Arabic News Weekly Edition for Economics, 12/20/2004
Weekly Edition, Economics - Week of December 20, 2004
- Lahoud held meetings on local, Arab issues
President Emile Lahoud of Lebanon and Secretary General of the Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council Nasri Khouri on Friday discussed the Syrian-Lebanese relations and action of the general secretariat of the Council. Lebanon, Economics, 12/25/2004 - Jordanians protest a trade deal with Israel
Scores of Jordanian demonstrators staged a sit-in in front of the Jordanian Vocational Union premises Thursday to protest the accord that Jordan and Israel have signed to upgrade trade between them. Jordan-Israel, Economics, 12/25/2004 - New session of talks to set up FTA with Turkey
Trade exchange between Egypt and Turkey reached in 2003 a total of $ 500 million, and is expected to reach $ 700 million in 2004, Kayalar said. Egypt-Turkey, Economics, 12/25/2004 - Over US$ 550 million extended in micro-funds in Jan-Sept 2004
The total amount of micro-credits extended between January and September 2004 has reached 5 billion Dirhams (over US$ 550 million), marking a progression of 47% compared to 2003, says the Moroccan federation of micro-credit associations. Morocco, Economics, 12/25/2004 - Syrian, Tunisian joint venture to drill oil in north eastern Syria
Syria and Tunisia on Thursday evening signed an agreement to explore oil in the north eastern Syria hoping the outcome would be positive and get good oil returns. Tunisia-Syria, Business, 12/25/2004 - Morocco, Gabon examine relaunch of FTA negotiations
Morocco and Gabon might relaunch negotiations to establish a free trade zone with view to reinforcing trade exchanges and promoting economic integration with countries of central Africa. Morocco-Gabon, Economics, 12/25/2004 - Great Britain, Morocco's third largest outlet, Ambassador
The United Kingdom is the third largest outlet of Moroccan exports and the rate of coverage of Moroccan imports by exports has reached 131.9% which is the highest rate in the last five years, said British ambassador in Morocco Haydon Warren-Gash. Morocco-UK, Economics, 12/25/2004 - African electricity grid network talks Regional, Economics, 12/25/2004
- Trade union opposition for the Jordanian- Israeli trade agreement
The participants in the sit-in deplored the agreement and raised slogans under the titles "areas for exploiting the Jordanian workers," and areas "of killing national industries." Jordan-Israel, Economics, 12/24/2004 - Spanish Settavex to invest $71.4 million in Moroccan textile sector
The Spanish textile company Settavex signed, here Thursday, with the Moroccan government an accord providing for 634 million Dhs ( $71.4 million) investment in the textile sector. Morocco-Spain, Business, 12/24/2004 - Syria, Turkey sign Free-Trade-Zone Agreement
Syria's Premier Naji Otari on Wednesday announced that Syria and Turkey inked the Free-Trade-Zone Accord between Syria and Turkey and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan depicted it as a "good start for the two countries." Syria-Turkey, Economics, 12/23/2004 - Syrian, Turkish premiers meet with businessmen and investors
Syria's Prime Minister Naji Otari on Wednesday asserted that common ties between Syria and Turkey in various fields constitute a drive for enhancing cooperation and rapprochement between them. Syria-Turkey, Economics, 12/23/2004 - Fahmi: Technology boosts crude oil, output increase
Minister of Petroleum Sameh Fahmi said yesterday that oil and petrochemical industries depend highly on hi-tech and the technological applications that could boost output of oil and natural gas. Egypt, Economics, 12/23/2004 - Iraqi entrepreneurs optimistic about business prospects
The survey's findings report "seven in ten (69 percent) of Iraqi business leaders hold an optimistic outlook toward their country's future post-Saddam, while just one in ten (10 percent) is pessimistic. Iraq, Economics, 12/23/2004 - customer the first to profit EU partnership, official
Syria's Customs Director General Asel Sannoufa on Tuesday underlined that the first and last beneficiary from the Syrian-European Association Accord was the Syrian consumer. Syria-European Union, Economics, 12/22/2004 - A report by Central Bank: GDP up by over 4%
Egypt's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for fiscal year 2003- 2004, which ended in June increased by 4.3 per cent over the previous fiscal year, a report released by the Central Bank said yesterday. Egypt, Economics, 12/22/2004 - UAE abrogates partial embargo of importing Saudi meats
The ministry of agriculture in the United Arab Emirates UAE has ended the embargo imposed on importing sheep, geese, cows, camels and gazelles from Saudi Arabia following news that reported cases on the mouth and foot disease are receding in most parts of the kingdom. United Arab Emirates-Saudi Arabia, Economics, 12/21/2004 - Mubarak inaugurates first electronic harbor in Egypt
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak yesterday opened new Damietta electronic harbor, some 8,5 kilometers to Damietta branch of the River Nile. Egypt, Economics, 12/21/2004 - WB official: Poverty rate in Egypt to drop by 50 percent in 10 years
First vice president of the World Bank Franco Bourguignon said that if the rate of growth in Egypt goes on scoring 3 percent a year, rate of poverty will drop by 50 per cent in the coming ten years. Egypt, Economics, 12/20/2004 - Syrian- Iraqi Joint Transport Companies ' meetings
Syria's Minister of Transport Makram Oubeid on Sunday signed with his Iraqi counterpart Louai al-Ours the two minutes of the General Assembly meetings for the two joint transport companies of road transport and maritime aviation. Syria-Iraq, Economics, 12/20/2004 - Ahmed Goweili: Cairo meeting proposes Arab statistical network
"Establishing an Arab statistical information network tops the agenda of the 27th session of the Arab Heads of Statistical Bodies that opened in Cairo yesterday," Secretary-General of the Arab Council for Economic Unity Ahmed Goweili said. Regional, Economics, 12/20/2004 - Syrian- Russian energy cooperation Syria-Russia, Economics, 12/20/2004