Arab British Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 8

Arab-British Business Volume 36 Issue 4 April 2013 Monthly bulletin of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce

Masdar pioneering clean energy Masdar is to explore new project investment opportunities in the UK’s clean energy sector.

See page 12

Pic: Masdar City

CHAMBER NEWS

CONTENTS

Monthly bulletin of the A-BCC

Chamber News

3

Chamber News - Italy

8

Chamber News - MOU

10

Business & Project News

12

Bahrain

16

Egypt

18

Gulf Markets

21

Reports in Arabic

22

Tenders

26

Business Events & Trade Fairs

31

Editorial Team Abdeslam El-Idrissi Cliff Lawrence David Morgan Dr Yasmin Husein

NEW MEMBERS

Arab-British Chamber of Commerce 43 Upper Grosvenor Street London W1K 2NJ

Capplex Outer Temple Chambers 222 Strand LONDON WC2R 1BA UK Tel: +44(0)20-7427 4892 Email: michael.patchett-joyce@outertemple.com; shiraz.oshidar@outertemple.com; georgie-sihdair@btopenworld.com Contact Mr Michael Patchett-Joyce Principal Business Activity: Barrister, providing professional services consultancy

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7235 4363 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7245 6688 d.morgan@abcc.org.uk (English Editorial) y.husein@abcc.org.uk (Arabic Editorial) www.abcc.org.uk

Production & Design Distinctive Publishing 6th Floor Aidan House Sunderland Road Gateshead NE8 3HU Tel: 0845 884 2343 www.distinctivepublishing.co.uk

Advertising Distinctive Publishing Tel: 0845 884 2343 john.neilson@distinctivegroup.co.uk

Disclaimer Distinctive Publishing or Arab-British Chamber of Commerce cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies that may occur, individual products or services advertised or late entries.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or scanned without prior written permission of the publishers and Arab-British Chamber of Commerce.

ISSN No: ISSN 0958-8116

RamJet Aviation Support 401A BC4 RAK Free Zone PO Box 11487 Ras Al Khaimah UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Tel: +971 7 227 8808 Fax: +971 7 227 8848 Email: mervat@ramjet.aero Website: www.ramjet.aero Contact Miss Mervat Sultan Finance Manager Business Activity: Elite services for the aviation market. Member of NBAA, EBAA, MEBAA & RUBAA. Flying Formations Limited 222 Regent Street LONDON W1B 5TR Fax: +44(0)20-7183 3227 Email: qad@flyingformations.com Website: www.flyingformations.com Contact Mr Qad Raja Business Manager Business Activity: Offering a company formation service; UK company registration.

TrinÊire Architects and Interior Designs 384 Lee High Road Lee Green LONDON SE12 8RW Tel: +44(0)20-8297 4144/8728 Email: info@trineire.com; angela@trineire.com Website: www.trineire.com Contact Mrs Angela Aston Interior Designer Business Activity: Innovative quality design, which responds to clients’ needs and the surrounding environment.

PRIME Instant Offices & Business Centre W.L.L PO Box 3214 Manama BAHRAIN Tel: +973 17 570 400 Fax: +973 17 532 259 Email: info@primeinstantoffices.com; munira@primeinstantoffices.com;emma@ primeinstantoffices.com Website: www.primeinstantoffices.com Contact Mrs Emma Curtis-Smith Centre Manager Business Activity: Providing serviced offices, virtual offices, support services, Bahrain visa and video conferencing.

Magrun Limited 39 Miles Way LONDON N20 0BZ Mob: +44(0)791-5666 902 Fax: +44(0)20-8368 0337 Email: info@magrun.com Website: www.magrun.com Contact Mr Alan Magrun General Director Business Activity: Construction in commercial and residential buildings

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CHAMBER NEWS

LIBYA TRADE DAY: NEW ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE Well over one hundred company executives from a cross-section of industries attended the Libya Trade Day which was organised by the Arab British Chamber of Commerce and held at the UKTI Conference Centre, Westminster on 10 April.

The clear message emerging from the event was positive: Libya was moving ahead with its reconstruction process andwelcomed the cooperation of British companies.

Delegates heard that significant opportunities exist in the fields of oil, mining, banking and finance, construction, transport, telecommunication, retail, healthcare, education, agriculture and tourism.

Key contributions were delivered by Lord Marland, the Trade Envoy to the Prime Minister, and H E Mahmud Mohammed Nacua, the Ambassador of Libya in the UK. In opening the conference, Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby, ABCC Secretary General & Chief Executive, thanked the partnering organisations, UK Trade & Investment for supporting and hosting the event, the Embassy of Libya in London and the Federation of Libyan Chambers of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture.

Dr Al-Shuaiby said the Libya Trade Day had chosen to focus attention on the key sector opportunities where UK companies are best equipped to achieve success in the market.

Chairing the opening session, Baroness Symons, ABCC Chairman, stated that Libya was approaching a key period with many important new contracts expected within the next few months.

He emphasised that Libya was making steady progress and he allayed the concerns of potential investors regarding possible security risks.

Ms Sarah Cain, Commercial Manager for North Africa, British Airways, explained the rationale behind the airline’s decision to resume services to Libya on 1 May 2012.

The conference was divided into two sessions: the first concerned transport, infrastructure, construction and utilities; while the second dealt with security, finance, IT and energy.

She stated that BA was committed to rebuilding its relationship with Libya and saw a positive trend in the demand for travel to the country especially business flights.

First Session Chairing the first session, Mr Edward Oakden, Managing Director, Strategic Trade, UKTI and a former ambassador, said now that Libya had approved its budget, spending on reconstruction would increase, making it a good time for businesses to look to the new opportunities emerging in the market.

Mr John Southgate, Executive Director, Capita Symonds, listed those factors which made Libya attractive: it had vast reconstruction needs following some 40 years of underinvestment and ample resources at its disposal to fulfil its aspirations.

