o NEWS
· REGION
- GULF ARAB LEADERS TO MEET IN BAHRAIN
- U.S. WORKING HARD FOR PEACE IN MIDEAST,
POWELL SAYS
- U.S. WEIGHS IN ON MIDEAST CONFLICT
- MITCHELL REPORT ON INTIFADA HITS AT BOTH
SIDES
· BAHRAIN
- BAHRAIN EMPLOYMENT DRIVE IN FULL SWING
· KUWAIT
- KUWAIT REJECTS ROLE IN US PLOT TO TOPPLE
SADDAM
- IRAQ DENIES UN CHARGE ON MISSING KUWAITIS
· OMAN
- QABOOS UNIVERSITY TO CONDUCT MAJOR RESEARCH
PROJECTS
- OMAN-IRAN MEETING
- NAVAL TRAINING CRUISE
- OMAN SEEKS WAYS TO EASE VISAS FOR TOURISTS
- ILLEGAL INDIANS SET TO LEAVE OMAN
· SAUDI ARABIA
- LEAKS IN PIPE LINES REDUCE WATER SUPPLY IN
RIYADH
- SEVERE WATER SHORTAGE CONTINUES IN RIYADH
- SALMAN ORDERS FREE SUPPLY OF WATER TO EASE
CRISIS
- KHOBAR LETTER BOMB INJURES AMERICAN
- LETTER BOMB WOUNDS US DOCTOR IN SAUDI
ARABIA
- AMERICAN STABLE IN SAUDI ARABIA
- OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON LETTER BOMB IN
AL-KHOBAR
- SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH TO
VISIT YEMEN
- SAUDI PACT WITH IRAN IS SIGN OF GROWING
TRUST
- IN THE ARABIAN DESERT, U.S. TROOPS SETTLE
IN
- 'HEALTH GULF' SITE LAUNCHED AT JEDDAH MEET
- E-HEALTH MEET BEGINS TODAY
- LATEST CENSUS STUDY UNVEILED
· UAE
- KHALIFA HAILS MODERNIZATION OF ARMED FORCES
- THREE TOP BODIES IN DUBAI MERGE
- UNSEAWORTHY SHIPS
- SHEIKH MOHAMMED PREDICTS 'GOLDEN AGE OF
TOURISM' FOR DUBAI
- MEDICAL ZONES TO COME UNDER NEW CORPORATION
- UAE JOINS UN WOMEN PANEL
o BUSINESS & FINANCE NEWS
· REGIONAL
- ENERGY FUTURES - AT WEEK'S END - 05.04.01
- GCC TO HOLD TRADE ARBITRATION MEETING IN
MUSCAT
- OPEC FIRMNESS ON PRICE BAND POLICY TRIGGERS CRUDE PRICE SURGE
- GOLD WATCH: PARADIGM SHIFT SEEN IN THE GULF
MARKETS
· KUWAIT
- KUWAIT RULES OUT EGYPT-ISRAEL REFINERY DEAL
· OMAN
- OTC – AGREEMENT
- SALALAH AIRPORT FACILITY VISIT
- UAE TOPS LIST OF EXPORTERS TO OMAN IN 2000
· QATAR
- QATAR PETROLEUM CHANGES DISCUSSED
· SAUDI ARABIA
- SABIC INKS 3-YEAR SUPPLY DEAL WITH KOREAN
COMPANY
- SAGIA ISSUES LICENSES TO FOREIGN COMPANIES
- KINGDOM STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF E-COMMERCE
- HECTIC PREPARATIONS UNDER WAY FOR E-COM CONFERENCE IN RIYADH
- HEAD OF SCT PROMOTES TOURISM ON VISIT TO
OMAN
- RENOWNED SCIENTISTS TO ATTEND TECHNOLOGY
SEMINAR IN RIYADH
- SCHEME LAUNCHED TO SAUDIZE 50,000 JOBS IN
MAKKAH REGION
- INTERNET USERS STUDY
· UAE
- OIL PRICES PUSH UAE ECONOMY UP BY 20.4 PC
- THURAYA STAGES SOFT LAUNCH OF SATELLITE
SERVICE
- UAE, JORDAN SEEK TO BOOST ECONOMIC
COOPERATION
- EMIRATES TO FLOAT FIRST BOND ISSUE
- COMPAQ INAUGURATES NEW OFFICE IN ABU DHABI
- MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR SPA TO BE BUILT IN
DUBAI
- BOEING SEES STRONG MIDEAST POTENTIAL FOR
PRESENT, FUTURE AIRCRAFT
- FUJAIRAH TO DEVELOP ITS TOURISM FACILITIES
- FINAL THREE BIDDERS SELECTED FOR UTILITY
COMPLEX
o CALENDAR - A LOOK AHEAD
· ON OUR CALENDAR - MENA AND
GLOBALIZATION: THREAT OR OPPORTUNITY?
