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<title>The Memri Economic Blog</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[Highlights /News of The Day]]>
</description>
<link><![CDATA[http://memrieconomicblog.org/]]></link>
<language>en-us</language>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Gulf Countries to Invest $100b In Gas Projects]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3381]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ The gap between the rising price of crude and the declining price of natural gas has widened, although the gas-producing countries in the Gulf believe that the demand for natural gas will increase by 60% by2030 and this gap will narrow.  The total reserves of natural gas are estimated at 180...]]>
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<![CDATA[Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:38:45]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-03-08]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3381]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Iraqi PM: Dinar Has Reasons to Grow Stronger]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3380]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has said that the Iraqi dinar &quot;has all the reasons to grow stronger, thanks to an increase in revenues and development of the economy.&quot;  The Iraqi dinar's exchange rate is suffering from low value against foreign currencies, as a result of decades of...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:37:57]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-03-08]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3380]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Joint Syrian-Saudi Ministerial Meeting in Damascus]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3379]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ The joint Syrian-Saudi Ministerial Committee held its meeting in Damascus on Saturday March 6, with the participation of the finance ministers both countries as well as a large group of businessmen.  The Syrian Economy Ministry prepared no less than 421 project proposals, which reflect the main...]]>
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<![CDATA[Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:37:22]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-03-08]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3379]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Algeria Completes Third Gas Pipeline to Europe]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3378]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ The Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mining has announced the completion of a third gas pipeline (Gasdoc Enrico Mattei) across the Mediterranean to Italy via Tunisia.  The pipeline is 349 kilometers (194 miles) long, and will carry 7 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. The cost of...]]>
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<![CDATA[Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:41:47]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-03-03]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3378]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Aramco President: Company To Launch Red Sea Explorations]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3377]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Khaled Al-Faleh, president of Saudi Aramco, has said that his company will begin exploration and drilling in the deep water of the Red Sea in the next two years.  The company recently announced a major natural gas finding in the Jalamid gas field in northern Saudi Arabia, where additional...]]>
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<![CDATA[Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:40:53]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-03-03]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3377]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Iraq's Crude Exports Exceed Two Million b/d]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3376]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ An Iraqi Oil Ministry spokesman has said that oil exports in February have surpassed two million barrels a day, for the first time since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990.  Iraq currently produces 2.4 million b/d, and oil brings in 85% of government revenues.  Iraq recently signed a number of...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:39:49]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-03-03]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3376]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Syrian Oil Organization Seeks Investment Alliances With Majors]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3375]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Syrian Oil Organization director 'Ali 'Abbas has said that his outfit will seek to expand its activities abroad through a strategic plan to seek investment opportunities in collaboration with major oil companies such as Dutch Shell Oil and the French oil company Total.  'Abbas conceded that the...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:47:58]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-03-02]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3375]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Turkey and Syria to Increase Trade to $5 Billion]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3374]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Syrian Economy Minister Abdallah Al-Dardari revealed that the Turkish and Syrian governments have prepared detailed plans to develop their economic relations and to increase their trade to $5 billion.  [No time frame was provided for this objective to be attained, nor was information provided on...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:47:09]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-03-02]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3374]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Middle East Construction Sector to Overtake Europe's, North America's]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3373]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ The Middle East's thriving construction sector is expected to post an annual growth rate of 3.5% over the next five years, to place ahead of Europe and North America and third behind Asia.  The Gulf, in particular, has around $1.35 billion worth of active civil construction projects.  Source:...]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:46:18]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-03-02]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3373]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Iran Plans to Issue Bonds for Energy Sector]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3372]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Iran has announced plans to issue $1 billion in bonds to develop its natural resources. Seifullah Jashnasaz, managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company, said that the bonds' proceeds will fund the development of the south Pars field. He said that the bonds are expected to be issued in...]]>
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<![CDATA[Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:08:05]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-03-01]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3372]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Egypt: High Administrative Tribunal Overturns Ruling by Lower Court Prohibiting Sale of Gas to Israel]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3371]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Egypt's High Administrative Tribunal, under its president Muhammad Al-Husseini, has overturned a ruling by a lower court suspending the sale of Egyptian natural gas to Israel at a preferential price.  The court ruled that the export of natural gas abroad is a sovereign act and does not fall under...]]>