Emerging projects included new roads, airports, ports and railways and he estimated that the opportunities were now greater than ever.

With a rate of car ownership the highest in Africa and road congestion in the capital Tripoli a serious matter, Libya needed modern technologies to establish efficient signalling on the road network.

BA would seek to increase its services from its current three flights a week from Heathrow as the conditions improved, and the African continent was a key area for the airline’s business development strategy.

Edward Oakden explained that FCO policy to avoid “all but essential” travel did not mean that people should not visit Libya.

While certain parts of the country must be avoided, it was possible to visit Tripoli safely if sensible precautions were observed.

Mr John Brooke, Consultant, Clyde & Co, delivered a legal perspective on doing business in Libya and highlighted some key changes in commercial laws, including the new foreign ownership law which was put at a maximum of 49%.

He stated that there was a lack of clarity in land ownership and the land registry office was not currently operating.

Mr Angus Jackson, UKTI Libya market specialist, stated that although Libyans regarded the UK favourably as a quality partner, companies needed to be present on the ground to become better known and trusted in the market.

She said that Libya was a key transit point for trade and business between Europe and the continent of Africa and a wealthy country with sufficient resources to carry out its plans.

Lord Marland stressed that the British and Libyan governments were both strongly in support of improved business cooperation between the two countries. He believed that British businesses were well placed to help Libya emerge from decades of lack of investment.

H E Mahmud Mohammed Nacua warmly thanked the organisers for the opportunity to discuss the reconstruction of his country.

Delegates at the Libya Trade Day held in the UKTI Conference Centre

CHAMBER NEWS

Chairing the second session,journalist Ms Nabila Ramdani, first introduced Andrew Gadsby, International Marketing Director, General Dynamics UK, who addressed security issues, insisting that many of the common concerns were misplaced and misperceptions were based on inaccurate reporting of events in the country.

Mr Gadsby said that key opportunities existed in both the civil and the defence areas: police authorities need equipment and technologies; while the top priority was border control and surveillance.

Mr Assad Riyany, Director, Gumhouria Bank – Libya, presented an insider’s insight into the state of the banking sector which was being rebuilt after decades of isolation.

Lord Marland, Trade Envoy to the UK Prime Minister

The Central Bank of Libya has taken steps to develop Islamic banking. A new Islamic banking law had been approved and was awaiting implementation with a view to coming into force in early 2015, although this deadline might not be achievable, he said.

Mr David Beeley, First Vice President, ABC International Bank, explained the best options of trade finance for exporters to Libya.

Mr Beeley said that most UK high street banks were not yet ready to take on Libyan bank risk, although those with experience of the market, such as his own, were ready to offer letter of credit services.

H E Mahmud Mohammed Nacua, Ambassador of Libya to the UK

Mr Nitin Dahad, Technology Specialist, UKTI, surveyed the ICT landscape in Libya and explained some of the actions taken by the UK to foster cooperation.

Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby, ABCC Secretary General & CEO

Mr Dahad indicated that Libya would be looking to establish an IT regulator for which contracts would soon be awarded and that the Libyan authorities were prepared to listen to serious proposals that offered solutions to develop the IT sector.

Mr Gordon Stirling, Regional Director, Wood Group, said that his company had been operating in the Libyan energy sector for many years and he was impressed by the present drive to achieve change. He was hopeful that long stalled projects would soon be given the go ahead.

Summing Up Summing up, Edward Oakden focused on the key messages: Libya was keen to do business with the UK; it was a complex but exciting market and following the approval of a £33 billion state budget in 2013,Libya was starting to spend on new projects across a range of sectors offering new opportunities for business.

There was huge demand following the years of underinvestment and British firms needed to be alert to the positive features of the market but aware of the fierce competition to win new business in the country.

Baroness Symons, ABCC Chairman

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LIBYA VISA SERVICE

ARAB BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LIBYA Business Visa Service

For visa enquiries please email Therese on t.bebawi@abcc.org.uk or call 0 20 7659 4861

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We are pleased to announce that the Arab British Chamber of Commerce has now reinstated the BUSINESS VISA SERVICE to

LIBYA

If you are traveling on business or taking a trade delegation to the Arab world and need your visa secured quickly and efficiently, the Arab British Chamber of Chamber's Visa Section is the ideal point of contact.

This service is available only to companies based, or with offices, in the UK. The Arab British Chamber of Commerce, 43 Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1K 2NJ founded in 1975, is a membership organisation that exists to promote trade and economic activity between the United Kingdom and the 22 member states of the Arab League. Over the past four decades the Chamber, building on its experience, has developed a range of services which are proved invaluable to Arab and British companies. With the assistance and expertise of our organization, British companies are now able to achieve their international business aspiration.

CHAMBER NEWS

CHAMBER HOSTS QATAR BUSINESS DELEGATION

Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby (centre) with members of the Qatar delegation at the Chamber.

The Arab British Chamber of Commerce welcomed a delegation of young business executives from Qatar to its offices on 26 March.

The delegation of more than 30 men and women comprised Qatari officials and young executives from some leading companies and institutions in the country with a range of sectors represented.

Companies represented included Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Gas, RasGas, Q-Tel, ictQATAR, Qatar University, Qatar Science & Technology Park, Qatar Central Bank and the Qatar Leadership Centre.

to counter the misrepresentations of the country in the media, how Qatar can attract more investors and visitors and what can be done to encourage more British companies to seek out opportunities in Qatar.

They were hosted at the Chamber by Dr Afnan Al Shuaiby, Secretary General & Chief Executive, who led a discussion that explored the potential of working together more closely to enhance business contacts and commercial relations between the UK and Qatar.

Mr Abdeslam El-Idrissi, ABCC Director of Trade Services, delivered a presentation to introduce the work of the Chamber to the delegation during which he spoke of the broad range of services provided to both British and Arab member companies.

The requirements for establishing a company in the UK and the possibility of organising British trade delegations to Qatar were also raised during the discussions.