o LAST LINES
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And for more, including GulfWire archives, visit the GulfWire
Web site:
http://arabialink.com/GulfWire
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*************************
NEWS
*************************
· REGION
GULF ARAB LEADERS TO MEET IN BAHRAIN
Gulf Arab leaders have since 1999 been holding two summits
instead of one to
help forge closer cooperation. Complete report…
http://www.arabia.com/article/0,1690,News|45652,00.html
U.S. WORKING HARD FOR PEACE IN MIDEAST, POWELL SAYS
"One can become frustrated," Powell told the Arab
American Institute
Foundation. "One can say it's easy to walk away from this,
to lose hope. But
we cannot walk away. We must not walk away. And we will not lose
hope."
Complete report…
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/world/mideast/A49801-2001May5.html
U.S. WEIGHS IN ON MIDEAST CONFLICT
In a report on Israel-Palestinian fighting, a U.S.-led
commission on Friday
asked Israel to halt Jewish settlement expansion, but did not
recommend
dispatching an international force to the region… Complete
report…
MITCHELL REPORT ON INTIFADA HITS AT BOTH SIDES
http://www.arabia.com/article/0,1690,News|45981,00.html
· BAHRAIN
BAHRAIN EMPLOYMENT DRIVE IN FULL SWING
…a number of effective measures being taken to implement the
ambitious
training and recruitment scheme. As part of this overall
program, both the
Interior Ministry and the Bahrain Defense Forces have begun
recruiting
Bahrainis without bias or discrimination… …the government
last week
announced an ambitious 25 dinars million program to train
nationals in every
possible field, and employ them both in the public and private
sector…
Complete report…
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=16422
· KUWAIT
KUWAIT REJECTS ROLE IN US PLOT TO TOPPLE SADDAM
"I told (US Secretary of State) Colin Powell that Kuwait
will not play any
role in any plan to topple (Saddam), particularly if it was with
(Iraqi
opposition leader Ahmad) Chalabi," Sheikh Sabah said.
Complete report…
http://www.timesofindia.com/070501/07mide4.htm
IRAQ DENIES UN CHARGE ON MISSING KUWAITIS
Iraq has been boycotting a committee determining the fate of the
missing,
objecting to the participation of the US, Britain and France.
Complete
report…
http://www.arabia.com/article/0,1690,News|45745,00.html
· OMAN
QABOOS UNIVERSITY TO CONDUCT MAJOR RESEARCH PROJECTS
…research projects in the areas of hypertension, blood cancer,
Information
Technology, agriculture and science, supported by His Majesty
Sultan Qaboos'
Research Trust Fund… … "It is not new to say that
education is the most
important pillar of development for any nation and the
university' role is
clear in this respect. Research will play a major part in
pushing our
endeavors to solve social and economic issues."… Complete
report…
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=16348
OMAN-IRAN MEETING
[ONA] Muscat, May 6 (ONA)—The joint political committee
between the foreign
ministries of the Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of
Iran held
its ninth meeting here today. The Omani side was chaired by
Ahmed bin
Yousuf al Harthy, head of the Arab Department at the Foreign
Ministry, while
Hussein Sadiqi, Director-General of the Gulf Department at the
Iranian
Foreign Ministry, chaired his country's side. The two sides
discussed the
latest developments in bilateral relations and views were
exchanged on
regional and international developments of mutual interest.
Source: Oman News Agency
NAVAL TRAINING CRUISE
[GulfWire] The Royal Navy of Oman vessel "Shabab Oman"
sailed from Said bin
Sultan Naval Base May 5 for a voyage to European destinations
including the
UK fleet festival according to the Times of Oman. The ship will
carry new
recruits from the Sultan's Armed Forces who will be trained in
marine arts
and skills.