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<![CDATA[Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:05:41]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-03-01]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3371]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Iraq Makes $4.6 Billion in Oil Revenues in January]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3370]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ The Iraqi Ministry of Oil spokesman announced yesterday that Iraq had made $4.6 billion in oil revenues for January.  During January, Iraq sold 59 million barrels of oil to 52 oil companies of American, European and Asian origin.    Source: Sotaliraq, February 23, 2010]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:41:04]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-24]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3370]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Syrian-Saudi Businessmen's Forum To Kick Off In March]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3369]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[Syria will host the first Syrian-Saudi Businessmen's Forum on March 6-7, with the participation of over 200 high-profile companies, Syrian Finance Minister Muhammad Al-Hussein announced in a Damascus press conference on Sunday.  The Forum will be held in conjunction with the Syrian-Saudi...]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:31:12]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-23]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3369]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Investment in Kurdistan Region of Iraq Tops $12 Billion]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3368]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Non-oil investment in the Kurdish region of Iraq totaled more than $12 billion over the last three years, according to the Board of Investors in the Kurdistan Regional Government.  While the rest of Iraq struggled for stability, the Kurdish region saw an influx in development and economic growth....]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:29:11]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-23]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3368]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Aramco Production Capacity Estimated at 12 Million B/D]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3367]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Daoud al-Daoud, deputy director of marketing and supply at the Saudi national oil company Aramco, has said that his company has a sustainable production capacity of 12 million barrel/day. Since it currently produces 8 million b/d, Aramco has a reserve capacity of 4 million b/d.  He said that a...]]>
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<![CDATA[Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:41:30]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-18]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3367]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Gulf Economies Fell Below $1 Trillion In 2009]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3366]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ According to a recent report by the World Bank, the gross domestic product (GDP) of the six member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council has declined from $1073.1 billion in 2008 to $887.2 billion in 2009, an average negative growth of 17.3 percent.  The average GDP per capita declined to...]]>
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<![CDATA[Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:06:40]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-17]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3366]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Jordan Imports 5.2 Million Barrels of Iraqi Oil in 16 Months]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3365]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Jordan imported 5.2 million barrels of oil in the period beginning September 2008 through February 15, in keeping with an agreement signed between the two countries in 2006.    Iraqi crude is carried by Iraqi overland tankers to be unloaded at a loading and unloading station on the border between...]]>
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<![CDATA[Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:07:08]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-17]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3365]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Saudi Central Banker Affirms Dollar's Reserve Role]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3364]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Mohammad Al-Jasser, the governor of the Saudi Monetary Authority (central bank), defended the U.S. dollar's role as the world reserve currency and rejected calls for its replacement. He said that the greenback's &quot;pre-eminent role has not changed meaningfully since World War II.&quot;  Saudi...]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:32:48]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-16]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3364]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Saudi Arabia Offers Qatar Investment Opportunities Worth $300 Billion]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3363]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Amru bin AbdAllah Al-Dabbagh, the governor of the Saudi General Authority for Investment, confirmed that the Authority has identified investment opportunities for the private sector of Qatar worth $300 billion.  Qatari private investors are guaranteed the same privileges and facilities accorded to...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:18:43]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-15]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3363]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Iraq Plans Currency Redenomination]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3362]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Iraq plans to redenominate its dinar currency by deleting three zeros from the nominal value of the banknotes to facilitate currency transactions.  According to Mudher Qasim, adviser to the governor of the central bank, &quot;the goal is to improve the payment and receiving system in the country,...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:15:57]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-15]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3362]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Saudi Monetary Authority Invests Assets Abroad]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3361]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ A recent report indicates that 76% of the net assets of the Saudi Monetary Authority (central bank) are invested abroad, primarily in U.S. treasury instruments. Total investments overseas are in the order of 1.52 trillion riyals, the equivalent of $434 billion.   [While Iranian President Mahmoud...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:13:58]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-15]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3361]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Khamenei's Advisor Warns against Imposing Oil Sanctions on Iran]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3360]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ In response to the intention of the 5+1 to impose oil sanctions on Iran, Yahya Rahim Safavi, senior security advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei, warned that 57% of the world's oil and gas reserves - and all the world's strategic sea straits - are in the Muslim world. Iran, he added,...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:22:03]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-14]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3360]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism: "We would like to abolish visas with Egypt"]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3359]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ertugrul Gunay, opened the Eastern Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Fair with his Egyptian counterpart, Zoheir Garranah in Istanbul. Gunay said that they wanted to improve the tourism relations with Egypt and were getting ready to take the...]]>