The Qatar delegation was visiting London to meet with officials from key commercial and government institutions to gain first-hand experience of ways of doing business and to learn more about how companies operate in the global economy.

London had been chosen as the destination for the visit because of its status as a global city in the international economy.

Mr El-Idrissi also produced the latest statistics to illustrate the growth in bilateral trade between Qatar and the UK.

Dr Al Shuaiby emphasised that the Chamber was keen to work with Qatar to enhance bilateral business relations.

Qatar was an important market for UK goods and services but exports from Qatar were also on an upward trend bolstered in particular by significant recent increases in supplies of LNG to satisfy the UK’s domestic energy needs.

The role of the private sector and the part played by SMEs in improving business between the UK and Qatar were identified as especially important and these were particular areas where the Chamber had significant expertise that could be of assistance.

Issues addressed during the discussion touched on the necessity of improving sources of information on Qatar in order

As part of their itinerary, the Qatar delegation also visited the House of Commons, The Shard among other key locations.

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CHAMBER CHAMBER NEWS

London, Italy and the MENA Countries An exclusive half-day seminar on the theme of London, Italy and the MENA Countries took place at the office of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce on 11 April 2013.

The ABCC joined with the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK to organise the event which was designed to explore areas of shared interest in doing business with the countries of the MENA region with an emphasis on the Mediterranean trade area.

There were many aspects to the agenda such as competition law, trade and consumer agreements, which were of common interest for the UK and Italy.

Baroness Symons, ABCC Chairman, stated that the Chamber was honoured to receive the senior delegation of officials from Italy who were participating in the discussions.

The aim of the seminar was to consider how the different strengths of the UK and Italian economies could combine to form a stronger partnership for doing business with the MENA. There were opportunities for boosting exports as well as new business in the healthcare, education, financial services and IT sectors.

She also welcomed Mr Nick Archer, Strategic Trade Group Director, UKTI, describing UKTI as a ‘’solid partner of the ABCC’’. The representative of the Moroccan Chamber was also welcomed to the seminar.

There was therefore real potential to be gained from the UK and Italy working closer together on this agenda at both the government level and as chambers of commerce, the Baroness said.

Baroness Symons delivered apologies on behalf of Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby, ABCC Secretary General & Chief Executive, who was unable to be present at the seminar.

Speaking on behalf of Dr Al-Shuaiby, Mr Abdeslam El-Idrissi, ABCC Director of Trade Services, stated that today’s global recovery is being led by the dynamic emerging economies which are providing a crucial boost to renewed growth in their more developed counterparts.

From her experience in government where she held the trade portfolio and had responsibilities for the Middle East, Baroness Symons understood the importance of links between the European Union and the MENA countries. ‘’The Euro-Med agreements were foremost among European trade agreements,’’ she said.

The challenges that are facing global and regional markets offer a window of opportunity to reinvigorate relationships and help reinforce efforts to develop closer partnership between the EU and the MENA nations, Dr Al-Shuaiby had said.

Mr Enzo Quattrociocche, Secretary General, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, spoke on the theme of “The Value of Europe’s International Financial Centre to the EU Economy”.

The EBRD was originally founded to assist the countries of Eastern Europe in making the transition to a market based economy.

The bank was now responding to recent changes in the Arab world and able to draw on its experience to provide services to the MENA economies.

Mr Quattrociocche stated that the bank was starting activities in four Arab markets, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco, on their request and in line with its mandate to assist countries in transition.

In September 2012, the EBRD established a special investment fund to support projects in the MENA countries, but before they can become full recipient countries, the bank needed to amend its constitution, said Mr Quattrociocche, who expected this move to be taken soon.

The focus of its activities was on developing the private sector which was extremely relevant for the circumstances facing the MENA’s developing economies.

Priorities for the EBRD included supporting the growth of SMEs, addressing gaps in the market, encouraging efficiency in agribusiness, sustainable energy and energy security.

He explained that the bank was concentrating on helping startup businesses with access to finance and improved business skills.

From left: ABCC Chairman Baroness Symons; Mr Nick Archer, Director, Strategic Trade Group, UKTI; Mr Marcelo Sala, Executive Vice Chairman, Intesa Sanpaolo; Mr Leonardo Simonelli Santi, President, Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK; Mr Alberto Castronovo, Multilateral Finance Manager, SIMEST; and Mr Enzo Quattrociocche, Secretary General, ERBD.

CHAMBER NEWS

Several projects in the four MENA markets that he had mentioned were currently under consideration.

The bank chose to focus on family owned firms that are well established to help them improve and expand. It was unable to support companies that had no track record.

The EBRD was seeking to support innovation in the market and was aware of the need to help the private sector to become more competitive.

The bank was committed to supporting the principles of transparency, good governance, environmental sustainability and a reformed legal framework as pre-requisites for enabling business to flourish.

He stressed that the bank would normally remain a minority shareholder in any project that it decided to support but the actual level of funding depended on the type of project, the sector it was in and who the other sponsors were.

UKTI’s Nick Archer was the first speaker to address the theme of “Constructing a Framework for EU-MENA Cooperation”.

Mr Archer welcomed the opportunity provided by the seminar for exploring the potential for cooperation between the UK and Italy with third countries, a development he described as ‘’three-way co-operation’’.

He said that the government had now adopted the principle of ‘’complementarity’’ in its trade policy and was seeking to identify mutually beneficial collaboration with other countries.

Mr Archer believed that there was a lot of scope for the expansion of UK-Italian cooperation on projects around the Middle East.

The ‘’business diplomacy’’ carried out by UKTI had achieved success as a result of drawing in the talents and expertise from the private sector. This might be seen as a model for others to follow.

Mr Alberto Castronovo, representative for multilateral financing with Società Italiana

Baroness Symons and Mr Leonardo Simonelli Santi

per le Imprese all’Estero (SIMEST), described the seminar as a ‘’far-sighted initiative’’ given how much the UK and Italy had to offer each other.

