Arabic News Weekly Edition for Economics, 5/7/2001
Weekly Edition, Economics - Week of May 7, 2001
- Petrochemicals industry body set-up
President Mubarak listened to this detailed study which indicated that petrochemicals in Egypt are produced from derivatives of crude oil and natural gas with the aim of covering the shortage in natural sources. This industry provides substitutes such as wood, iron, wool, cotton, aluminum and rubber. Egypt, Economics, 5/12/2001 - On the meeting of the Arab- boycott office of Israel
The United Arab Emirates daily al-Khaleij said on Friday that several Arab states did not refuse the convening of the meeting of the Arab- boycott office of Israel, but considered that postponing convening the meeting for a while under the pretext to give Israel more exerted time to halt the tension in the region and to resume peace negotiations. Regional-Israel, Economics, 5/12/2001 - Morocco's telecom agency calls for generalizing internet package to all providers Morocco, Economics, 5/12/2001
- Arab civil protection conference in Rabat Regional, Economics, 5/12/2001
- Egypt, Libya keen on expanding electricity cooperation
Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Energy Ali El-Saedi underlined the depth of Egyptian-Libyan relations, especially in the electricity and energy domain. Egypt-Libya, Economics, 5/12/2001 - Arab stock union to form unified Arab stock market
"A pan-Arab stock exchange would be a magnet, not only attract Arab investors but foreign capital as well," said Al-Rukaibi. Regional, Economics, 5/11/2001 - Iraqi president urges local pharmaceutical production Iraq, Economics, 5/11/2001
- Donors reaffirm support for UN relief agency serving Palestine refugees
Major donors and host governments on Thursday voiced their strong backing for the work of the main United Nations agency providing relief to Palestine refugees, at the end of an informal meeting in Amman, Jordan, aimed at reviewing past efforts and future challenges. Palestine, Economics, 5/11/2001 - Arab capital markets meeting opens in Beirut
The 7th congress of the Arab capital markets opened in Beirut Thursday with 650 Arab businessmen and foreign finance experts attending. Lebanon-Regional, Economics, 5/11/2001 - Three-way merger to create major broker
The investment banking and securities arm of Oman & Emirates Investment Holding Company, Al Mawarid Securities Company SAOG and Al Shalman Securities Company SAOG are the companies set to consolidate Oman, Business, 5/11/2001 - GSM licence to be granted before July 23, 2001 to a private operator Algeria, Economics, 5/11/2001
- HIV/AIDS depletes rural labor force in many African countries, FAO warns
Deaths caused by HIV/AIDS in the 10 most affected African countries are projected to reduce the labor force by as much as 26 per cent by 2020, according to a new report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Regional, Economics, 5/11/2001 - Morocco, Oman agree to encourage investments Morocco-Oman, Economics, 5/10/2001
- Gulf economic and financial ministers to meet in Manama Gulf, Economics, 5/10/2001
- UN seeks funds for Palestine refugees facing unprecedented economic collapse
The head of the main United Nations agency providing relief to Palestine refugees appealed Wednesday for emergency funds needed to cope with an unprecedented economic collapse in the West Bank and Gaza. Palestine, Economics, 5/10/2001 - Spanish food operator wants to install in Morocco Morocco-Spain, Business, 5/10/2001
- Meeting with Mubarak useful, very positive
Jean Gendois, Chairman of the French Suez Water Company's Board of Directors and Head of the French side in the projected French University in Egypt, described his meeting with President Hosni Mubarak as useful and very positive. Egypt-France, Economics, 5/10/2001 - Egypt, Libya to promote bilateral relations
At the end of the seventh closing session of the joint higher Egyptian -Libyan Committee, Egypt and Libya signed 11 agreements, executive programs and protocols on cooperation in the commercial, economic and investment fields. Egypt-Libya, Economics, 5/10/2001 - Morocco's culture, history, major attraction for tourists, poll
Morocco's culture and history represent the major attraction for 72 percent of French tourists polled by the Moroccan tourism authority (ONMT). Morocco, Economics, 5/10/2001 - Agadir declaration on free trade zone, pragmatic action, signatory countries say
The Agadir Declaration setting up a free trade zone between Arab-Mediterranean countries that was signed Tuesday by the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia is a pragmatic action, underlain by a genuine political will. It is not a declaration on intent. Regional, Economics, 5/9/2001 - Agadir declaration on free trade zone, statement by royal palace spokesman
