Arabic News Weekly Edition for Economics, 2/21/2005
Weekly Edition, Economics - Week of February 21, 2005
- Businessmen to discuss in Washington free trade area
The Egyptian businessmen "Knock doors" mission will fly to Washington next week to discuss with U.S officials ways of boosting bilateral trade and economic ties, said chief of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt Taher Helmy who will preside over the mission. Egypt-USA, Economics, 2/26/2005 - Syria for boosting eco-tourism
Public and private sectors in Syria are exerting efforts to build and support environment tourism and one tourism official says there are 15 natural reserves in Syria to fulfill this target. Syria, Economics, 2/26/2005 - Younis: Egypt puts its power expertise at disposal of African countries
Egypt puts its expertise in the electricity and energy domains at the disposal of African countries, especially in the Nile Basin and Ethiopia, Minister of Electricity Hassan Younis, currently visiting Ethiopia, said on Thursday. Egypt-Regional, Economics, 2/25/2005 - Morocco highlights investment opportunities for US companies
Morocco's ambassador in Washington, Aziz Mekouar, held this week a series of meetings with American economic operators to talk up trade and investment opportunities in Morocco for U.S. companies. Morocco-USA, Economics, 2/25/2005 - Morocco, Central African countries launch new airline 'Air Cemac'
A new regional African airline called "Air Cemac" was launched, in Libreville Thursday, under a partnership agreement between Morocco's national flag carrier "Royal Air Maroc" (RAM) and officials from five Central African countries, in what is described as a perfect illustration of South-South cooperation. Morocco-Regional, Business, 2/25/2005 - Nazif: Rate of growth hits 4.8 percent in six months, 6 percent targeted
Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said yesterday that the government exerts its efforts to raise the rate of growth to 6 per cent against 4.8 percent scored in the first half of fiscal year 2004/2005. Egypt, Economics, 2/24/2005 - Fahmi: Natural gas available in 2 million homes
Egypt's Minister of Petroleum Sameh Fahmy said yesterday there is a plan to supply about 6 million housing units with natural gas nationwide throughout the coming 20 years with a total cost valued at LE 30 billion. Egypt, Economics, 2/24/2005 - Morocco opens its land phone to competition
Morocco is opening to competition its land phone system which is operated currently by "Maroc Telecom." Morocco, Economics, 2/24/2005 - Qatar for oil, Shell company sign a gas deal
Qatar For Oil company and Royal Dutch Shell oil company are expected to sign a deal at a cost of $ 8 billion next Sunday in order to provide the US with natural liquid gas. Qatar, Business, 2/24/2005 - Workshop to encourage Syrian tourism
Syria's Minister of Tourism called on Tuesday to open horizons of cooperation with Austria as to merchandise a common tourist product between the two countries. Syria, Economics, 2/24/2005 - IDB grants $59.94 million loan to Morocco's oil refinery La Samir
The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has granted a loan of US $59,94 millions to the Moroccan oil refinery La Samir to finance its rehabilitation and renovation program. Morocco, Business, 2/24/2005 - Morocco's phosphates exports rise by record 26.4pc in 2004
Morocco's state-owned phosphates company (OCP) posted in 2004 a record turnover in exports that were estimated at US $1.74 billion, i.e a 26.4pc increase compared to 2003. Morocco, Economics, 2/24/2005 - Natural gas reserves could hit 166 trillion cubic feet in Egypt Egypt, Economics, 2/23/2005
- Stability of the Lebanese Lira; decrease in Hariri Solidaire shares
The change rate of the Lebanese Lira in the dealings of the Lebanese market has stabilized, but the Central Bank interfered via selling the US dollar with the aim to alleviate pressure from investors who felt great fears after the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri. Lebanon, Business, 2/23/2005 - Egypt denies gas deal with Israel
The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheit said that the Israeli government approved the nomination of the Egyptian candidate for the post of the new ambassador in Tel Aviv, ambassador Muhammad Asem. Egypt-Israel, Economics, 2/23/2005 - Oman evacuates 40,000 illegal Pakistani workers
A ship carrying hundreds of evacuated Pakistani workers from Oman arrived in Karachi on Tuesday carrying the last shift out of 40,000 illegal Pakistani workers who were evacuated during the two last years, according to an official source in the migration authority. Oman-Pakistan, Economics, 2/23/2005 - Oil price exceeds $ 50 for the first time since three months
The price of one barrel of oil on Tuesday was locked at $ 50 for the first time since three months in New York, following statements by OPEC chairman and because of the wave of cold in Europe and the USA. Regional, Economics, 2/23/2005 - Moroccan micro-finance associations lent 500 million Euros in 2004, minister
Moroccan twelve micro-finance associations okayed 2 million loans estimated at over 500 million euros in 2004, said the Moroccan premier, Driss Jettou. Morocco, Economics, 2/23/2005 - Sothema IPO is a success, manager
Moroccan private drug maker Sothema initial public offering (IPO) is a success, said Amine Benabdeslem, a manager in Casablanca stock exchange. Morocco, Business, 2/23/2005 - Rasheed highlights economic stability, transparency to create investment, attracting climate
Egypt's Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry Rasheed Mohamed Rasheed said that the government is keen to provide economic stability and transparency to create an investment and attracting climate. Egypt, Economics, 2/22/2005 - Israel approves importing natural gas from Egypt
Israeli sources said on Monday that the Israeli infrastructure minister Benjamin Ben Aliazer ratified a memorandum of political understanding between Israel and Egypt over importing $3 billion worth natural gas from Cairo. Egypt-Israel, Economics, 2/22/2005 - Egypt, Germany sign contract for wind-power station
Egypt and Germany have signed a contract to jointly finance the construction of a wind-energy power station in the Zaafarana area on the Red Sea. Egypt-Germany, Economics, 2/22/2005 - Sameh Fahami: Car Gas to convert cars for natural gas
The Gas Vehicles Company (Car Gas) signed a contract yesterday with the Social Fund for Development (SFD) to finance a project for fuelling cars by natural gas. Egypt, Business, 2/21/2005 - Dalara and economic reforms in Syria Syria, Economics, 2/21/2005