Mr Castronovo was deputising for Vincenzo Petrone, the SIMEST President, who was unable to be present.

He said that SIMEST focused its work on supporting SMEs in Italy seeking to boost their exports or expand their business activities overseas.

He explained that the institution was able to acquire up to 49% of equity capital of foreign firms to support foreign investments in countries outside the EU. In future SIMEST would be looking to support SMEs with potential for growth in the MENA region, Mr Castronovo stated.

Mr Marcello Sala, Executive Vice Chairman, Intesa Sanpaolo, looked in detail at the economies of the MENA region and how European investors could assist.

Intesa Sanpaolo is a leading lending bank in Italy supporting exports to the MENA and was helping to bring best practise to the markets.

Executives from the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the seminar

The region was characterised by oil exporters with huge surpluses alongside oil importing countries in great need of investment.

Mr Sala believed that there was real potential in developing joint projects in North Africa involving the EU and GCC as partners.

EU states remain at the forefront of innovation and as such can make a positive contribution towards institution building and support for the developing private sector in the MENA. While EU faced strong competition for business in the region, it had the advantage of proximity to the markets, he said.

In closing remarks, Mr Leonardo Simonelli Santi, President, Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK, expressed his pleasure that the outcome of the seminar had been a success and hoped that it would encourage future cooperation between the Italian Chamber and the ABCC. The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK represents Italian business in Britain and is one of the oldest of the 75 Italian Chambers abroad. It has offices in London, Manchester and Glasgow.

Mr Santi explained that London was the right place to hold such an event given its status as an international financial centre and as home to many established Italian businesses. He believed that the economic strengths of the UK and Italy were extremely complementary which formed the basis for cooperation.

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CHAMBER NEWS

ABCC SIGNS MOU WITH DAR AL-HEKMA COLLEGE The Arab British Chamber of Commerce has reached a Memorandum of Understanding with Dar Al-Hekma College of Saudi Arabia, to promote special programmes that address the educational needs of Arab and British youth.

The MoU was signed at a reception at the premises of the Chamber in Mayfair, on the evening of 10 April.

Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby, ABCC Secretary General & CEO (fourth left), Dr Suhair Hassan Al Qurashi, President, Dar Al-Hekma, with other attendees at the launch of the MOU.

The MoU was formally signed by Dr Afnan AlShuaiby, Secretary General & Chief Executive of the ABCC and Dr Suhair Hassan Al Qurashi, the President of Dar Al-Hekma, which is a leading private higher education college based in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah.

Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby, ABCC Secretary General & CEO and Dr Suhair Hassan Al Qurashi, President, Dar AlHekma, signing the MOU.

Speaking at the reception, Dr Al-Shuaiby stated that ‘’education is an important and growing area of bilateral cooperation between Britain and the Arab countries and the Chamber is pleased to be playing a constructive part as a strategic organisation in this process’’.

Welcoming the agreement, Dr Suhair Hassan Al Qurashi described Dar Al-Hekma College as a unique institution founded to provide higher education for young women with high quality academic programmes.

Under the terms of the MoU, the two organisations have pledged to work together to foster mutual educational, scientific, trade and cultural interests.

They will organise educational programmes and exchange involving the members of their respective organisations.

The formal signing of the MoU was followed by a networking reception attended by prominent business executives, diplomats and experts in the education field.

Dr Al-Shuaiby expressed thanks to all those in attendance for supporting what she described as an ‘’important and very worthwhile initiative’’.

CHAMBER NEWS

UNIVERSITY MARKS OPENING OF MIDDLE EAST OFFICE A new regional office in Oman has been launched by the University of Wolverhampton after an opening ceremony at the British Ambassador’s residence.

The Middle East Regional Office (MERO), which opened its doors on Monday 25 March in the capital Muscat, is part of the University’s aim to build partnerships in the region and provide information and advice for potential students.

The opening ceremony at the residence of the British Ambassador to Oman was attended by 80 guests, including senior figures from education, business and government sectors, and saw speeches delivered by the Ambassador and Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton.

After the opening , delegates from the University met with figures from the Omani Government including the Minister of Health and the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, before holding collaborative discussions with students from various colleges in the region.

Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor, said: “We chose Oman because of the nature of the economic development taking place here and the synergy with economic development that is taking place as planned with the University "As the economy of Oman expands, there are areas where we wish to work with Omani businesses and government. We hope to work with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education to develop programmes in partnership with Oman so that aspirations can be achieved.

"We see education in terms of improving and enhancing individual life opportunities and securing economic development. We see Oman as an important gateway to the Middle East.”

The office aims to build long partnerships with Middle East governments and private sector companies, deliver consultancies for new projects and offer short courses for

NEW MEMBERS Dar Al-Hekma College PO Box 34801 Jeddah 21478 SAUDI ARABIA Tel: +966 2 630-3333 Fax: +966 2 631 6270 Email: sabedin@dah.edu.sa; sraquib@dah.edu.sa Website: www.dah.edu.sa Contact Dr Saleha Abedin Vice Dean Business Activity: Higher education institution offering academic degree programmes designed to meet national as well as international accreditation standards.

University of Wolverhampton – Middle East Regional Office Knowledge Oasis KOM2 Office 02118 Muscat 124 Rusayl OMAN

Continuous Professional Development as well as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

It will also provide advice and information on student admission information for more than 300 courses, visa procedure and the accommodation enquiries and personal assistance to prospective students who want to study at the University.

The MERO operations will also cover the Gulf countries of UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Kurdistan and the surrounding Arab states.

Hilal Almasheri, Head of MERO, said: "I am delighted to have the regional office in Muscat and am certainly looking forward to welcoming prospective students through our doors. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the numerous educational institutions and the Higher Education Authority in Oman as well as the broader Middle Eastern community."

continued...