"What has been achieved today in Agadir is a first step towards setting up the Great Arab Free Trade zone. and establishing an Arab strong and complementary economic space," the spokesman said. Morocco-Regional, Economics, 5/9/2001 - Income tax exemption increased in Syria Syria, Economics, 5/9/2001
- Saudi Arabia to reduce foreign labor
The Saudi ministry of labor and social affairs has called for reducing number of the labor force in the Saudi labor force coming from foreign countries at an average of 150,000 workers per year. Saudi Arabia, Economics, 5/9/2001 - A ministerial meeting for 10 Arab states in Baghdad
The council of the Arab economic unity has announced that the Arab ministers of the economy, members of the council will hold their next meeting in Baghdad on June 6. Regional, Economics, 5/9/2001 - The Economist: Egyptian economy will edge up to 5.6 per cent in 2002
The Economist has recently anticipated that the growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Egypt will edge up to 5.6 per cent in year 2002, after scoring 4.8 per cent in 2001. Egypt, Economics, 5/9/2001 - Egypt plays an active role in the European Bank for Reconstruction meetings
In his speech before the EBR meetings, Hassan Khedr, Minister of Supply and Home Trade and Egypt 'a Governor in the EBR asserted the importance of introducing new mechanism that guarantees the participation of Egyptian contracting companies in the EBR's projects. Egypt-European Union, Economics, 5/9/2001 - Meeting on Arab free trade zone opens in Rabat
The meeting, the first of the kind of the Arab-Mediterranean countries, is deemed as a new orientation in Arab action. Regional, Economics, 5/8/2001 - Rabat to host Arab conference on copyrights
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will convene the regional conference of the Arab states in Rabat May 15 through 17 on "collective management of copyrights and related rights." Regional, Economics, 5/8/2001 - Morocco, Burkina Faso to sign accord on non-double taxation
Morocco and Burkina Faso agreed to sign shortly two agreements on non-double taxation and on the promotion of investments. Morocco-Burkina Faso, Economics, 5/8/2001 - African meeting on fishery in Rabat
The board of the ministerial conference on fishery cooperation between African countries bordering the Atlantic holds its 4th ordinary meeting in Rabat May 8-11. Morocco-Regional, Economics, 5/8/2001 - Ten Arab states meet in Morocco tuesday to discuss setting up of free trade zone
King Mohammed VI had urged Arab heads of state to grant priority to economic, technological and scientific cooperation and to set aside ideological differences and political strives. Morocco-Regional, Economics, 5/7/2001 - Jordanian monarch calls for establishing joint projects with Egypt
King Abdullah II of Jordan said that an Egyptian-Jordanian committee will be set up to consider the possibility of establishing joint projects by the two states' private sectors and removing obstacles impeding these projects. Jordan-Egypt, Economics, 5/7/2001 - Iraqi oil production slowed by UN sanctions obstacles
The Iraqi oil minister Amer Muhammad Rashid said on May 4 in Baghdad that Iraq's oil production does not exceed three million barrels of oil per day because of the great shortage in the spare parts of the Iraqi oil institutions. Iraq, Economics, 5/7/2001 - Arab states to face water deficit if same policy continues
Water deficit in the Arab states might increase to 3.3 billion cubic meters by 2025 if the Arab states continue their current water policy, the Arab economic unity council reported. Regional, Economics, 5/7/2001 - PM lays stone for low-income housing project
"President Hosni Mubarak instructions keen on giving of 90 per cent of government efforts to improving the conditions of limited-income people and providing the appropriate atmosphere for investment," said Prime Minister Atef Ebeid. Egypt, Economics, 5/7/2001 - Toshka project approaches its final stages
"The total of different development projects carried out in Toshka area, located in Upper Egypt, has so far reached some LE 3.7 billion," Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mahmoud Abu Zeid said. Egypt, Economics, 5/7/2001 - Railways line between Iraq, Turkey re-opened
An Iraqi source on Saturday in Baghdad said that the railway line between Turkey and Iraq which has been suspended since 1981 was re-opened from the Turkish city of Mardin through the Syrian city of al-Qamishli, the two Iraqi cities of Rabeya and al-Mousel until it entered Baghdad after midnight. Iraq-Turkey, Economics, 5/7/2001