Ramadan here
Last Monday marked the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan during which Muslims observe a fast from dawn to sunset. Work slows down in Egypt, and much feasting and entertainment takes place in the interim between the two main meals, iftar or breakfast at sunset and sohour or pre-dawn meal. Egypt’s summertime daylight saving time was revoked last weekend in honour of the holy month.
European programme
The European Commission has agreed to establish an Egyptian-European network for technology and innovation, Hani Barakat, the head of the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Technological Development Sector said. The network will start its activities in October through an office in Cairo and another in Brussels, and will work to transfer European technology to Egypt and establish a developed database for all industrial sectors. The network will also encourage and promote production and management upgrading, and help Egypt to make use of EU-funded programmes in research and development.
Into South Sudan
Projects at cost of $26.6 million will be carried out in South Sudan under a memorandum of understanding signed between Egypt and the government of the Sudanese region. Among these is one for clearing weeds from the water canals in the Nile tributary of Bahr el-Ghazal, at the cost of LE11 million.
Tackling global warming
Egypt recently signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) meant to implement the millennium development programme. The programme aims at minimising global warming emissions and qualifying Egypt to cope with climate change through attaining clean development projects. Financed by a Spanish grant of four million dollars, it will help Egypt produce crops that grow in a dry climate, and will also help examine the effect of climate change on the annual flooding of the River Nile.
Rice and cement
Egypt will this month resume exporting rice, reversing a temporary export ban, and could sell up to one million tons in foreign markets during the coming crop year, Trade Minister Rasheed Mohamed Rasheed recently said. Egypt will also resume exporting cement this year, he added.
E-University
A presidential decree was recently issued to establish an Egyptian E-Learning University. The university will be set up as a non-profit educational institution and will aim at offering high-quality education in line with recent global educational systems, in the world, Minister of Higher Education Hani Hilal said. It will include eight colleges, two research centres and several study centres, he explained.
Suez Canal revenues
The Suez Canal revenues in the first seven months of this year hit a record LE16.7 billion, the Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority Ahmed Ali Fadel recently said. Fadel explained that an increase of about 23 per cent was achieved compared to the same period last year, with the revenues maintaining a mounting monthly rate of increase ranging between 15-20 percent.
Egypt Italy post
Egypt Post and its Italian counterpart have recently signed a memorandum of understanding to develop Egypt’s national postal system. Both sides will exchange expertise in postal services through periodic, bilateral consultation and specialised work groups that will share technical information and promote highly advanced solutions for Egypt’s postal systems.
Tea for Egypt
About two decades after losing the flourishing tea market in Egypt, and in an effort to recapture a share therein, the United Planters’ Association of Southern India (UPASI) and the Tea Board have joined hands to set up an India Tea Promotion Centre in Cairo. The Indian tea industry has drawn up an ambitious plan to increase exports from the current two million kilograms to 20 million in the coming few years. The centre will probably become operational by the year end, UPASI Secretary-General Ullas Menon said.
Comments
comments