Arabic News Weekly Edition for Economics, 4/23/2001
Weekly Edition, Economics - Week of April 23, 2001
- Rural development, market access keys to fighting hunger in Africa, UN
A firm commitment to investment in agriculture and rural development is key in any effort to alleviate hunger and poverty in Africa, the Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Friday. Regional, Economics, 4/28/2001 - Mubarak's visit to Russia positively reflects on trade movement
Economy and Foreign Trade Minister Youssef Boutros Ghali said President Hosni Mubarak's visit to Russia has positive effects on the trade movement between the two countries. Egypt-Russia, Economics, 4/28/2001 - French investments in Egypt hits four billion Francs
A report released by the French Embassy in Cairo said the total French investments in Egypt hit four billion francs and France is considered one of the biggest investors in Egypt following the United Kingdom and Germany. Egypt-France, Economics, 4/28/2001 - Moussa rules out economic summit, confirms conference
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa ruled out holding of an Arab economic summit soon in Cairo, pointing out that an economic conference will rather be held in Cairo as agreed in the latest Arab Summit in Amman. Egypt-Regional, Economics, 4/28/2001 - Kuwaiti minister denies news to buy a share at Meidour refinery
Al-Sabeih said in a statement to the Kuwaiti daily al-Watan replying to news reports on Thursday to this effect, that there is no intention to buy a share in Meidour refinery. Kuwait-Egypt, Economics, 4/28/2001 - Morocco willing to carry on fishery negotiations with EU in the frame of fair partnership, official
The Moroccan government on Thursday voiced willingness to carry on fishery negotiations with the European Union to seek a fairer partnership frame. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 4/27/2001 - Saudi Arabia gives one- month visa for Omra seekers
The Saudi authorities have decided to offer Muslims who seek to perform al-Omra rituals a one month visa in order to enable them also from touring Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, Economics, 4/27/2001 - Morocco to enforce compulsory industrial accident insurance
Morocco on Wednesday announced a project to enforce a compulsory insurance to cover industrial accidents and diseases. Morocco, Business, 4/27/2001 - Morocco does not shoulder failure of fishery negotiations with EU
Morocco does not shoulder the failure of fishery negotiations with the European Union, said Moroccan minister of maritime fisheries, Saed Chbaatou. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 4/26/2001 - The 6th round of negotiations for a Euro-Syrian Partnership
The Syrian Minister said "we are happy to announce that we have achieved a genuine progress in the issues we have already discussed during our 6th round", noting that the next round of negotiations will be held in Brussels on 10 and 11 July. Syria-European Union, Economics, 4/26/2001 - Morocco to enforce IT strategy, PM says
Morocco will continue efforts to reform its IT sector and open it for more competition, pending the generalization of the IT use, Youssoufi said. Morocco, Economics, 4/26/2001 - Israel seeks economic talks with the Palestinians Palestine-Israel, Economics, 4/26/2001
- Arab-Sat board meets in Nouakchott, Syria is absent
The board of the Arab Satellite company ( Arab-Sat.) has been holding its meeting since Tuesday in Nouakchott without the presence of Syria, who apologized for not attending, as said the organizers of this event. Regional, Business, 4/26/2001 - 4th international transport show begins 31 May in Casablanca
The international show on the transportation of goods, persons and logistics (SITMAP) will be held in Casablanca May 31 through June 3 on the theme "transport, a vehicle for economic development." Regional, Economics, 4/26/2001 - No incident against Moroccan products transiting Spain
Five lorries carrying Moroccan fish for European markets, on Wednesday left safe the port of Algesiras (southern Spain). Morocco-Spain, Economics, 4/26/2001 - Contacts to convene an urgent meeting for the Damascus boycott office
News reports in Egypt indicated on Tuesday " intensive contacts " underway to convene an urgent meeting very soon for the Arab boycott office of Israel in Damascus despite the American pressures to prevent the revival of the Arab Ð boycott as a "weapon" against Israel. Regional-Israel, Economics, 4/25/2001 - Trade relations between Israel and Jordan
The Jordanian minister of industry and trade Wasef Azar has explained that extending work in the trade agreement signed with Israel is a routine measure which is spontaneously renewed every year unless one of the two sides objects such an extension. Jordan-Israel, Economics, 4/25/2001 - New department in Oman to promote investment
The new department is to identify investment activities in each wilayat, promote investment, organise gatherings and establish a database relevant to each wilayat Oman, Economics, 4/25/2001 - Poll reveals: optimism for information technology and cooperation in the Arab states
A majority (55%) also expressed optimism for the prospect of forming a regional economic market, while 38% were not positive. Nonetheless, the conference attendees gave low marks for current IT efforts in the Arab World and they rated the Arab countries as less developed in IT among a number of developing nations and regions of the world. Regional, Economics, 4/25/2001 - Israeli airliner suspends flights
