May 31, 2007
The RABC Monthly Business Review Issue No. 31 May 2007 contains a high-quality selection of news on key business projects, Russian-Arab cooperation, and current business opportunities in the MENA region. This issue has a special article on the Seventh Joint Session of the Russian-Arab Business Council that took place in Manama, Bahrain, on 21-22 May 2007, a number of in-depth reports (this time concerning the role of China in the Gulf markets and the Egyptian economy), and more than 40 carefully selected news items from the Arab, international, and Russian information agencies, important newspapers, TV-channels, professional websites and other mass media in all key spheres of economy. Last page holds brief information about 10 upcoming exhibitions in the Arab world, including Buildex 2007 and Damascus International Fair.
Table of Contents
RABC News
The Seventh Joint Session of the Russian-Arab Business Council
General Information
Arab economies remain stable
Egyptian reserves of foreign currency grow to $27 bln.
Saudi Arabia’s economy achieves record results in 2006
Egypt doesn’t prosper despite of 7% economy growth
Gulf countries in favour of the united currency
Syrian export in 2006 equals $10,6 bln.
In-Depth
Arabs go to the West: China and India become the Gulf countries’ key partners
GCC countries become the backbone of the world’s economic growth
Fast development of Egypt’s hydrocarbon sector
Relations Between MENA and CIS Companies
The Crimea authorities call Arab businessmen for help
“Stroytransgaz” and Syrian Gas Company sign a contract to build a gas refinery
New enterprises of the “GAS Group” open in the Middle East
“Rebuild Iraq” exhibition ends in Amman
Banks, Finance, and Investment
The number of real estate deals in Jordan grows
Islamic finances become more popular
Individual private investments define the state of the fund markets in the GCC countries
The asset growth of the Bahraini banks
Omani banks develop with the country’s economy
Oil and Gas
Qatar to begin export of natural gas to Oman in 2008
World oil companies struggle for a gas project in the UAE
Bahrain auctions 4 sea projects
Saudi Aramco and Dow Chemical Co. agree to build a large oil refinery
Iraq to auction 15 oil and gas blocks
A new tender on the development of oil fields in Libya
Halliburton plans to invest $80 bln. in Middle East projects
Transport, Infrastructure and Tourism
Syria opens a $650 mln. market
Saudi Arabia to give 15 licences to tourist operators
Bahrain to build 45 world class hotels
Red Sea projects will attract SR150 bln.
Subway will connect the old and new airports in Dubai
Power Generation, Construction, and Industry
Maaden and Saudi Arabian Mining to build a fertilizer plant on the Gulf coast
Japan to help Yemen develop peaceful atomic energy
Bahrain opens the first private power station
Jordan declares its plans of building a nuclear reactor
Media and Telecommunications
MOBINIL’s net profit in the first quarter of the year grows by 28%
Saudi Arabia communication sector is expected to develop rapidly
Oman’s Internet sector expands
African broadband access networks continue to grow slowly
Middle East telecommunications sector sees fast development
Computer sales in the GCC region grow by 23%
Google Earth now in Arabic
New web site aims at promoting UAE economy
The full text of this issue will be available on-line on our Russian website.
