Category: Business & Finance

Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Oraloglu announced that a quadripartite ministerial summit among Turkey, Iraq, the UAE and Qatar will be held soon regarding the ‘Development Road’ project.

The Turkish Minister said in a press statement: The memorandum of understanding that was signed the day before yesterday between Turkey, Iraq, Qatar, and the UAE in Baghdad to cooperate on the ‘Development Road’ project was a bilateral agreement, but with joint Turkish and Iraqi efforts, it also included the UAE and Qatar.

He added that weekly meetings are taking place between officials from both Turkey and Iraq, and a quadripartite summit will be held during the next two months.

Oraloglu stated that they will open offices in Iraq and Turkey within the framework of the project in the coming months, noting that with the operation of the development road, the volume of trade will increase from 20 billion dollars to reach 40 billion dollars.

The day before yesterday, Turkey, Iraq, Qatar and the
UAE signed a quadripartite memorandum of understanding in Baghdad for cooperation on the ‘Development Road’ project, under the auspices of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani.

The “Development Road” project is a land and railway road extending from Iraq to Turkey and its ports, with a length of 1,200 kilometers inside Iraq, and aims to transport goods between Europe and the Arab Gulf states./End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Manama, Beyon Money, part of the Beyon Group, has been included as a top 10 winner in the Rising Star category of Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 programme.

Running for the third year, the programme celebrates and recognises the fastest-growing technology companies in the Middle East and Cyprus, based on their revenue growth. Becoming a winner is recognised as a significant achievement; it is a celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship, and impact. During the comprehensive selection process, Deloitte reviews technology companies from a wide range of industries including the Fintech sector.

Commenting on the win, Beyon Money CEO Roberto Mancone said, ‘We are delighted to be a top 10 Rising Star winner in Deloitte’s Fast 50 list, placed 7th based on our impressive revenue growth. This is a proud achievement for us and reflects the commitment by all Beyon Money’s team members as well as our customers’ trust and loyalty in Beyon Money’s products.’

‘Beyon Money’s cards with worldwide acceptance and rewards, its
international remittance and Flexi Invest product have played a key role in supporting the company’s revenue growth and achieving this win. Ensuring access to a suite of services that meets our customers’ finance requirements is our priority and we look forward to evolving the Beyon Money SuperApp to deliver more services and benefits in the year ahead,’ Mr. Mancone added.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, The Kingdom of Bahrain has achieved a new international milestone, as the Passports Services at the Bahrain International Airport has been ranked third globally among the 2024 World Airline Awards (Skytrax).

It won in the “Best Airport Passport Services” category after applying strict standards that include the efficiency and speed of procedures, ease of movement, the efficiency of passport staff in terms of receiving visitors, and the extent of travellers’ satisfaction.

The achievement is an international testimony to the excellence and leadership in the services provided by the Nationality, Passports, and Residence Affairs (NPRA) and its continuous keenness to enhance travellers’ experiences at the Bahrain International Airport. Bahrain ranked third after Singapore Changi Airport and Zurich International Airport in Switzerland.

Shaikh Hisham bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Interior Ministry’s Undersecretary for NPRA, expressed his pride in the achievement, asserting dedication to providing the best
services for travellers via the Bahrain International Airport to promote Bahrain’s status as a leading regional centre in air transport.

He noted that the Airport Passports Services plays a significant role in facilitating travellers’ procedures and providing them with exciting travelling experiences. He hailed the fruitful cooperation between the NPRA and Bahrain Airport Services.

Skytrax World Airlines is a London-based consultancy founded in 1989. It operates an airline and airport review website and offers annual awards known as the Skytrax World Awards based on traveller reviews.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, Bahrain All Share Index has closed at 2,013.12 points, marking a decrease of 3.92 points below the previous closing.

This decrease was due to the drop in the Industrial Sector, Material Sector and Consumer Staples Sector.

Bahrain Islamic Index has closed at 762.17 points, marking a decrease of 4.15 points below the previous closing.

Results indicated that 82 equity transactions took place with a volume of 1,716,324 worth BD 686,846.

Investors traded mainly in the Non-Bahraini Companies Sector, representing 58.54% of the total value of securities traded.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Ramallah – Together – The General Authority of the Palestine Stock Exchange held its fourteenth annual meeting, to discuss and approve the topics on the agenda, in the presence of the representative of the Registrar of Companies at the Ministry of National Economy, Bilal Kataneh, the external auditor, Abdul Karim Mahmoud, representing Ernst and Young, and the legal advisor, Mr. Haitham Al-Zoubi and Samer Al-Kakhan, representing the Capital Market Authority.

