SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Abu Mazen Discusses Indirect Talks With Saudi King [May 5]
“King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz discussed here yesterday with the visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a number of political issues, mainly the latest developments in the Middle East and the strategy of the Palestinian National Authority as regards to the Palestinian-Israeli indirect peace talks. They also discussed the appropriate means to push forward the peace process and the nature of the Arab move to deal with the Israeli intransigence. An informed Palestinian diplomatic source who attended the summit said that the two sides reviewed the outcome of the Palestinian dialogue sponsored by Cairo to put an end to the internal division among the Palestinians and to reach a reconciliation agreement. The talks also dwelt on the means to strengthen the relationship between Riyadh and Ramallah in all political, economic and commercial fields..” [Complete Report]
Doctorate For King Abdullah [May 5]
” Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah received on Tuesday an honorary doctorate degree in the service of science and medical education from the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain. Dr. Khaled Al-Ouhali, the university’s president, awarded the degree to the king during a ceremony at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. In a speech delivered at the ceremony, Dr. Muhammad Al-Bandary, chairman of the university’s board of trustees, thanked King Abdullah for supporting the university. Referring to King Abdullah’s SR1 billion donation to establish a medical city at the university during his visit to Bahrain last month, Al-Bandary said, ‘This donation reflects your keenness for charitable and humanitarian work.’..” [Complete Report]
Female Employment Falls to 11% [May 5]
“Sources at the Ministry of Labor have said that the employment rate of women in the Kingdom has fallen to 11 percent, and lamented the lack of job opportunities for females. ‘The number of job applications from women at labor offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam has also gone down in recent years,’ the sources said. According to the sources, the 2006 figure of 10,443 female job applicants, 599 of whom were found employment, fell to 4,285 in 2007, with 529 finding work. ‘The Ministry of Labor is prepared to open more Women’s Labor Offices if the funds are provided,’ they said..” [Complete Report]
ANI Forges Food Deal With Saudi Firm [May 5]
“AgriNurture, Inc. (ANI) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Far Eastern Agricultural Investment Company (FEAICO) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for huge food crop plantations and processing plants in the Philippines. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Wednesday, ANI chief finance officer Kenneth Tan said that, based on the MoA, FEAICO shall pursue projects involving the establishment of a commercial sized pineapple, banana, rice and corn plantations and processing facilities. It will also jointly work with ANI for all the needed resources such as land, labor, farm technology and systems. ANI and FEAICO will establish demo plantations initially and grow gradually through contract growing up to a core area of 50,000 hectares total for pineapple, banana, rice and corn. These plantations will be used for food crops production for local consumption and export to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other foreign markets that FEAICO and ANI will jointly agree and develop..” [Complete Report]
Welspun to Invest in Saudi Market [May 5]
“Welspun proposes to invest in the$58 million in Saudi Arabia for stakes in pipe manufacturing firms. In their effort to get a better grip over the Middle Eastern market the capacity of the Indian firm will be 2.3 Million Tonnes. Welspun Director Akhil Jindal “The promoters of Aziz were looking for someone who could run the company. As we have the expertise, we did this tie-up.” Welspun’s increased profits and sales will be seen at the September Quarter. Once all the final preparations are done, Welspun will begin their manufacturing and distributing in the Saudi. Welspun told TOI on the 5th of April that they invested in a plant in Saudi Arabia which is fully functional and after a few minor repairs the plant wil be open for business. Welspun, the Indian pipe manufacturer said they propose to buy the majority of the stakes in the Saudi Arabian Company and expand in the Saudi pipe manufacturing and coating facility. Welspun said they were given the green signal by their board to buy majority of the Saudi company..” [Complete Report]
GCC Interior Ministers to Discuss Terror, Drug Smuggling [May 5]
“Interior ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are meeting in Riyadh Wednesday to discuss security issues, among them combating terrorism and drug smuggling. Discussions will also look at organized crime as GCC states seek to achieve a comprehensive security strategy. Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, will deliver a speech at the opening session in which he will address current security issues and security in GCC countries in the light of the recent regional and international developments. The one-day meeting at Riyadh’s Conference Palace will be presided over by Sheikh Jaber Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, Minister of Interior of Kuwait, which is the current president of the GCC..” [Complete Report]
