Arabic News Weekly Edition for Economics, 6/30/2003
Weekly Edition, Economics - Week of June 30, 2003
- Government share in 12 companies for sale
Minister of Public Business Sector, Mokhtar Khattab, said that the state share in a number of joint ventures were under assessment to be put up for sale soon. Egypt, Economics, 7/5/2003 - Tangiers free zone woos Portuguese enterprises
A Moroccan official delegation has met on Thursday over one hundred Portuguese enterprises to talk them into opening businesses in the free zone in the Moroccan northern city of Tangiers, reassuring them that all arrangements were taken to help businesses succeed. Morocco-Portugal, Economics, 7/5/2003 - The 3rd Syrian International Motor Show: SYRAUTO 2003
The Syrian automotive market has experienced several dramatic changes during the past three years. These changes were mainly caused by the liberalization of vehicle imports and the amendments introduced to the automobile customs duties Syria, Economics, 7/5/2003 - Al-Ahram Palestinian discourse has changed from no to yes
With the "Roadmap" being put into effect, the Palestinian concepts, and the philosophy of the resistance have changed. In an exclusive interview with Al Ahram, Nabil Amr, Palestinian Minister of Information, dealt with the most significant question, now under consideration in the Arab and Palestinian arena,on the suspension of the resistance weapon to help the Palestinian negotiator in the peace talks. Excerpts: Palestine-Israel, Economics, 7/5/2003 - ADB provides 140 m for SMEs finance
The African Development Bank (ADB) decided to provide $ 140 million for Egypt to finance small -- and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in addition to other water and drainage projects. Egypt-Regional, Economics, 7/5/2003 - Truck drivers end strike after meeting with transport minister
Moroccan trucks drivers agreed on Thursday night to end their strike, which they started last June 16, after a meeting with equipment and transport minister, Karim Ghellab. Morocco, Economics, 7/5/2003 - New round of Syrian EU negotiations in Brussels
Chairman of the State Planning Commission, and head of the Syrian side to the talks with the European side, Tawfeek Ismail announced that the first session of technical talks which was held yesterday led to the formation of a unified vision between the two sides on the issues of their agenda. Syria-European Union, Economics, 7/5/2003 - House of representatives adopts Labor Code unanimously
The House of Representatives (parliament lower chamber) on Thursday unanimously passed the labor code Morocco, Economics, 7/4/2003 - Morocco uses regulatory power to direct private phone operator to meet GSM market needs
The government is projecting to propose fines against phone companies that do not invest 2% of their turnover to extend the GSM network to remote areas, it was officially announced here on Wednesday. Morocco, Economics, 7/4/2003 - An economic report: British Gas signs contract for 3.6 millions tons of Egyptian gas
The British gas Group BG for energy on Wednesday announced it finalized an agreement provided for buying 3.6 million tons of liquid natural gas per year of Egyptian liquid natural gas. Egypt-UK, Economics, 7/4/2003 - Syrian- Lebanese medicine and animal vaccines import agreement Lebanon-Syria, Economics, 7/4/2003
- Africa loses 20,000 educated executives annually; financial aid help eaten by foreign experts
At least 20,000 educated Africans chose to leave the continent for greener pastures, mainly in the west and as a result the continent is the largest consumer of foreign expertise, says a study. Regional, Economics, 7/4/2003 - Morocco, recipient of US General System of Preferences expansion
Morocco is among the countries that will benefit from the expansion of the US GSP (generalized system of preferences) proclaimed Tuesday by US president George W. Bush, said a press statement by the bureau of US trade representative. Morocco-USA, Economics, 7/4/2003 - Syrian- Lebanese trade cooperation Syria-Lebanon, Economics, 7/3/2003
- Over $ 140 million projects to be launched shortly in Casablanca
Five major projects in tourism, real estate and leisure will be launched shortly in the Moroccan economic and financial capital, Casablanca, set to increase the city's economic competitiveness and upgrade investments. Morocco, Economics, 7/3/2003 - Moroccan tourism minister: managing juncture without affecting structural projects