Tel: +368 2 4448679 Email: h.almasheri@wlv.ac.uk; alexandrina@ wlv.ac.uk Website: www.wlv.ac.uk Contact Mr Hilal Almasheri Middle East Regional Manager Business Activity: Branch of the UK based university

Associate Member Miss Alix Fromageau 7C Berkeley Gardens LONDON W8 4AP Email: alixfro@yahoo.fr Contact Miss Alix Fromageau Student

RE/MAX Prestige 25a Crawford Street LONDON W1H 1PL Tel: +44(0)20-3195 5400 Email: Nevine.Abdelwahab@remax.co.uk; mohamed.abdelwahab@remax.co.uk Website: www.remax-prestige.co.uk Contact Mr Mohamed Abdelwahab Director Business Activity: Comprehensive property agency service offering professional assistance on residential sales, lettings, property management, property search and real estate investment

BBA Associates 207 Regent Street 3rd Floor LONDON W1B 3HH Tel: +44(0)20-7193 4257 Email: info@bba-marketing.com; as@bbamarketing.com Website: www.bba-marketing.com Contact Miss Anna Stella Marketing Expert Business Activity: Marketing services providing strategic and operational marketing

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BUSINESS & PROJECT NEWS

Masdar and UK sign MOU on clean energy Masdar and the UK Green Investment Bank plc (GIB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore project investment opportunities in the UK’s clean energy sector.

The MoU was signed on the occasion of a state visit to the UK by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at an event hosted by HRH Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, at Buckingham Palace.

Under the MoU, the two parties will consider opportunities to jointly invest in green infrastructure projects in the UK over the next seven years. Together, they will introduce potential investment opportunities to one another and other potential investors. There is no change to the governance of both parties as joint investments will be made and managed independently.

The MoU was signed by Masdar CEO Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and GIB CEO Shaun Kingsbury.

“Masdar is pleased to be contributing to the UK’s renewable energy portfolio through the London Array and we are actively engaged in exploring new investment opportunities in the UK offshore wind and clean technology sectors,” said Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar.

Masdar has already invested over £500 million through its equity stake in the UK’s London Array, the world’s largest offshore wind farm. This new alliance unlocks the potential for further investment.

“We’ll be working together closely to bring investment to UK clean energy projects and to share our expertise and experience,” said Shaun Kingsbury.

UK Energy and Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker, said: “The creation of the Green Investment Bank is one of the Coalition Government’s key green achievements. Initially capitalised with a huge injection of £3 billion, we always intended this brand-new financial institution to act as a catalyst to attract other finance into the UK Low Carbon economy.

“This alliance is a big step in that direction, and a huge vote of confidence in the UK clean energy sector. But this agreement is about more than just money. Given the pioneering Low Carbon achievements of Masdar, it makes strong strategic sense too.”

WAM, 02/05/2013

BP to build new port terminal in Iraq British oil major BP has signed a deal with Iraq to build a new terminal at the southern port of Khor al-Zubair.

A spokesman at the General Company for Ports of Iraq stated that it had signed a fiveyear contract with BP to build a new terminal replacing an outdated one.

BP said the initial phase to build the new terminal would involve using an existing import facility and improving efficiency to bring in higher volumes of oil products.

"BP will help Iraq build an advanced terminal to receive refined oil product shipments and also to export products in future," Anmar al-Safi said. "BP will pay around $7 for each cubic meter of imported and exported refined products through this terminal."

"The facility will be constructed over a number of phases and we expect that imports will commence in 12 to 18 months' time," a spokesman for BP said.

Agencies, 01/05/2013

New Oman bank set to start operations Oman lender Alizz Islamic Bank, the second full-fledged Islamic bank in the sultanate, plans to begin operations in the third quarter of this year, chief operating officer Jamal Darwiche said.

Oman is the last country in the GCC to introduce Islamic finance. It granted licences to Alizz Islamic Bank and Bank Nizwa late last year and rolled out detailed regulations in December.

"We are on track for the launch of our products and services during the third quarter of 2013," Darwiche said. "We are taking a careful approach, gaining valuable market insight and further refining our products and service offering."

Last October, the bank raised 40 million rials ($104m) by selling 40% of its capital through a month-long initial public offer of shares.

Gulf Daily News, 17/04/2013

UK footwear brand steps into Gulf A footwear brand that sells a pair of shoes every 20 seconds in Britain is inching into the Gulf region.

Hotter Shoes, which sells about 1.8 million pairs each year in the UK, has struck a deal with Jawad Business Group, based in Bahrain, to sell its shoes in nine Shoe Citi stores in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman.

"We're going through a test phase at the moment, which is to introduce the product and the brand and then we will get some responses to that and we will evolve our strategy from adirector of Hotter Shoes.

"Ultimately, though, we believe that there's a real opportunity to open up free-standing stores in the region."

The brand was started 50 years ago as a slipper manufacturer, but broadened in the mid-1990s to include shoes.

The National, 04/04/2013

BUSINESS & PROJECT NEWS

GCC petrochemicals capacity ‘to grow 50%’ The GCC petrochemicals and chemicals capacity is forecast to soar 50% by 2020, according to Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA)’s latest annual database update.

The updated database foresees the capacity reaching 191.2 million tonnes by 2020, a 50% increase from the 127.8m tonnes recorded last year.

The database has been extended by four years so that it now covers the period from 2005 to 2020.

The database of 119 products is expected to serve as a reference for producers, researchers, policy makers and anyone involved in the petrochemicals sector.

Product coverage has also increased by 297%.

Driving the growth is Saudi Arabia which is expected to add 40.6m tonnes of additional capacity by 2020.

“This database is absolutely crucial in assessing the overall health of the region’s petrochemicals and chemicals industry,” said GPCA secretary general Dr Abdulwahab Al Sadoun.

“Using forward-looking data up to 2020, all stakeholders in this sector will be able to identify areas of growth and take advantage of the variety of opportunities that this sector will offer in the coming years.”

As the voice of the region’s petrochemicals and chemicals industry, the GPCA is committed to establishing a comprehensive database on the Gulf petrochemical industry in line with its strategy to enable thought leadership and innovation.