Through the platform of the General Authority, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Palestine Stock Exchange, Mr. Samir Hulileh, expressed what the Palestinian economy has suffered, especially since the last quarter of the fiscal year 2023 until this moment, which in turn has sharply affected the performance of various economic and operational sectors, both in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, adding that Listed companies were not immune to this exceptional situation, which became clear through their preliminary financial statements for the resul
ts of the year 2023, as the profits of listed companies according to these statements amounted to approximately 155 million dollars, a decrease of 60% compared to the previous year, a number that was not recorded. On the Palestine Stock Exchange for more than 10 years, indicating that we are awaiting somewhat harsh results in the same context for the first quarter of the year 2024, due to the continuation of the aggression.

He pointed out, “This situation did not affect at all the commitment of profitable companies to their shareholders, as dividends are still strongly present in many of the recommendations of the general bodies of listed companies, and we at the Palestine Stock Exchange will work hard to continue the process of progress and growth, despite the serious challenges, and to These include poor market liquidity and accumulated losses as a result of the aggression.

The General Assembly approved the Board of Directors’ report and financial statements, and the members of the Board of Directors were
discharged from their liabilities for the fiscal year 2023, in addition to re-electing Ernst and Young to audit the stock exchange’s accounts for the fiscal year 2024.

It is noteworthy that the Palestine Stock Exchange was established in 1995 as a private joint stock company, and in 2012 it was listed for trading after it was transformed into a public joint stock company. The Stock Exchange seeks to be a local financial market with international standards, in light of providing innovative services to customers through a trading environment characterized by fairness, transparency and safety. It is noteworthy that the Palestine Stock Exchange is listed in the most important global financial indices: within the frontier markets ‘Frontier Markets’ and ‘FTSE Global Financial Times’ and within an independent index for ‘Palestine’ in both Morgan Stanley and Standard and Poor’s.

Source: Maan News Agency

The Ministry of Trade announced the completion of the files for initial offers for goods and services and their official submission to the Secretariat of the World Trade Organization through official channels.

Minister of Trade Atheer Al-Ghurairi, Chairman of the National Committee concerned with Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization, said: ‘This important step comes in the context of the Iraqi government’s efforts and its program aimed at promoting international trade and achieving sustainable development, which reflects its commitment to ensuring global economic integration and expanding economic partnerships.’

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He added: ‘The National Committee, the technical committees emanating from it, and the accession team in the Ministry were able, within a short period of time, to complete these files and submit them to the organization in preparation for holding the third meeting of the working group on Iraq during the current year, 16 years after the date of the second meeting of the group in 2008.’

He pointed out that the World Trade Organization (WTO) and international circles welcomed Iraq’s return to the negotiating table.

Al-Ghurairi stressed: ‘The two files for the initial offer of goods and services, which were submitted, included a wide range of products and services that reflect the diversity and competitiveness of the Iraqi economy and their negotiation,’ noting: ‘Work is underway to prepare the Iraqi negotiating team and build the team’s negotiating capabilities for the purpose of initiating negotiating rounds with member states of the organization in order for Iraq to obtain membership in the organization.

He explained, “The Department of Foreign Economic Relations, through official channels of dealing with the organization, is working on completing all requirements for accession in order for Iraq to obtain membership in the organization and enhance Iraq’s integration into the multilateral trading system.”

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It is worth noting that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has issued the annual
report on the accession of observer countries, and praised the efforts led by the Ministry of Trade through its chairmanship of the National Committee, and that Iraq is the only Arab country whose accession process has become active and has passed advanced stages among the Arab countries that hold observer member status./End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs, Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdul Ghani, stressed the importance of developing Akkaz gas field in Anbar Governorate by adding a quantity of (400) cubic feet (million standard cubic feet per day) to national production, which aims to supply electric power generation stations with new quantities of natural gas.

Abdel Ghani said, during his sponsorship of the contract signing ceremony between the Ministry, ‘represented by the Central Oil Company, the North Oil Company, and the Department of Petroleum Contracts and Licensing’ and the Ukrainian company UKRZEMRESURS, as well as his sponsorship of the contract for the assignment of the Korean Kukaz Company in favor of the Ukrainian company, that ‘the national effort in the Central oil company was able earlier to operate the field within the accelerated plan to supply Akkas gas station at a rate of (60) mmqm.

He pointed out: ‘The Ministry aims, through the contract with the Ukrainian company, to reach a rate of (100) mqmq for th
e first stage of (1-2) years, and (400) mqmq within (4) years.’