Source: Times of Oman
OMAN SEEKS WAYS TO EASE VISAS FOR TOURISTS
As part of its campaign to promote tourism, the government is
holding a
seminar tomorrow at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel to explain the
growing visa
facilities in order to attract the maximum number of sightseers
from all
over the world… …the seminar was being held for the
convenience of travel
agencies, tourism companies and embassies… Complete report…
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=16425
ILLEGAL INDIANS SET TO LEAVE OMAN
"The number of illegal Indian workers in Oman might be in
the region of
5,000 to 10,000, and we expect at least 5,000 to come
forward" during the
eight-week amnesty period, an embassy official said.
http://www.timesofindia.com/070501/07mide6.htm
· SAUDI ARABIA
LEAKS IN PIPE LINES REDUCE WATER SUPPLY IN RIYADH
By Habib Al-Shamri & Abdullah Al-Fuhaid
RIYADH, 3 May — Fissures in two pipe lines carrying drinking
water to Riyadh
city from the Eastern Province has reduced the water supply to
the city by
30 percent. Complete report…
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=1648
SEVERE WATER SHORTAGE CONTINUES IN RIYADH
By Abdullah Al-Fuhaid & Habib Al-Shamri
RIYADH, 5 May — Engineers are working round the clock to
repair damage to
pipelines that pump drinking water to Riyadh from the Eastern
Province as
the city continued to reel under a severe water shortage. Work
is
progressing on a war-footing and the crisis will be over in a
couple of
days, informed sources told Arab News. Residents had to wait
more than 48
hours for their turn at various distribution centers in the city
on
Thursday. Complete report…
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=1689
SALMAN ORDERS FREE SUPPLY OF WATER TO EASE CRISIS
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=1733
KHOBAR LETTER BOMB INJURES AMERICAN
By Waleed Buali
[Arab News] ALKHOBAR, 3 May — A parcel bomb blew up in the
face of an
American doctor here yesterday, seriously wounding him. Gary
Hatch, a
physiotherapist working with the Saad Medical Center, received
serious
injuries to his face, hands and the left knee when he opened the
package,
which he thought contained a video tape, at his clinic. The
explosion
happened at 8:30 a.m., the Saudi Press Agency quoted a top
police officer in
the Eastern Province as saying. Hatch, 40, who has been working
in the
Kingdom for the last six years, has been admitted to the Aramco
Hospital in
Dhahran. Doctors described his condition as serious, but stable.
The US
Embassy said Hatch was "gravely injured." "The
embassy understands that the
bomb was a package about the size of a video which was addressed
to the
American and was delivered by a courier service," said the
embassy in Riyadh
in a security advisory to its citizens in Saudi Arabia. Police
have cordoned
off the hospital area and security authorities have began
investigations,
said Maj. Gen. Nasser Al-Nasser, director of police. Alkhobar
was the scene
of an anti-US blast in 1996 when a lorry charged with explosives
blew up
outside US barracks killing 19 members of the US Air Force. That
attack, in
which almost 500 people were wounded, is still under
investigation. A series
of blasts in the Kingdom late last year, which left one Briton
dead and four
other people wounded, have been linked to a multimillion-dollar
alcohol
smuggling business. On Nov. 17, Briton Christopher Rodway, 47,
was killed
and his wife, Jane, 50, slightly injured when their car was
blown up, in
what police say appeared to be a booby trap, in central Riyadh.
Less than a
week later, two Britons and an Irish woman were wounded, two
just slightly,
when their car exploded on Nov. 22 in Riyadh. Several suspects,
including a
US national, a Canadian, two Britons and a Belgian, are being
held in the
inquiry into the two attacks. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=1651
LETTER BOMB WOUNDS US DOCTOR IN SAUDI ARABIA
http://www.arabia.com/article/0,1690,News|45759,00.html
AMERICAN
STABLE IN SAUDI ARABIA
OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON LETTER BOMB IN AL-KHOBAR
May 2, 2001
[SaudiEmbassy.net] The director of police for the Eastern
Province has
reported that at 8:30 a.m. today an American physiotherapist was
injured by
a letter bomb that exploded in his office at Saad Hospital in
Al-Khobar. He
received injuries to his face, hands and left knee when he
opened an
envelope that he assumed contained a video tape. Security
authorities are
investigating the incident.