The database contains historical capacity, production, exports and imports statistics by product, country and company from 2005 to 2020. The data was provided by over a 100 companies in the Gulf region and was independently verified and collated.

Gulf Daily News, 22/04/2013

Morocco to sign $2.4bn IDB loan deal Morocco expects to sign a $ 2.4 billion loan deal soon with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), a Moroccan official said.

Morocco is expected to raise around $ 1.5 billion this year by selling its first sukuk, with a final decision on borrowing to be taken by July, the official said.

The country has agreed a package with the IDB under which it will receive $600 million each year from 2013 to 2016, said the official.

The economy grew 4.8% in the first quarter from a year earlier, accelerating from the previous three months as agriculture recovered after bad weather and the planning agency forecasts a 5.5% expansion overall in 2013.

A small part of that sum will be a donation rather than a loan. A formal signing will be held in May.

“The sukuk bonds seem more attractive for us than conventional bonds, but it depends on the markets.” Parliament approved legislation allowing the government and companies to issue sukuk last January.

Reuters, 24/04/2013

Qatar tops region in individual net worth The global net worth per adult in Qatar stands at $145,596, marking the highest among the GCC countries, according to Credit Swiss Bank Global Wealth Report 2013.

Wealth per head in the UAE has reached $120,363, in Oman it stands at $46,436 and in Kuwait at $81,330, the report said.

Wealth per head in Saudi Arabia stands at $36,725, while in Bahrain the figure reached $44,324, revealed the report.

A total of 26,000 Kuwaiti adults have a net worth of more than $1 million while 488 own more than $100 million.

In UAE, 43,000 rich people have a net worth of more than $1 million.

While 46,000 in Saudi Arabia and 19,000 in Qatar have net worth of more than $1 million, the report said.

Trade Arabia, 29/04/2013

Mott MacDonald in deal to develop Khafji field

Iraq plans new power projects

Mott MacDonald has been awarded a five-year engineering services consultancy contract

by Al-Khafji Joint Operations of Saudi Arabia covering the maintenance and development of the 40-year-old Khafji oil field.

Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity has outlined 11 new schemes to expand the electricity network in the Babel province through 2013.

In addition to production facilities, the field has shipping, offices, housing and other facilities.

The Ministry is reported to have said that it is planning to start five projects that will “extend the sources to feed the minor electricity stations in Babel.”

Under the contract, Mott MacDonald will provide feasibility studies, preliminary engineering design scoping papers and detailed design. The consultancy will also offer technical support during tenders and develop front end engineering design for other industrial engineering projects.

Arab News, 29/04/2013

The plans also include six projects that will extend the 11kV electricity power lines from these stations.

Iraq Business News, 28/04/2013

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14

BUSINESS & PROJECT NEWS

Tunisia in $1.75bn IMF deal

Riyadh made capital of Gulf Monetary Council

Tunisia and the IMF have reached an initial agreement on a 24-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) of $1.75 billion.

The Gulf Monetary Council has signed an agreement declaring Riyadh as its headquarters.

The news ‘’eases pressure” on the country’s credit rating, Fitch Ratings said.

The agreement was co-signed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah representing the Kingdom and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the council Fahd Al-Mubarak representing the council.

The accord “provides crucial underpinning” for Tunisia’s economic programme and ‘’will be an important catalyst for further international support,” Paris-based Director of Sovereigns Amelie Roux commented.

Announcing the agreement, Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director, said that the deal would support Tunisia’s economic agenda and address ‘’critical vulnerabilities of the banking sector’’.

“A prudent monetary policy will aim at containing inflation while safeguarding the stability of the banking sector. Greater exchange rate flexibility—coupled with structural reforms to improve the competitiveness of the economy— will contribute to improving Tunisia’s external position and rebuilding foreign reserve buffers,’’ she continued.

Furthermore, the agreement will support the implementation of reforms that promote private investment in the country, foster sustainable job-creation, reduce economic and social regional disparities, and strengthen social policies to protect the most vulnerable.

“These reforms deserve the support of the IMF and the international community through financial assistance, policy advice, and technical assistance,” Ms Legarde stated.

The ‘’staff-level agreement’’ is subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board.

The country’s economic growth is set to accelerate to 4% this year from 3.6% in 2012, Tunisia’s Finance Minister, Elyes Fakhfakh, said this month.

Sources: IMF, 19/04/2013; Bloomberg, 23/04/2013

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait are the four members in the monetary council, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The council aims to launch a single currency at least by 2015, according to earlier reports.

The Supreme Council of the GCC in its 29th session in Muscat in 2008 approved the Monetary Union Agreement and the Statute of the Monetary Council, which developed the legal and institutional framework for the Monetary Union and identified the goals and tasks of the Monetary Council.

The member states of the Monetary Union Agreement ratified the agreement, and, as a result, the Monetary Agreement entered into force on 27 February 2010.

Arab News, 29/04/2013

Container volumes at Bahrain port up record 40% The overall volume of containers handled soared by a record 40% at Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP) during 2012, a report said.

The overall volume of trans-shipment containers grew by a record 153%.

KBSP officials reported a 31% increase in the overall volume of merchandise handled last year.

The figures came from the Bahrain Annual Ports Performance Report 2012, submitted

by Transportation Minister Kamal Ahmed.

Moreover, KBSP authorities continued efforts to develop procedures with an average of one truck every 40 minutes.

The figures were released as HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired a weekly Cabinet meeting Trade Arabia, 29/04/2013

Kingdom Holding announces complete refinancing of Savoy Kingdom Holding Company said it has completed the refinancing of London's famous hotel, the Savoy, capping a milestone event for a business worth in excess of £600 million.

The Savoy underwent a historic physical restoration between 2008 and 2010, and has since been repositioned and stabilized for a long-term pre-eminent position in the London luxury hotel market.