For his part, the Undersecretary for Extraction Affairs, Bassem Muhammad Khudair, said, ‘This contract was achieved after many years of waiting due to the war on terrorist gangs,’ noting that a contract formula had been reached with the Ukrainian company to invest in this field with an initial production ranging from (one and a half to two years). It aims to raise the field’s production rates to (100) mqmq and to (400 mqmq) within four years, through which it feeds the Anbar power station and Akkaz gas station.’

In turn, the director of the Central Oil Company, Muhammad Yassin Hassan, said: ‘Today we witnessed the concession of the Korean company Kukaz to the Ukrainian company to implement and invest in the Akkaz field project, which represents an important step towards gas investment, especially in the western region, because this region holds a large gas reserve, and we are working to invest it in an optimal way, to supply the national grid w
ith new gas energy that contributes to supporting the energy sector in Iraq and enhances national production.’/End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ibrahim Yumagli, stressed the importance of cooperation between his country and Iraq in the fields of irrigation, agriculture and livestock development.

Yumagli said in a press statement today, Wednesday, that talks took place on agricultural cooperation between Turkey and Iraq, on the sidelines of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit to Baghdad on Monday, and that Ankara and Baghdad will exchange experiences and cooperation in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry and irrigation, and that this matter will provide serious contributions to both countries.

He pointed out that new horizons of fruitful cooperation will be witnessed by the agricultural sector in the two countries during the coming period through what has been agreed upon in various fields of bilateral cooperation.

During the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Baghdad last Monday, Iraq and Turkey concluded 17 cooperation agreements in the fields of water, se
curity, energy and other cooperation horizons, which reflects the desire of the two countries to enhance their cooperation in various fields./End

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Abu Dhabi, ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, today announced the launch of a US$180 million technology-focused fund, Jasoor Fund (the Fund), with Oman Investment Authority (OIA) represented by ITHCA Group. This commitment is part of a broader framework agreement signed between both parties in 2022.

According to Emirates News Agwency (WAM), the Fund aims to bolster the digital economy in the Sultanate and the wider MENA region by supporting high-growth technology companies in sectors such as FinTech, EdTech, HealthTech, cleantech, food and agriculture, and logistics. Its core focus will be on innovative technology companies established in the Sultanate, in addition to technology startups in other countries in the region. It will undertake investments high-growth technology companies at various stages of development that have established business models.

In 2022, ADQ and OIA identified investment opportunities worth over $8 billion in key sectors of Oman’s economy. The partnership aims t
o contribute to increased economic cooperation and trade between both nations.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, The Labour Fund, Tamkeen, has announced its support for the establishment of PwC Middle East’s Regional Service Delivery Centre in Bahrain, which will provide advisory and operational services across sectors. This initiative aligns with the goals of Tamkeen’s National Employment Programme and aims to offer up to 250 employment opportunities for Bahraini nationals, enhancing local economic contributions.

The initiative strengthens Bahrain’s position from which local and international institutions can support the Kingdom and neighbouring countries, while working closely with other PwC delivery centres in the region.

Recruitment has begun for the first wave of Bahraini professionals, with an initial intake of 50 hires. The centre aims to reach its operational potential in the coming years and will provide valuable training opportunities to enhance the technical expertise of its employees.

The project aligns with Tamkeen’s recently launched programmes to support the career development and employment of
50,000 Bahrainis annually. Tamkeen is playing a pivotal role by providing a comprehensive package to promote the employment of Bahraini nationals, which includes training and wages support.

Expressing her enthusiasm regarding the partnership, Her Excellency Ms. Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of Tamkeen said: “This partnership aligns with our mission to promote sustainable economic growth, enhance the competitive edge of national talent, and empower Bahraini graduates through employment and training. This service centre will provide valuable experience to Bahrainis and contribute to the growth and development of sectors such as financial services, which contributed 18.1% to GDP during Q3 of last year.

Upskilling in sectors such as these provides rewarding opportunities for Bahrainis, while contributing to the Kingdom’s growth ambitions. The sector is considered the highest in terms of remunerative wages for Bahrainis, as it contributed to the annual wage growth by 4.2% in the private sector during
the same period. This initiative comes in line with Tamkeen’s mandate to stimulate the economy and develop local talent to make them the first choice of employment in the labour market. This collaboration also confirms Tamkeen’s commitment to providing quality employment, and training opportunities for young Bahraini talent.”

Source: Bahrain News Agency