The Israeli airliner al-Al has decided to halt its flights to ten international airports, following the great financial losses inflected on the company because of the decrease in the world tourism movement to Israel. Israel-Palestine, Economics, 4/25/2001 - Iraq earns additional 370 million euros under UN's oil-for-food program
The UN Office of the Iraq Program said that last week Iraq exported 14.9 million barrels of oil, earning on average approximately 24.86 euros per barrel. Iraq, Economics, 4/25/2001 - Morocco, South Korea set up business council
The council will be a sound frame for the two countries businessmen to exchange views on issues of common concern and on means to upgrade business cooperation which do not reflect Morocco and South Korea's economic potentials, he added. Morocco-South Korea, Economics, 4/25/2001 - Israel's boycott office postpones meeting
The BBC correspondent in Damascus said that the delay of most of the Arab states from taking place in the meeting of the Israel's boycott office in Damascus was a real test for these countries following the recent Amman's Arab summit, which adopted the decision of boycotting Israel, at Syria's request and also agreed to convene a meeting called upon by the main boycott office in Damascus. Regional-Syria, Economics, 4/24/2001 - King Mohammed calls for new information technology mastery
"We have pursued this policy of overture and progress, opening, with the same transparency and rigor, Maroc-Telecom's capital to make of our country a model in the field," the King said Morocco, Economics, 4/24/2001 - GCC- EU ministerial council meet in Manama
Works of the 11th meeting of the joint ministerial council between the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC member states and the European Union started on Monday in al-Manama. Gulf-European Union, Economics, 4/24/2001 - Four Arab states hold meeting in Rabat to coordinate stands with European Union
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia will hold a meeting in Rabat May 8-9 to probe means of coordinating the four states' stands regarding the European union Regional-European Union, Economics, 4/24/2001 - More Arab tourists visit Morocco, numbers still low
Tourists from the Middle-East and the Gulf are showing more interest in Morocco, as evidenced by the rise in their number. Morocco-Regional, Economics, 4/24/2001 - Sham 2001 IT Expo. Opens today Syria, Economics, 4/24/2001
- Mubarak, Gaddafi to open power linkage project
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Libyan President Muammar A1 Gaddafi will inaugurate the power linkage project between the two states. The project links Egypt's Salloum power station to Tobrouk station. Egypt-Libya, Economics, 4/23/2001 - Arab boycott office postpones meeting
An official at the Arab League office in Damascus said that the meeting of the Arab boycott of Israel which was due on Sunday ( yesterday) in Damascus was postponed because the needed number for convening the meeting did not confirm participation. Regional-Israel, Economics, 4/23/2001 - Plans to raise exports and upgrade small business sector 18.7% in three years
The Egyptian government affirmed its dedication to increasing exports and reducing the trade deficit through cooperation with the private sector and export associations. Egypt, Economics, 4/23/2001 - More calls for activating Euro-Mediterranean, FIA agreement
The visiting delegation of French businessmen Sunday called for activating the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement. Egypt-France, Economics, 4/23/2001 - Egypt, Australia promot economic partnership
Prime Minister of the Australian Queensland province Peter Beattie said the coming phase will witness a rise on bilateral trade and economic cooperation as Egypt's exports to the Australian market exceeded $ 400 million against imports worth $ 600 million. Egypt-Australia, Economics, 4/23/2001 - Arab Investment Guarantee corp. approves 2001 budget Regional, Business, 4/23/2001
- Information and Communication Technology in economy
The seminar focused on the increasing role of information and communication technologies in the economic field and highlighted practical experiences of investment in ICT and other technologies. Syria, Economics, 4/23/2001 - Globalization poses challenges for Islamic Development Bank member countries
The process of globalization which has generated economic disparities and asymmetries, poses enormous challenges to the aspirations of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) member countries. Regional, Economics, 4/23/2001 - Tile Draining pipes are locally manufactured, not imported
Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mahmoud Abu Zeid denied importing pipes for tile draining from Israel as they are manufactured in Egypt. Egypt, Economics, 4/23/2001 - The Saudi royal family property in Britain
The British daily the " Times" issues on Saturday in London said that the oil-rich Saudi royal family has recently bought a complete square in one of the most luxurious quarters in London called Berkley at a value of 335 million Sterling Pound, estimated at USD 400 million. Saudi Arabia, Business, 4/23/2001