In 2005, Kingdom Holding and Prestonfield Limited, which is controlled by the Bank of Scotland and which is now part of Lloyds Banking Group, partnered in a 50/50 joint venture to acquire the hotel with financing provided by Bank of Scotland and hotel management by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

Saudi Gazette, 01/05/2013

BUSINESS & PROJECT NEWS

UAE President in state visit to Britain UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan carried out a two-day state visit to Britain at the invitation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 1 and 2 May. The visit was described as a testament to the deep and historic relations between the UAE and UK. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Foreign Minister, said that the visit reflected the many opportunities that existed for deepening cooperation and stressed the UAE’s commitment to further bolstering relations with the UK, with a special focus on trade, education and regional and global security.

“The UAE is one of the top tourism destinations for British citizens, and thousands of Emiratis visit the UK every year.

Many Emiratis also travel to the UK to pursue higher education.

“British citizens have helped drive UAE prosperity and have been involved in iconic projects like the Burj Khalifa and Abu Dhabi Formula One. UK oil companies, BP and Shell, have worked with Abu Dhabi for more than 70 years,” the Minister said.

Abu Dhabi to set up financial free zone A law creating a financial free zone for Abu Dhabi on Al Maryah Island has been signed, intended to attract greater number of financial firms to the emirate.

The Abu Dhabi World Financial Market will be a financial hub covering an area of 1,680,323 square metres on the island, according to Federal Decree 15 of 2013.

The island is currently home to the Cleveland Clinic, the Rosewood Hotel and a number of consultancies and law firms.

Abu Dhabi is now putting finishing touches to the plan, sources familiar with the matter said.

Detailed regulations covering the zone will be outlined shortly, an Abu Dhabi government source said.

“It will have all the offerings of a financial free zone — 100 per cent foreign ownership, tax and capital repatriation, internationally accepted laws and regulations and other things,” the source said.

Agencies, 29/04/2013

“Emirati investment in the UK is also rich and diverse. Through projects like the London Array, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, and the Emirates Skyline, a fantastic new cable car across the River Thames in London, the UAE is contributing positively to UK society.”

The Minister indicated the leading role played

by British companies in the UAE, such as Fosters + Partners which is helping design Masdar City.

Dominic Jermey, British Ambassador to the UAE, said that the visit was “a great opportunity to reflect the developments of bilateral relations between the UK and UAE since Queen Elizabeth II visited the UAE in 2010.”

The UAE is the UK’s largest civil export market in the MENA. It is also the UK’s 13th largest export market at around Dh29 billion and is designated by UKTI as a high growth market.

Saudi non-oil business growth accelerates Already robust growth in non-oil, private sector business activity in Saudi Arabia accelerated in March for the second successive month, a survey has shown.

The seasonally adjusted SABB HSBC Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 58.9 points in March from 58.5 points in February, well above the 50point mark separating expansion from contraction.

Key sectors for the UK in the UAE are infrastructure; energy, security, education and training, financial and professional services, and creative and media.

The UAE President was accompanied by a high ranking delegation including: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, Chief of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of the Emirates Group.

Among the agreements concluded during the visit, the two governments signed a “National Qualification Frameworks” to facilitate student exchanges and to recognise their respective educational qualifications.

Sources: Emirates News Agency; The National, 01/05/2013

UK’s Waitrose plans expansion in UAE British supermarket Waitrose plans to expand its operations in the promising UAE market by opening more branches in the emirate this year, a top official said.

The food shop of the John Lewis Partnership is to extend its presence in the country with the opening of another supermarket in Dubai, bringing the total number of shops in the UAE to five. It will be opening two more supermarkets in Abu Dhabi later this year.

Non-oil private sector companies reported an increase in new orders due to improving economic and political conditions, the survey said; orders grew at their sharpest rate in five months.

The anchor tenant at the new Al Thanya Shopping Centre, UK’s premier food shop will occupy 26,000 square feet. It will open under licence through the retailer’s unique partnership with Fine Fare Food Market LLC (FFFM).

Employment growth also accelerated further in March, with companies citing new business as the main reason.

Waitrose is continuing to grow its international presence with five branches in the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain. It opened its first shop outside the UK in Dubai five years back in 2008. Three years later, it made its foray into Bahrain where it now has six branches.

Reuters, 03/04/2013

Khaleej Times, 19/04/2013

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16

BAHRAIN

BAHRAIN IDEAL FOR SETTING UP JOINT PROJECTS WITH UK Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) chairman Dr Essam Fakhro has called on British businesses and investors to visit Bahrain.

Speaking at the Bahrain-United Kingdom Business Forum in London, Dr Fakhro said all the essential requirements for boosting Bahraini-UK relations were in place, especially in the economic and commercial fields.

Over 400 senior officials and businessmen from Bahrain and the UK attended the conference whose aim was to promote economic, trade and industrial relations, boost investments and increase the volume of trade exchanges.

The Bahrain-UK Business Forum: Historic Relations and Future Endeavours, was held at the Dorchester Hotel and organised by the Industry and Commerce Ministry, in collaboration with the Economic Development Board, Bahrain Embassy, the British Embassy in Bahrain and the UK Trade and Investment.

Bahrain’s Ambassador to the UK H E Alice Samaan addressed the opening session to welcome the guests and participants.

Bahrain Industry and Commerce Minister, Dr Hassan Abdulla Fakhro, delivered a keynote speech hailing the deep-rooted historic relations enjoyed by Bahrain and the UK over two hundred years.

He noted that Bahrain has achieved a number of ‘’firsts’’ in the region, namely the first industrial sector in education and training, in public services, in administration and legislation, in the discovery of oil, in economic diversification, in development of the aluminium industry, and it was the first country in the GCC to sign a Free Trade Agreement with the US; and also the first to put the foundation of a Vision of 2013 in practice.

Dr Fakhro stressed the support of HM King Hamad and British Prime Minister David Cameron to the further bolstering of bilateral relations and boosting economic cooperation.