Concerning the present juncture, he said while the gulf war had limited impact on trade with a 13% drop last April in the number of nights spent at Moroccan hotels, the terrorist attacks in Casablanca have yielded a drop of 8%. The French market was not affected but the number of British tourists dropped by 11% and other foreigners' visit regressed by 25 to 50%. Morocco, Economics, 7/3/2003 - Micro-loans an efficient but perfectible tool to reduce poverty, world women summit
Participants in a workshop on micro-loans, held Monday in Marrakech part of the World Women Summit, unanimously underlined that although micro-credits have undeniable advantages to reduce poverty, they should be beefed up by measures to guarantee economic viability. Regional, Economics, 7/2/2003 - Syria signs an agreement with Shell
Syria's minister of oil Ibrahim Haddad has projected that Syria's oil production to increase into between 20 to 30, 000 barrels a day. Syria, Economics, 7/2/2003 - Syrian- Saudi agricultural cooperation
Syria's Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Nour Eddine Mona, And Saudi delegation of agriculture headed by, Rashed Bin Abdul Aziz Khader yesterday in Damascus discussed means of boosting cooperation in the field of agriculture. Saudi Arabia-Syria, Economics, 7/2/2003 - Morocco, Catalonia create economic development foundation Morocco-Spain, Economics, 7/2/2003
- Arab women entrepreneurs deplore obstacles hindering women enterprise promotion
Women heads of enterprise exposed in Marrakesh over the weekend the difficulties hindering their professional business, evoking in particular funds and training. Regional, Economics, 7/1/2003 - Banks to implement Basle recommendations by 2006
Egypt's banks are preparing to implement the recommendations set out under the second Basle Accord from now till 2006, Mahmoud Abul Oyoun, Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) governor said at a seminar on Basle standards yesterday. Egypt, Economics, 7/1/2003 - Fahmi attends UAE-Egypt first General Assembly
Fahmi, in statements after attending the first general assembly of the UAE-Egypt oil company, said that inter-Arab cooperation in the oil domains was the first step along the path of establishing the Arab common market. Egypt-United Arab Emirates, Economics, 7/1/2003 - Syrian- Lebanese joint tourism projects Syria-Lebanon, Economics, 7/1/2003
- Moroccan minister participates in workshop on US-Morocco FTA Morocco-USA, Economics, 7/1/2003
- Jordanian- Saudi water cooperation Jordan-Saudi Arabia, Economics, 7/1/2003
- Annual average of medicines' consumption in Morocco is no more than us $17 by person
The annual average of medicines consumption in Morocco does not exceed 170 Dhs (US $17) by person, which is very low compared to the average in other Mediterranean countries, President of pharmacists' Union of Al Jadida, Nezha Hefti, said here on Friday. Morocco, Economics, 7/1/2003 - Morocco, Japan review fisheries cooperation
Means to upgrade cooperation ties between Morocco and Japan in fisheries and related sectors topped talks held here Monday by Moroccan fisheries minister, Tayeb Rhafes, and Japanese deputy agriculture, forests and fisheries minister, Toyoaki Ota. Morocco-Japan, Economics, 7/1/2003 - Syrian - Lebanese transport cooperation
Committee of transport and transit sector in the Syrian-Lebanese businessmen council held in Damascus on Saturday a meeting chaired by chairman of the committee, Abdul-Rahman Al-Attar. Lebanon-Syria, Economics, 6/30/2003 - Syrian preparations to joint the WTO
Syria’s Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Ghassan Rifaee, met on Saturday with participants at the training course which was organized to qualify the team which is assigned to negotiate Syria's future joining the World Trade Organization. Syria, Economics, 6/30/2003 - Morocco raises 400m in Eurobond issue as investors shrug off fears, FT Writes
The first 400m ($457m, £275m) eurobond Morocco raised Friday in London was seen by The Financial Times (FT) as showing that investors were undaunted by last month's multiple suicide attacks in the Moroccan financial capital Casablanca. Morocco, Economics, 6/30/2003 - Syrian exhibition in Odessa Syria-Ukraine, Economics, 6/30/2003
- Cotton exports reach LE2b. in 2002/2003 Egypt, Economics, 6/30/2003