Arabic News Weekly Edition for Economics, 1/12/2004
Weekly Edition, Economics - Week of January 12, 2004
- Damascus removes entry restrictions on Turkish businessmen
Damascus announced yesterday it will loosen laws on giving entry visas for Turkish businessmen. Syria-Turkey, Economics, 1/16/2004 - Palestinian parliament approves 2004 budget
The Palestinian parliament approved with a great majority yesterday a 1.694 billion dollars budget for 2004, in the framework of the continued attempt to build confidence in the financial status of the Palestinian authority. Palestine, Economics, 1/16/2004 - USAID lauds Egypt's small enterprises draft bill
Only three per cent of these businesses are in serious financial difficulty, he said, pointing out that 55 per cent of loans were given to women in deprived areas in Upper Egypt. Egypt-USA, Economics, 1/16/2004 - 5 Syrian signs oil contracts with American, Indian companies Syria, Economics, 1/16/2004
- Oman treasury bill- bidding session Oman, Economics, 1/16/2004
- U.S. committed to WTO negotiations' success, trade official says Regional-USA, Economics, 1/16/2004
- Morocco and Egypt sign package of agreements; joint stock market rules
Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak and Morocco's King Mohammed VI and chaired yesterday the signing of a package of cooperation agreements, concluded at the end of the high joint commission. Egypt-Morocco, Economics, 1/15/2004 - Syrian- Lebanese premiers meet in Damascus on cooperation
Otari welcomed Hariri and an accompanying delegation pointing out that this visit aims at boosting the bilateral relations and realizing integration in domains of economy, trade, agriculture, industry transport, energy, gas, electricity, dams of water and many other domains. Syria-Lebanon, Economics, 1/15/2004 - Morocco imported 36% less cereals in 2H 2003
Morocco has imported 36% less cereals during the second Half of 2003 than during the same period last year, the Moroccan inter-professional office of cereals and leguminous plants (ONICL) said. Morocco, Economics, 1/15/2004 - Syrian pharmaceuticals to expand exports in the Gulf states
Minister of Health Mohammad Iyad al-Shatti met in Damascus on Tuesday General Director of the Executive Bureau of the Gulf Cooperation Council States' Health Ministers Council Tawfiq Ben Ahmad Khojeh. Syria-Gulf, Economics, 1/14/2004 - Seventy percent of Moroccan enterprises able to face international competition, minister
Seventy percent of Moroccan enterprises are fit to face international competition, Moroccan minister in charge of economic affairs and upgrading economy, Abderrazak El Mossadeq said. Morocco-Regional, Economics, 1/14/2004 - Greenspan sees 'little' trouble in global current account adjustment
US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan says that global current account imbalances will be defused with "little" disruption as long as globalization is allowed to progress and make the international financial system even more flexible. Regional-USA, Economics, 1/14/2004 - Some 360,000 pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia
A Saudi Arabian official source announced that more than 360,000 pilgrims arrived so far in Saudi Arabia to take part in the annual al-Haj season, which starts this year by the beginning of February. Saudi Arabia-Regional, Economics, 1/14/2004 - US Ex-Im Bank offers multiple financing plans for Iraqi reconstruction
To support Iraqi reconstruction efforts, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is providing short-term credit insurance for the Trade Bank of Iraq, guarantees or insurance in third countries, and working capital guarantees for U.S. subcontractors in U.S. government-funded reconstruction contracts. Iraq-USA, Economics, 1/14/2004 - Kuwaiti parliament approves establishment of foreign banks
The Kuwaiti Ummah council ( parliament) yesterday approved a law permiting foreign banks to work in Kuwait, for the first time in the history of the country. Kuwait, Economics, 1/13/2004 - Syrian- Jordanian transport cooperation highlighted Fertile Crescent, Economics, 1/13/2004
- Morocco's power utility plans $3.4 billion investments next 5 years
Morocco's power utility L'Office Marocain de L'Electricite (ONE) is planning 34 billion Dirhams (around US$ 3.4 million) in 2004, the energy federation said in its latest newsletter "Energy and Strategy." Morocco, Economics, 1/13/2004 - 80% customs reduction in Arab Free Trade Area in January
Minister of Foreign Trade Youssef Boutrus Ghali said that the volume of customs exemption between Egypt and the Arab Free-Trade Area (FTA) member states would reach 80% in January in a preliminary step to realize complete customs exemption by 2005. Egypt-Regional, Economics, 1/12/2004 - Syrian- Turkish cooperation
A session of discussion was held in Aleppo yesterday between Syrian and Turkish businessmen and investors at the Aleppo Chamber of Commerce, in the presence of Aleppo Governor, Osama Adi, and Letfallah Bighlin, the Governor of Ghazi Intab governorate. Syria-Turkey, Economics, 1/12/2004 - US convinced Morocco-US negotiations to be completed by end january
US deputy secretary of state, Richard Armitage, said he is convinced that Morocco-US Free Trade Agreement negotiations, at the level of specialized commissions, will be completed before end of January. Morocco-USA, Economics, 1/12/2004 - New amendments to Capital Market Law before PA soon Egypt, Economics, 1/12/2004
- Al Kamil power plant opens in Oman Oman, Economics, 1/12/2004