trade and industry in Morocco (CFCIM) disclosed in Casablanca Thursday its six-month back-up program to benefit enterprises including missions in the Middle East, Germany and Canada. Morocco-France, Economics, 1/22/2000
• Developing UAE international airport
  The civil aviation department in Abu Dhabi is implementing a comprehensive development plan for the Abu Dhabi International Airport at a total cost $650 million. United Arab Emirates, Business, 1/22/2000
• International Gulf conference for electronic trade in Dubai in April
  An international Gulf conference for electronic trade will be held on April 22 - 26. It will be organized by the trade chambers union of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states, the Gulf organization for industrial consultations and industry and trade chambers. Gulf, Economics, 1/22/2000
• Iran participates in 33rd Cairo International Fair
  Iran will participate in the 33rd session of the Cairo International Fair, which will be opened on March 1 and last for 10 days, after an absence of more than 20 years. Egypt-Iran, Economics, 1/22/2000
• Andalusia blames Madrid for delaying fish talks with Morocco Morocco-Spain, Economics, 1/21/2000
• Montreal hosts Moroccan-Canadian partnership seminar Morocco-Canada, Economics, 1/21/2000
• Moroccan representatives approve headquarter agreement of Euro-Mediterranean tourism organization Morocco-European Union, Economics, 1/21/2000
• Saudi Arabia, Iran sign memorandum of understanding on joint cooperation
  Iran and Saudi Arabia on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding between the two countries in the areas of commerce, establishing joint investment companies and coordinating of stances in international and regional organizations and circles. Saudi Arabia-Iran, Economics, 1/21/2000
• Jordanian delegation visits Iraq to sign petroleum agreement
  A Jordanian delegation under the chairmanship of Trade and Industry Minister Mohammed El-Halabaka is heading today to Baghdad to sign the petroleum agreement between the two states which has been stumbled more than once. Jordan-Iraq, Economics, 1/21/2000
• IMF confirms support to Algeria
  International Monetary Fund (IMF) Director General, Michael Camdessus, on Thursday confirmed here that the fund would not stop supporting Algeria's efforts for permanent peace, stability and economic growth. Algeria, Economics, 1/21/2000
• Italian consortium opens in Morocco its first office abroad
  An Italian consortium, mustering some 200 small and medium-sized enterprises, opened Thursday in Casablanca its first representation abroad. Morocco-Italy, Economics, 1/21/2000
• New slogan for general corporation of Doha airport Qatar, Business, 1/21/2000
• Minister of economy: No privatization for public sector banks
  Egyptian Economy Minister Yousef Boutros Ghali said that there would be no privatization, currently, of any of the four public sector banks (the National Bank, Misr, Alexandria and Cairo) so that the citizens would have complete confidence in machinism of the market and not to cause any negative impact on the depositors and their savings. Egypt, Business, 1/21/2000
• Al-Hoss meets with US trade official
  U.S. Deputy Trade Secretary for the Middle East, Molly Williamson, along with U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield met yesterday with Lebanese Prime Minster Salim al-Hoss. Bilateral relations and trade exchange between Lebanon and the U.S. highlighted the discussions. Lebanon-USA, Economics, 1/21/2000
• British commercial mission visits Lebanon
  A British commercial mission arrived yesterday in Lebanon that includes five companies interested in commercial investment, as these companies specialize in fields of food, printing and minerals industry equipment, as well as in technical consulting services and English language sessions. Lebanon-UK, Economics, 1/21/2000
• Egypt's and Japan to join Indian Ocean group in Muscat meeting Saturday
  Ambassador Nagi El-Ghadrifi, Egypt's assistant foreign minister for Asian affairs, said today that the exceptional meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) which will be held on Saturday and Sunday in Muscat will witness the joining of partners-- Egypt and Japan-- in the discussion to the assembly's membership, in addition to making a working program for the assembly addressing government, economic and private sector roles. Egypt-International, Economics, 1/21/2000
• Khartoum loses US $1 million every two hours
  Sudanese governmental sources said that the Sudanese government loses US $1 million every two hours as a result of an explosion that took place against a Sudanese oil pipeline last Sunday. Sudan, Economics, 1/21/2000
• Yemeni - Egyptian cooperation to negotiate with World Trade Organization Egypt-Yemen, Economics, 1/20/2000
• Iran, Saudi Arabia for strengthening bilateral cooperation
  Iranian Minister of Industry Ghulam Rida Shafee on Tuesday evening in Tehran discussed with the Saudi minister of commerce the possibility of expanding areas of cooperation between the two countries. Saudi Arabia-Iran, Economics, 1/20/2000
• A Japanese donation to Jordan Jordan-Japan, Economics, 1/20/2000
• Bahrain to privatize meat industry, keep level prices Bahrain, Economics, 1/20/2000
• Media Production City, promising project
  President Hosni Mubarak will open the first phase of the Mubarak Studio Complex in the Media Production City of the Sixth of October suburb in May,on the occasion of the annual medial celebrations. Egypt, Economics, 1/20/2000
• US Export-Import Bank lends Algeria
  Algerian officials said yesterday that the chairman of the US Export- Import Bank, James Harmon, informed President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria that the Bank will present long-term loans to Algeria whose value have not yet determined. Algeria-USA, Economics, 1/20/2000
• UEA grants taxi franchises for Dubai United Arab Emirates, Business, 1/20/2000
• Morocco and international telecom group conclude training partnership convention
  Morocco's office of vocational training "OFPPT" and Medi Telecom -- which operates Morocco's second GSM license-- signed on Wednesday a partnership convention in training and employment. Morocco, Business, 1/20/2000
• 83 million dinars in loans for Tunisian youths Tunisia, Economics, 1/19/2000
• Moroccan prime minister underscores government's bold action to curb unemployment and poverty
  Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi underscored Monday before the chamber of advisors (upper house of the parliament) the government's bold action to face rampant unemployment and social problems. Morocco, Economics, 1/19/2000
• Meeting to follow up on applying executive program for Arab free trade zone
  Meetings of heads and managers of customs in the Arab states started yesterday at Arab League headquarters to follow up on applying the executive program for the greater Arab free trade zone through end of 1999 and other economic subjects. Regional, Economics, 1/19/2000
• Meetings of the Arab trade chambers union in Tripoli in February Regional, Business, 1/19/2000
• Arab satellite for mobile phone service Regional, Business, 1/19/2000
• First international economic forum in Jeddah next week
  The first iternational economical forum is to be opened at the beginning of the coming week in which some international personalities and experts like former US President George Bush and former UK Prime Minister John Major will deliver lectures. Saudi Arabia-International, Economics, 1/19/2000
• Plan to increase the value of Egypt's exports of computer software
  Egyptian Minister of Communications and Data Ahmed Nazeef stated that there is a governmental plan to increase Egypt's exports of computer software to $2.5 billion in the year 2009. Egypt, Business, 1/19/2000
• Egypt to allow establishment of private companies for satellite television and radio broadcasts
  Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak agreed on allowing the Egyptian private sector to establish joint stock companies for television and radio broadcasting, as the Egyptian Cabinet specified the necessary steps for declaring these companies, Egyptian Information Minister Safwat El-Sherif said. Egypt, Business, 1/19/2000
• Official calls Americans to participate in Morocco's development process
  Moroccan minister of economy and finance, Fathallah Oualalou, called Americans to get more involved in Morocco's development process and to back its efforts to open its economy onto the world. Morocco-USA, Economics, 1/19/2000
• Number of tourists visiting Morocco increased by 19% in 1999
  More than two million tourists have visited Morocco in 1999, recording a 19% increase compared to the previous year, said Moroccan Minister of Tourism Hassan Sebbar. Morocco, Business, 1/19/2000
• Morocco, France sign employment cooperation accord
  Morocco and France signed in Rabat on Monday an accord on cooperation in matters of employment and vocational training for this year. Morocco-France, Economics, 1/18/2000
• UN report draws rosy picture of Palestinian economy
  The Palestinian economy witnessed significant and promising growth in 1999, according to United Nations Special Coordinator Terje Roed-Larsen. Larsen noted that the Palestinian economy is estimated to have grown by 4.1 percent in 1998 and was expected to grow by 4.5 percent, after adjusting for inflation, in 1999. Palestine, Economics, 1/18/2000
• Saudi trade minister arrives in Tehran
  The Saudi minister of commerce Osama Jaafar Faqih on Monday arrived in Tehran leading a delegation to meetings of the joint Iranian- Saudi joint committee. Saudi Arabia-Iran, Economics, 1/18/2000
• Budget discussions by the Syrian parliament
  The Syrian People's Assembly (parliament) on Monday held a meeting chaired by its speaker, Abdul Qader Qaddoura and Prime Minister Mahmoud al-Zou'bi and which was attended by the deputy prime ministers for economic and service affairs. Syria, Economics, 1/18/2000
• Government announces $ 100 mln to alleviate poverty
  The Moroccan government will earmark $ 100 million (one billion dirhams) to alleviate poverty as part of the five-year plan, said Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi. Morocco, Economics, 1/18/2000
• Saudi king calls for rainfall prayers Saudi Arabia, Economics, 1/18/2000
• A study demands manufacturing a 100% Egyptian car Egypt, Economics, 1/17/2000
• Egyptian economy, competent to attract more foreign investments
  "The Egyptian economy nowadays is competent to attract more foreign investments, especially that Egypt is focusing on the industrial activities," said head of the British business delegation recently visiting Egypt at the invitation of the Ministry of Environment Affairs. Egypt-UK, Economics, 1/17/2000
• Government opens investment vistas to young investors; made-in-Egypt production
  Prime Minister Atef Ebeid Sunday met with young investors. The meeting is part of the government`s plan to qualify youth and open fresh vistas before the young investors to enable them carry their role in building the national economy. Egypt, Economics, 1/17/2000
• Aswan celebrates splendid high dam 30th anniversary, 3rd Toshka birthday
  Work in the third phase of Sheikh Zayed Canal is to start next week, Financed by Abou Dhabi government at a cost of $ 100 million. Also an agreement has been reached with a major Dutch Company to undertake digging and infrastructure work. Egypt, Economics, 1/17/2000
• Four priorities in government program for boosting influx of investment
  The Dr. Atef Ebeid government declared at the meeting of the ministerial committee for supporting and encouraging influx of investment that it was committed to stabilizing all policies regulating investment climate and maintaining investment influx in the various domains. Egypt, Economics, 1/17/2000
• Saudi holding to invest in Morocco's tourism, finance sectors
  The Saudi "Della El Baraka" holding is to build a tourism compound in the southern Moroccan city of Agadir. Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Business, 1/17/2000
• Egypt participates in G-15 meetings
  Egypt is due to participate in first meeting held by the Group of 15 developing countries in Geneva on January 19 after the failure of the World Trade Organization conference in Seattle, USA at the end of last year. Egypt-International, Economics, 1/17/2000
• Discussing means of exporting Egyptian natural gas
  Three working groups including technical, economic and financial experts from the general Egyptian organization for petroleum and the companies affiliated to the sector are starting to evaluate exporting and manufacturing the natural gas locally. Egypt, Economics, 1/17/2000
• Palestinian economy records remarkable growth in 1999
  The U.N. special coordinator to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Terje Larsen announced that the Palestinian economy has considerably improved during 1999, unemployment was slashed and revenues increased. Palestine, Economics, 1/17/2000

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