Source: Saudi Embassy Press Release
SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH TO VISIT YEMEN
…next week on the first trip by a senior Saudi official since
the two
nations ended a lengthy border dispute last June… Complete
report…
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=16428
SAUDI PACT WITH IRAN IS SIGN OF GROWING TRUST
By Howard Schneider
Washington Post Foreign Service
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23519-2001Apr16.html
IN THE ARABIAN DESERT, U.S. TROOPS SETTLE IN
Temporary Deployment Has Permanent Feel
By Howard Schneider
Washington Post Foreign Service
…A decade after the Persian Gulf War ended with Iraq's
withdrawal from
neighboring Kuwait, the U.S. military has settled in for the
long haul in
the Persian Gulf. U.S. warships, fighter planes and Patriot
missile
batteries, and the more than 10,000 troops who run them, have
become the
oil-heavy region's chief guardians… Complete report…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34476-2001May2.html
'HEALTH GULF' SITE LAUNCHED AT JEDDAH MEET
By Saad Al-Matrafi, Arab News Staff
JEDDAH, 6 May — Experts from a number of medical specialties
are attending
the "e-Health-2001" conference and exhibition hosted
by the First
International e-Health Association.
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=1710
E-HEALTH MEET BEGINS TODAY
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=1688
LATEST CENSUS STUDY UNVEILED
Asharq Al-Awsat
RIYADH, 7 May — The total population of Saudi Arabia is put at
19,895,232
according to the latest census studies conducted by the
Statistical
Department, a subsidiary of the Planning Ministry, based on the
studies of
1999. While the number of Saudis is put at 14, 872,804, the men
numbered
5,022,824. There are also 3,347,776 non-Saudi men present in the
country.
Source: Arab News
· UAE
KHALIFA HAILS MODERNIZATION OF ARMED FORCES
the UAE had relied in building its Armed Forces on a number of
factors such
as diversifying armament sources and emiratization of military
technology
through the offset program… … on the occasion of the silver
jubilee of UAE
Armed Forces unification today, Sheikh Khalifa said that the UAE
had also
worked on modernizing its armaments, in securing more job
opportunities for
UAE citizens and in carrying out joint military exercises with
friendly
countries to gain more experience… Complete report…
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=16407
THREE TOP BODIES IN DUBAI MERGE
Dubai Customs, Dubai Ports Authority and Jebel Ali Free Zone
have been
merged under one authority named the "Public Corp for
Ports, Customs and
Free Zone". The establishment of the corporation was
stipulated by Law No.
1/2001 issued by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice
President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The
new
corporation will have financial and administrative independence
and will be
run on a commercial basis.
Emirates Bulletin No. 084, May 6
UNSEAWORTHY SHIPS
The sinking off Jebel Ali of the Zainab and the resulting oil
pollution
which hit Dubai's and Sharjah's beaches, has focused attention
on the poor
state of ships involved in the smuggling of Iraqi oil. Joanna
Langley and
Nissar Hoath examine the trade in smuggled oil and the risks it
poses to the
region's environment and the ships' crews also. For links to the
Gulf News
special report… http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/specialreports.asp?ArticleID=15699
SHEIKH MOHAMMED PREDICTS 'GOLDEN AGE OF TOURISM' FOR DUBAI
The UAE's tourism industry will double within three years and
Emirates will
grow six-fold in the next decade, according to General Sheikh
Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of
Defense.
Complete report…
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=16030
MEDICAL ZONES TO COME UNDER NEW CORPORATION
The Ministry of Health, MoH, is gearing up to float Emirates
Corporation for
Health Services in 2002 as an umbrella outfit to bring all the
medical zones
under on it. Once that happens, the MoH, would be responsible
only for
planning and control in the new body. The proposed corporation
would set up
boards to assess the needs of hospitals and clinics in the
zones. The
ministry has already started introducing information technology,
IT, in its
various departments. Seven of its hospitals and other health
institutions
have introduced IT in preventive medicine, health registration,
health care,
medical warehouses, medical rehabilitation center and
specialized systems in
central administration.
Emirates Bulletin No. 084, May 6
UAE JOINS UN WOMEN PANEL
The UAE was voted yesterday member at the women committee of the
UN Economic
and Social Council.
Emirates Bulletin No. 084, May 6
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BUSINESS AND FINANCE NEWS
*************************
· REGIONAL
GulfWire] ENERGY FUTURES - AT WEEK'S END - 05.04.01
Light Crude (NYM) $28.36 bbl UP from $28.33 bbl on 04.27.01
Brent Crude (IPE) $28.21 bbl UP from $27.50 bbl on 04.27.01
Heating Oil (NYM) $.765 gal UP from $.762 gal on 04.27.01
Natural Gas (NYM) $4.49 mmbtu DOWN from $4.87 mmbtu on 04.27.01
Unleaded Gas (NYM) $1.08 gal UP from $1.04 gal on 04.27.01
****************************************************************************
ENERGY COMMODITY INFORMATION (Oil Futures, Heating Oil, Unleaded
and Natural
Gas price charts and tables) - Data from July 1999 through April
2001 -
go to: http://www.arabialink.com/Resources/EnergyPriceInfo.htm
****************************************************************************
ENERGY INFO RESOURCE - - > DOE/EIA COUNTRY ANALYSIS BRIEFS…
GO TO:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/contents.html
****************************************************************************
GCC TO HOLD TRADE ARBITRATION MEETING IN MUSCAT
May 2, 2001
The board of directors of the Center for Trade Arbitration of
the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) has scheduled its 23rd meeting for May
12-13 in
Muscat, Oman. The two-day meeting will review a number of
reports and some
administrative and financial issues. The recent GCC Summit in
Manama
stressed the importance of the Center, which was set up by the
GCC in 1993,
and delegated it a greater role in settling disputes arising
from the
ongoing unification of Gulf economies.
