Advisor of the President of the Republic, Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail met on the sidelines of the Annual Investment Forum which opened in Dubai last Tuesday, the UAE Minister for Foreign Trade, Sheikha, Lubna Al-Gasmi and reviewed with her the development of aspects of investment in Sudan.

Dr. Mustafa, during the meeting, commended the contributions of the UAE in development in Sudan, calling on the UAE companies to benefit from the available investment opportunities in Sudan in the fields of agriculture, food, animal products and different industries.

The UAE Minister indicated that...

A $2.1 billion plant is capable of producing 1,234 megawatts of power and 48 million gallons of desalinated water has been launched in Bahrain by His Majesty King Hamad.

He unveiled a special plaque at the hi-tech Al Dur Power and Water Plant, which was constructed to meet Bahrain’s growing demand for energy and water.

The King was accompanied by HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the official opening of the plant, which began full commercial operations in February as part of a public-private partnership.

“Such successful co-operation will...

HSBC Saudi Arabia has launched its first sukuk fund, a Shariah-compliant fixed-income product, for the country’s retail market.

Described as having a “medium to high” risk profile, the HSBC Amanah Sukuk Fund, which launched last month, is the first open-ended sukuk fund to be offered by HSBC Group.

Managed by the asset management division of HSBC Saudi Arabia, the fund will invest in a concentrated portfolio of between 15 to 20 sukuks primarily issued from within Gulf Cooperation Council countries, although there are no geographical constraints.

HSBC said...

As a business that is committed to providing healthy quality products to families across the Sultanate, A'Saffa Foods is always keen to support initiatives that support and strengthen understanding of social issues that impact the family.

The seminar was organised by the Social Development Department in Samail under the patronage of the Wali of Samail. Research papers were presented at the seminar that detailed the efforts of the Ministry of Social Development to combat child abuse and ways that families can act to protect their children from the dangers of child abuse.

In addition...

HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani opened Qatar International Trade Exhibition for Partners and Franchise (ITE Qatar), which is being held on the sidelines of the International Trade Conference, currently in session at the Qatar National Convention Centre.

The Heir Apparent toured the exhibition, which is organised by a number of government and semi-government ministries and the private sector, and listened to a detailed explanation about the plans and visions for the application of the exhibition’s objectives which will help the Qatari youth to implement their...

Starwood Lengthens Lead in MENA with 60% Portfolio Growth Adding More than 13,000 Rooms by 2017

Underscoring the Importance of the Region, Starwood Hosts Conference in Dubai with Company’s Top 100 Global Leaders

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) is strengthening its position as the leading hotel operator in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with an existing portfolio of nearly 70 hotels and a pipeline of 40 new hotels. This growth, primarily in the luxury and upper-upscale segments, represents an increase of nearly 60% over the next five years. In"......

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, is one among few African leaders invited by US president Barack Obama to attend the upcoming G8 summit on Africa food security.

Zenawi will attend the session along three other African leaders – Benin’s president Boni Yayi, Ghanaian president and current AU chairman, John Atta-Millis and Tanzanian president Jakaye Kikwete.

The 38th G8 summit will be held at Camp David, Maryland on May 18-19 as drought and famine threaten millions of lives in the fragile East African region and other areas of the continent.

Last month,...

The European Union Mission to Sudan has offered to provide proper training for Sudanese journalists and underscored its objection to changing governments by force.

The Editor-in Chief, Saif Addeen Al-Bashir received at his office Thursday May 3rd, 2012, The European Union Ambassador, Mr. Tomas ULICNY and his accompanying delegation. The visit came within the framework of marking the World Press Freedom Day, held this year under the banner of (Media Freedom has the Power to Transform Societies).

For his part, European Union Ambassador, Mr. Tomas ULICNY expressed his appreciation...

On Wednesday, in the historic Treaty Room of the U.S. State Department, Washington DC, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Hon. Kosti Manibe Ngai, signed the IMF and World Bank Articles of Agreement which enabled the Republic of South Sudan to become the 188th member of these institutions.

"It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce that the Republic of South Sudan has become a member of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund" said Hon. Kosti Manibe Ngai. "These are two organizations whose mandate, values and vision so closely match the developmental ambitions of...

New policies, decisions, and directives were adopted by the technical and consultative committees, intended to control and facilitate Sudanese patients’ treatment abroad. The diseases listed by the new policies included brain and neurological diseases, urinal tract diseases, cardiac diseases, and oncology diseases, in addition to the diseases which treatment is not available inside Sudan.

The meeting, headed by the Federal Minister of Health, seconded the decision of halting medicinal travel permits to countries with endemic and communicable diseases, handing out foreign currency...