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<![CDATA[Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:20:54]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-13]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3359]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Mahmoud Abbas Arrives In Pakistan; Indian PM Announces $10 Million Grant To Palestinian Authority]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3358]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Friday, according to a Pakistani website.  &quot;During the visit, President Mahmoud Abbas will hold official meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani,&quot; a...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:20:18]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-12]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3358]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Iraq Asks France to Reimburse Cost of Undelivered Fighter Jets]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3357]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Iraq has appointed a committee to negotiate with France the reimbursement of €651 million that Iraq paid in September 1985 as the full cost of 24 French Mirage F1 fighter jets, which were never delivered because of the sanctions imposed on Iraq in 1990.  France has agreed to cancel 80% of...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:19:16]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-11]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3357]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[China Supersedes Iran as Fourth Largest Oil Producer]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3356]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ China superseded Iran last year to become the fourth largest oil producer in the world, behind Russia, Saudi Arabia and the U.S.  According to official data published in People's Daily, China is producing 3.82 million barrels a day of crude, but domestic production does not meet the needs of the...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:18:42]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-11]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3356]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Cartoon In Saudi Daily: Iran Enriches Uranium Faster Than Obama Can Formulate Sanctions]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3355]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[       Source: 'Okaz, Saudi Arabia, February 11, 2010  Posted at: 2010-02-11]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:17:51]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-11]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3355]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Al-Watan: France To Sell Syria Smaller Aircraft]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3354]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ The Syrian daily Al-Watan reports that France intends to sell Syria two small ATR-72 planes for short flights, after failed efforts by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to persuade the Americans to sell Syria Airbuses, which include some U.S.-made parts.  It was reported that in contrast to the...]]>
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<![CDATA[Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:15:59]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-11]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3354]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Head of Republican CHP will pay 20 thousand TL to Erdogan]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3353]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ A Turkish court ruled that the head of Republican CHP, Deniz Baykal, will pay 20 thousand Turkish liras (about 13, 300 dollars) to the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan had filed two different court cases against Baykal for the expressions he used in referring to the Prime...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:16:18]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-09]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3353]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Iraq Bans Dealings with Lebanese, Kuwaiti and Iranian Companies]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3352]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Iraq's Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation has banned dealings with a number of Lebanese, Kuwaiti and Iranian companies because they have failed to meet their contractual obligations.  Source: Al-Rafidayn, February 8, 2010      Posted at: 2010-02-09]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:55:30]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-09]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3352]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Syria Faces Drought Challenge; Sufferers Await Heaven's Mercy]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3351]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[   The current rainy season has rekindled Syrian hopes, after four consecutive years of drought, particularly in the eastern region, the producer of the Syrian food basket comprising 57% of wheat, 69% of cotton, and 33% of sugar beet, and breeding 37% of sheep herds. It is also the source of 58% of...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:54:36]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-06]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3351]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Iran FM In Ankara: We're Pleased With Closer Iran-Turkey Relations]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3350]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ During a meeting in Ankara with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that his country was pleased with the desire for closer Iran-Turkey relations and with the cooperation between them on regional and international issues.  He added that the trade...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:52:38]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-05]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3350]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Arab Countries Suffer From Growing Food Deficit]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3349]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Dr. Kamel Shadid, assistant director general of the center for international food research, has said that the Arab countries are among those which suffer most from food deficit, and that in 2007 they imported 65% of their food commodities.  Imports by Arab countries of basic food commodities have...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:52:06]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-04]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3349]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[MHP Vice President to Pay 10 thousand TL to PM Erdogan]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3348]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ A Turkish court ruled that the nationalist MHP Vice President, Deniz Bolukbasi, would pay 10 thousand TL (about 6,700 dollars) as damages for mental anguish to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Prime Minister had sued the MHP parliament member on the grounds that his comments on the...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:51:26]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-03]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3348]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Gulf Countries Diversify Their Economies, Invest $58 Billion in Industrial Projects]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3347]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ In an attempt to diversify their national economies and reduce dependence on oil, the Gulf countries have recently focused on industrial projects, investing as much as $58 billion in manufacturing industries, construction material, electronics, petrochemicals, aluminum, plastics and automobiles. ...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:50:56]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-03]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3347]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Syria Pushes to Halt Decline in Crude Production]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3346]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Syria announced that it produced 380,000 barrels a day of crude oil, a figure identical to its production the previous year. Syria produced as many as 590,000 barrels of oil in 2006, but due to sanctions and inadequate investments, production has been in decline.  The main oil company in Syria is...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:50:20]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-02]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3346]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Kuwaiti MP Calls for Outlawing Bank Interest in Favor of Islamizing Economy]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3345]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Mohammad Al-Mutair, a Kuwaiti MP associated with the salafist movement, has submitted a draft legislation which bars the use of interest in bank transactions, including transactions by the central bank and by local and foreign companies operating in Kuwait as well as in money changing transactions...