Source: Saudi Embassy Press Release
OPEC FIRMNESS ON PRICE BAND POLICY TRIGGERS CRUDE PRICE SURGE
Crude oil market analysts have begun to speculate about whether
or not OPEC
will raise output at its extraordinary ministerial meeting on 5
June, but
Saudi Arabia's reaffirmation that the organization would adhere
to its price
band policy gave a boost to oil prices. On 25 April Saudi
Arabia's Oil
Minister Ali al-Naimi told a Paris conference, "our aim is
to keep the
market well supplied and prices at the desired average of $25/B
for the OPEC
Basket." In an aside, he added: "We've said this many
times, but I wonder
whether the market believes it." Complete report…
http://www.mees.com/news/a44n18a01.htm
GOLD WATCH: PARADIGM SHIFT SEEN IN THE GULF MARKETS
…Due to strong oil prices since late 1998, Gulf economies have
bloomed
again, and the thrust to tourism by the likes of Dubai have
boosted regional
gold demand. According to World Gold Council (WGC), demand in
Saudi Arabia
and the UAE continued to grow in the first quarter of 2001,
buoyed by
consumer confidence and a booming retail sector… Complete
report…
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=16396
· KUWAIT
KUWAIT RULES OUT EGYPT-ISRAEL REFINERY DEAL
Egyptian Oil Minister Sameh Fahmy, whose country made peace with
Israel in
1979, discussed offering OPEC-member Kuwait a share in the
Middle East Oil
Refinery (MIDOR) during a trip to the Gulf state last week.
Complete
report…
http://www.arabia.com/article/0,1690,Business|45633,00.html
· OMAN
OTC – AGREEMENT
[ONA] Muscat, May 6 (ONA)—A deal worth Ro. 1,65 million to
introduce
unsynchronized digital lines services to subscribers in the
existing
telephone exchanges in Muscat governorate has been concluded
between Oman
Telecommunications Company (OTC) and the German Siemens Company.
The
agreement covering the deal with Siemens was signed here today
by Sheikh
Suhail bin Mustahil Shimas, Minister of Telecommunications. The
project
which will be implemented over six months will help remove
congestion from
the information network by providing higher speed internet
gateways and
broad band services to subscribers. The signing ceremony was
attended by
Abdullah bin Isa al Rowahi, OTC Executive President.
Source: Oman News Agency
SALALAH AIRPORT FACILITY VISIT
Members of the Airline Operator's Committee (AOC) visited
Salalah Airport to
examine its facilities with the aim of expanding direct flights
according to
the Times of Oman. The AOC members, airport managers of airlines
operating
to and from Seeb Airport, were advised that Salalah's facilities
were
available on a 24-hour basis and the runway is suitable for all
types of
aircraft in service.
Source: Times of Oman
UAE TOPS LIST OF EXPORTERS TO OMAN IN 2000
…imports increased by 7.8 per cent to 1,937 million riyals in
2000 from
1,797.1 million riyals in 1999… Complete report…
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=16388
· QATAR
QATAR PETROLEUM CHANGES DISCUSSED
Minister of Energy and Industry, H.E. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah,
said
the recent name change for Qatar Petroleum (QP) reflected the
developments
the company saw in the last decade and Qatar's status on the
"global energy
map," according to a QP press release. Speaking at QP
awards ceremony he
said, "The essence of that change was the shift Qatar
Petroleum had gone
through from a corporation that was committed to efficiency of
performance
in that vital sector of the country's economy, to an economic
edifice that
is committed to excellence in a highly competitive market of
oil, gas and
petrochemical products."
Source:
QP Press Release
· SAUDI ARABIA
SABIC INKS 3-YEAR SUPPLY DEAL WITH KOREAN COMPANY
By M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Arab News Staff
RIYADH, 2 May — The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC)
has signed a
three-year deal with South Korea's Huvis to supply 200,000 tons
of
mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) annually, the company announced
yesterday.
SAGIA ISSUES LICENSES TO FOREIGN COMPANIES
April 28, 2001
The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) has
granted an
American consortium of four companies, a license to start
constructing 3,000
new schools at a total cost of about SR 13 billion [U.S. $ 3.47
billion].
SAGIA has also granted a license to the British Zinc Resources
Company, with
a total funding of SR 958 million [$ 255.47 million], to produce
100,000
tons of high-quality zinc; also, to set up a factory for the
production of
sulfuric acid, establish a plant for treatment of waste water,
and produce
electricity. As of the end of Muharram 1422 [April 24, 2001], 91
licenses
had been issued for joint and foreign companies to implement
projects with a
total capital of about SR 30.5 billion [$ 8.13 billion], 93.6
percent of
which involves funds from overseas.
KINGDOM STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF E-COMMERCE
April 27, 2001
Dr. Bandar bin Salman bin Muhammad Al-Saud, who is an Advisor at
the Crown
Prince's Court, addressed a conference in Tunis yesterday on
'E-commerce:
the Internet, Law, and Arbitration'. He stressed the Saudi
leadership's
special interest in this field, pointing out that a permanent
committee was
set up two years ago to issue legislative regulations for this
sector and
ensure that contemporary developments do not run counter to
Islamic Shari'ah Law]. The committee consists of representatives from the
ministries of
commerce; finance and national economy; and post, telephones and
telegraphs;
plus the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency SAMA) and the King
Abdulaziz City for
Science and Technology (KACST). One of its accomplishments, he
said, is the
first Saudi conference and exhibition of e-commerce scheduled
for May 6-10
in Riyadh, under the auspices of Deputy Prime Minister and
Commander of the
National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.
HECTIC PREPARATIONS UNDER WAY FOR E-COM CONFERENCE IN RIYADH
[Arab News] …the event, being organized by King Abdul Aziz
City for Science
and Technology, the Ministry of Commerce and the Riyadh
Exhibition Company,
has attracted international attention… …"This
initiative is the first time
that KACST and the Ministry of Commerce have combined their
technical
resources ... to expand the role of e-commerce in the Saudi
economy, produce
the required regulations and guidelines, and attract the needed
private
sector investments."
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=1690
HEAD OF SCT PROMOTES TOURISM ON VISIT TO OMAN
April 29, 2001
Secretary-General of the Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT)
Prince Sultan
bin Salman bin Abdulaziz left Muscat today after a short visit
to Oman,
during which he toured tourist areas including the Nazwa
Fortress and
Jibreen Castle. At the sixth conference of Arab travel agencies,
he stated
the Kingdom's intention of utilizing its own historic sites to
attract
tourists, providing them not only all facilities but also
information on the
country's deep-rooted heritage, and tying in Islam's two
pilgrimages (hajj,
the major annual pilgrimage, and umrah, the minor one) with
tourism aspects.
Saudi Arabia, he said, is developing programs related to ancient
and
historical landmarks, places of architectural and cultural
heritage, and the
natural environment, as well as business, marketing, conferences
and
festivals of all sorts, although tourist programs are directed
primarily at
family travel.
RENOWNED SCIENTISTS TO ATTEND TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR IN RIYADH
By M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Arab News Staff
[Arab News] RIYADH, 6 May — Prince Fahd ibn Abdullah,
assistant minister of
defense for civil aviation affairs and chairman of the Kingdom's
Offset
Program Committee, will open a technology seminar in Riyadh next
week. The
two-day event, being organized by Lucent Technologies in
cooperation with
King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology, will feature
the research
expertise of Bell Labs whose researchers have won 11 Nobel
prizes so far.
Now in its fourth year, the event will give a profile of Bell
Labs, the
research and development arm of Lucent, so far responsible for
over 30,000
inventions, said Dr. Rumaih Muhammad Al-Rumaih, chairman of the
seminar
organizing committee. These range from the transistor to laser,
communications satellite to fiber optics. Lucent will field a
team of
scientists to speak on the latest generation communications
systems. The
topics include architecture wars and next generation networks,
planning
future networks, wireless technologies evolution, Internet and
software
advances and optical networking research. Lucent has so far
trained over 800
Saudi nationals in computer applications, technical products
training and
management courses. Muhammad Ali Al-Dhallan, Lucent's director
of public
affairs, said the company had launched a global scholars program
to
encourage the youths to pursue careers in communications
technology. "Open
to students of leading universities around the world, scholars
for year 2000
were recently selected from among 19 countries including Saudi
Arabia," he
noted. Lucent has also established the "Bughshan-Bell Labs
Chair in
Telecommunications" at the King Fahd University for
Petroleum and Minerals
with a substantial grant. It has 2,200 employees in the Kingdom,
more than
600 of them Saudis.