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:49:41]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-02]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3345]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Aramco's Investment Budget $120 Billion Over Five Years]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3344]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Khaled Al-Falih, executive director of the Saudi national oil company Aramco, has projected an increase in demand for crude of about 1 million barrels a day for each year through 2030, primarily from the developing countries in Asia.  Current global crude production is 85 million barrels a day,...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:49:04]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-02]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3344]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Saudi Arabia Assures World Regarding Oil Supply]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3343]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Khaled Al-Falih, the executive director of Aramco, the Saudi national oil company, assured the world at the Davos Economic Forum that there is still a great deal of oil in Saudi Arabia, and that the concerns of an &quot;oil peak&quot; are unfounded. [Proponents of the &quot;oil peak&quot; theory...]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:48:24]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-02-02]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3343]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[BP Claims Iraq Could Rival Saudi Arabia in Oil Production]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3342]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Tony Hayward, CEO of British Petroleum (BP), told an audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos that within a decade, Iraqi oil production could quadruple to 10 million barrels a day, from its current 2.5 million barrels - and could rival Saudi Arabia by 2020.  BP is engaged in a partnership...]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:46:54]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-31]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3342]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[One Year after U.S. Elections: Obama Failing on the Economic, Military and Popularity Fronts]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3341]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[   Cartoonist: Eley Saliba  Source: Al-Watan (Qatar), January 31, 2010  Posted at: 2010-01-31]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:46:13]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-31]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3341]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[OPEC Unlikely to Change Productions Quotas]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3340]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Abdallah Al-Attia, Qatari minister of oil and OPEC chairman of OPEC, said that the organization was unlikely to change its production quotas when it meets in March if the price of crude remains at the current level.  Source: Alsumaria.tv, January 27, 2010  Posted at: 2010-01-29]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:43:31]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-29]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3340]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Qatari Daily: Qatar To Invest $12 Billion In Syria]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3339]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ The Qatari daily Al-Sharq reports that Qatar-Syrian diplomatic and economic relations are warming up, and that in the next few years Qatar is expected to invest $12 billion in Syria.  It was reported that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is to visit Qatar tomorrow, January 28, to kick off the...]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:42:41]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-27]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3339]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Pakistan, Turkey Earmark $20 Billion To Upgrade Rail Link]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3338]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Pakistan and Turkey agreed on Monday to undertake a $20 billion project to upgrade a railway link from Islamabad to Istanbul to transport cargo speedily from Pakistan to Turkey and ultimately to Europe, according to a Pakistani daily.  The decision was made in a meeting between President Asif Ali...]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:42:09]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-27]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3338]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Gulf Women Control Investments Estimated at $246 Billion]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3337]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ According to a report prepared by a London investment management company, Gulf women control $246 billion in investments, and this sum is projected to reach $385 billion in 2011.  Most of these vast amounts of money originate from huge inheritances.  In general, women are more cautious than men in...]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:41:12]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-26]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3337]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Saudi Arabia Donates $50 Million To Haiti]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3336]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Saudi Arabia announced that it has donated $50 million to help Haiti.  The AFP news agency said that this was the biggest donation by a Middle East country.  Source: Al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 26, 2010  Posted at: 2010-01-26]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:40:20]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-26]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3336]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Unemployment Drives Jordanians to Drug Addiction]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3335]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ An official study by Jordan's Ministry of Social Affairs among juveniles arrested or imprisoned indicates that 25% of those addicted to drugs have unemployed fathers.  The study found that many of those who use drugs are students, which suggest that addiction afflicts more the educated than the...]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:39:49]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-25]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3335]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Saudi Investments Abroad Estimated at $800 Billion]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3334]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sultan, professor of economics at Imam Mohammad bin Sa'ud University in Saudi Arabia, has estimated Saudi investments abroad at $800 billion. He said that this amount would discourage foreign investors from coming to Saudi Arabia on the assumption that if the Saudis cannot find...]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:39:00]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-25]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3334]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Najaf Council Clamps Down on Iranian Pilgrimage Agency]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3333]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ In an effort to clamp down on the Iranian Pilgrimage Agency, which organizes Iranians' visits to the two holy Shi'ite cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, the Provincial Council of Najaf has decided to levy $10 for an individual visa to be issued to Arabs and foreigners [primarily Iranians] who...]]>
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<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:38:11]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-25]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3333]]></guid>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Pakistan's Domestic Debt Rises To $51 Billion, Up $12 Billion In 18 Months]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3332]]></link>
<description>
<![CDATA[ Pakistan's net domestic debt during the last one-and-a-half years has increased by 1.027 trillion Pakistani Rupees or more than $12 billion to Rs 4.293 trillion or $51 billion, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported on Saturday.  According to a report in The News daily, ''In...]]>
<br />
<![CDATA[Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:36:39]]>
</description>
<author></author>
<pubDate><![CDATA[2010-01-25]]></pubDate>
<guid><![CDATA[/bin/content.cgi?news=3332]]></guid>
</item>

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