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=1703
SCHEME LAUNCHED TO SAUDIZE 50,000 JOBS IN MAKKAH REGION
By Abdul Aziz Al-Ghazzawi, Arab News Staff
JEDDAH, 6 May — Measures are under way to nationalize 50,000
jobs in Jeddah
and Makkah as part of the Prince Abdul Majeed Project for
Training and
Employment, according to one of the project's senior officials.
Complete
report…
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=1707
INTERNET USERS STUDY
[Arab News] RIYADH, 6 May — Majority of Internet users in the
Kingdom are
singles, according to a recent study in Riyadh. The study found
that
students are more skilled in navigating websites than their
teachers. A
little more than 6 percent use the Internet to build romantic
relations,
while 25 percent sought political information, said the study
conducted by
Khaled Al-Faram. He revealed that only 7 percent of students and
teachers in
the country used Internet.
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=1704
· UAE
OIL PRICES PUSH UAE ECONOMY UP BY 20.4 PC
Strong oil prices and increased crude exports helped the UAE
economy grow
24.4 per cent in 2000, Planning Minister Sheikh Humaid bin Ahmed
Al Mualla
said. Local dailies quoted Mualla as saying overall gross
domestic product
for the country stood at Dh242 billion in 2000, up from Dh201
billion in
1999. "The situation in the oil markets last year helped
our economy grow
and overcome some of the difficulties we faced in the last few
years," the
minister said, referring to the biggest oil boom since the
1980s.
Emirates Bulletin No. 084, May 6
THURAYA STAGES SOFT LAUNCH OF SATELLITE SERVICE
…the systems are being tested to ensure proper operation of
the service
before formally launching commercial services. This may take a
few more
months. Complete report…
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=16045
UAE, JORDAN SEEK TO BOOST ECONOMIC COOPERATION
…the visit by the delegation would further enhance trade ties
between the
UAE and Jordan and contacts between businessmen from both
countries… …despite the strong ties between the UAE and
Jordan, the volume
of trade exchange between the two countries is not up to the
level of those
relations…
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=16053
EMIRATES TO FLOAT FIRST BOND ISSUE
The airline posted a 24 percent rise in net profit to $144 mln
in 2000…
Complete report…
http://www.arabia.com/article/0,1690,Business|45773,00.html
COMPAQ INAUGURATES NEW OFFICE IN ABU DHABI
This office is designed to provide advanced customer and
professional services to customers with mission critical
businesses, supporting their eBusiness and IT infrastructures
throughout their lifecycle… Complete report…
http://www.arabia.com/article/0,1690,Tech|45597,00.html
MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR SPA TO BE BUILT IN DUBAI
"Madinat Jumeirah" will comprise a hotel designed in
the style of a Gulf
Arab summer palace surrounded by villas set in 200,000 square
meters (2.15
million square feet) of landscaped gardens…
http://www.arabia.com/article/0,1690,Life|45755,00.html
BOEING SEES STRONG MIDEAST POTENTIAL FOR PRESENT, FUTURE
AIRCRAFT
An Emirates airline team is expected in Seattle today for a
briefing on
Boeing's futuristic sonic cruiser… … Emirates will expand
its fleet from
the present 35 aircraft to 210 in about 10 years… Complete
report…
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=16329
FUJAIRAH TO DEVELOP ITS TOURISM FACILITIES
Fujairah is looking to develop its tourism infrastructure with
the help of
foreign businesses which are willing to invest their money, time
and effort
in this emirates which has a lot of picturesque spots including
mountains,
beaches and islands that are suitable and need to be developed
for tourism
purposes.
Emirates Bulletin No. 083, May 5
FINAL THREE BIDDERS SELECTED FOR UTILITY COMPLEX
Two international consortia and a U.S. company have been
shortlisted as the
final three bidders for Abu Dhabi's third independent water and
power
project, the Shuweihat 1 Power and Desalination plant…
Complete report…
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=16387
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CALENDAR - A LOOK AHEAD
Check the GulfWire Calendar for upcoming events, conferences,
and other
dates of significance. For the complete GulfWire calendar:
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ON OUR CALENDAR:
MENA AND GLOBALIZATION: THREAT OR OPPORTUNITY?
The University of Cambridge, Judge Institute of Management
Middle East
Executive Retreat, scheduled for 19 - 22 June 2001 (www.intevents.com)
will
bring together a diverse group of business and public policy
experts from
the UK, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Among the
issues on the
four-day Cambridge-based agenda is the MENA region's perceptions
of
globalization, the domestic requirements needed to adjust to
globalization,
the importance and role of the state in regional integration,
and the
social, political and economic ramifications of globalization on
the region.
"The Cambridge Retreat is an important and timely meeting
for MENA businessand government personnel, one that will help attendees get to
grips with the
very real business and economic issues driving today's
interconnected world"
commented Jim Sillars of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce.
"It's an
initiative that the Arab-British Chamber is actively involved
in. We
wholeheartedly endorse and applaud what is trying to be achieved
through the
Retreat."
Key MENA analysts agree that globalization is neither a threat
nor an
opportunity, it is rather, a combination of the two. Most
certainly, the
entire process of globalization presents MENA businesses and
governments
with a world that is rapidly-changing, one with no defined
geographical
borders, no chain of formal command, no flags, no direct
military power or
conventional forces of control. Rather, today's global economy
is made up of
complex relationships between transnational forces of
information and
communication technology, trade and financial flows and
increasing cultural
and human contacts between and within different societies the
world over. It
is quite simply a highly complex web.
Negative globalization attitudes, however do exist in the MENA
region. For
example, global competition among unequal entities, in terms of
size,
accumulated knowledge, technology and experience, as well as
established
markets and resources. The increasing power of multi-national
corporations
reducing rather than increasing global competition. In addition,
the rules
of global business - safeguards, anti-dumping, and technical
barriers to
trade - are largely determined and enforced by the world's more
powerful
competing parties. Some believe there is also a lack of
compensatory
arrangements between losers and winners during the adjustment
phases of
globalization. Such characteristics, coupled with increasing
restrictions on
labor migration, intellectual property rights and ethnic
conflict, may
limit business and economic opportunities for MENA states.
Moreover, given
that many in the region suffer from inefficient physical, human
and
institutional infrastructure, such limitations hinder
participation in the
newly created global economy. In short, given these conditions
globalization
can be perceived as more of a threat than an opportunity.
Therefore, perhaps
the chief policy challenge facing the region is the
implementation of
appropriate policies to overcome structural deficiencies. Such
initiatives
would help the region adopt economic reform strategies that
would expand and
empower its private sector and increase government effectiveness
at all
levels. Enhancing the capabilities of the region's businesses to
complete in
global markets is imperative. "It is only by tackling such
issues head on"
commented Abdulla Baabood, Chairman of Intevents Ltd, and the
personality
behind the Retreat "will the region's decision-makers,
whether from
government or business, be in a position to design and implement
policies
that will enhance the region's role within the global
economy."
Inter-MENA regional co-operation is a further issue that Retreat
attendees
will consider. For example, analysts believe the current
Euro-Mediterranean
partnership could contribute to further economic fragmentation
among the
region's states, should this happen it will restrict long-term
MENA economic
and business potential. Moreover, individual states may decide
to pursue
their own European and Asian interests, being seduced by the
attraction of
being attached to a powerful economic grouping, be that in the
North or the
East, or both, this would then lead to vertical integration,
leaving little
or no opportunity for horizontal MENA co-operation. Governments
inking such
agreements with the EU, for example, would be part of a free
trade area that
could exclude MENA states doing business with their own
neighbors, such a
situation would radically reduce prospects for a MENA common
market or even
a free trade area. What is required to halt such developments?
Quite simply,
far-sighted policies, brokered by joint MENA public and private
sector
partnerships. Partnerships equipped with the necessary tools to
initiate and
develop domestic public-policy and business reform and regional
integration.
This is achievable if there is sufficient will and appropriate
external
incentives. The Cambridge Retreat intends to address these
issues and
present possible options. Lord Prior, Chairman, Arab-British
Chamber of
Commerce who will be attending and contributing to the Retreat
commented
that "it is through such forums as the Cambridge Retreat
that MENA business
and public policy makers can discuss and plan a variety of
initiatives. It
is certainly an ideal opportunity for key players to sit,
consider and
analyze business issues impacting the region."
FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.intevents.com
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