The minister pointed out the investment opportunities in Bahrain, including the projects showcased at the forum, stressing the Kingdom’s attractive environment and strategic location at the crossroads between the East and the West.

Lord Marland of Odstock, British Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, also addressed the forum.

The forum focussed of Bahrain’s distinctive features which make it an attractive destination enhancing bilateral trade exchange, including its positive investment atmosphere, flexible and modern regulatory environment, laws and the diverse investment opportunities whose success is guaranteed, the BCCI official stated.

The kingdom boasts advanced financial, banking and insurance systems, which makes it a real international financial hub in the region, he said.

Dr Fakhro listed these sectors which include the industrial sector, exhibitions - through which the kingdom attracts mega world companies, medical and health services, higher education, training institutes, human resources development, the media, consulting services, financial services, transport, logistics, ICT, family tourism, car industry, aluminium, projects management, financial and management consultations and organisation of international exhibitions and conferences and tourism projects.

He also highlighted the economic environment, asserting that Bahrain has, for over a decade, achieved major reforms that paved the way for the creation of an environment to attract investment.

This was achieved thanks to the wise leadership of His Majesty King Hamad, HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.

The BCCI chairman described Britain as key trade partner for Bahrain.

“Bilateral non-oil trade exchanges represented 2.1% of Bahrain’s overall trade exchanges with the world in 2011,” he said.

Bahrain’s exports and re-exports to Britain topped $41.3 million in 2011.

British exports to Bahrain in the same period soared to $307m. Thus the balance of trade exchanges features a surplus of 11.9% in favour of Britain.

The volume of Bahrain’s exports to Britain grew by 51.8% in the period between 2007 and 2011.

The number of British economic, trade, industrial and service dealerships operating in Bahrain top 551.

“Bahrain also plays host to over 95 branches of British companies, retail banks, shipping, insurance and re-insurance, investment and aviation firms,” he added.

The forum included a panel discussion on “Opportunities for British Businesses in Bahrain”. State Minister for communications affairs Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, spoke about the opportunities available in Bahrain in telecommunication sector, Transport Minister and acting Chief Executive of the Economic Development Board Mr. Kamal Ahmed, spoke on the Bahrain Airport expansion, Dr Majed Al Noaimi, the Minister of Education, spoke on the opportunities available in education and vocational training.

Minister of Housing, Mr Basem Yaaccob Al Hamer, reviewed housing projects and the requirements for this area. Chief Executive Officer of Electricity and Water Authority Sheikh Nawaf Al-Khalifa gave a presentation on developments in the electricity and water sectors as well as opportunities available.

Mr Walid Al Saaei, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Works, delivered a presentation on construction, services and infrastructure.

Acting Undersecretary of Industry and Commerce Ministry Mr Osama Alorrayedh spoke of the development of SMEs and the opportunities available and Acting Chief executive of Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) gave a presentation on the opportunities available in Bahrain’s oil and gas industry.

A second panel discussion on “Bahrain as Gateway to the Region” included British Ambassador to Bahrain HE Iain Lindsay, Chairman of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry Dr Fakhro, Chairman of Noon Group Lord Gulam Noon, Chief Investment Office, Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company Mr Serge Lepine, Director of Islamic Financial Institutions Supervision at the Central Bank of Bahrain Mr Hussain Sharaf, CEO Standard Chartered Bahrain Mr Hassan Jarrar, General Director of Bahrain and Kuwait, Atkins Mr William Myles and the General Manager of Bahrain Fiber Glass Company (BFG International) Dr Samer Aljishi.

Sources: Gulf Daily News, 26/04/2013; Bahrain News Agency, 24/04/2013

BAHRAIN

BAHRAIN KEY INDICATORS From a report from the Bahrain Economic Development Board that was distributed at the forum.

The Bahrain Economic Quarterly report, published by the Economic Development Board (EDB) in February 2013, found that the annual pace of economic growth in the first three quarters of 2012 was 3.67%, led by a strong rebound in the non-oil sector of the economy, with overall growth for the year estimated at 3.9%.

The non-oil sector is estimated to have grown by more than 6% during 2012, supported by a significant increase in lending

by Bahraini retail banks as the economy rebounded from slower growth in 2011.

The economy experienced a consistent and broad-based rebound in economic activity in 2012. In spite of the unusually uncertain global backdrop, the projected pace of GDP growth for the year is likely to be significantly ahead of the 2011 figure.

Bahrain’s economy continued to grow in spite of very challenging global conditions, and it remained on track for another year of strong economic growth in 2012, which represented over 25 years of uninterrupted increases in real GDP. This is due to the sound fundamentals, and whilst certain sectors have inevitably been impacted by regional and global circumstances, other sectors and specific sub-sectors, such as manufacturing, ICT, asset management and insurance, continue to achieve sustainable expansion. Ongoing private sector investment, alongside committed government expenditure in key physical, social and economic infrastructure, means that the outlook remains positive.

The EDB estimated growth to have reached 3.9% in 2012, driven primarily by manufacturing and government spending. This growth has been driven by the non-oil sector and comes in spite of disruption to production from the Abu Sa’fa oil field, which meant that the oil sector acted as a drag on full year GDP for 2012. Production levels are expected to normalise in 2013, and this is expected to boost economic growth to more than 5% during 2013.

Bahrain World Trade Centre

last five years and has grown rapidly in the While a fall in private sector demand and last decade; the financial services sector Bahrain Factsheet oversupply of commercial properties had currently accounts for 17% of annual GDP4 March 2013 Bahrain Factsheet and employs over 14,600 people of which two The national accounts data for 2012 point to 2013 slowed construction following the global March financial Bahrain crisis,Factsheet growth has returned in the Bahrain Factsheet thirds are Bahrainis. a relatively consistent increase in production March 2013 March 2013 sector and government spending is projected virtually across the non-oil economy. The Between Alba’s production lines are capable of producing annual production metric2001-2010 Bahrain’s insurance to boost demand with fuel,anconstruction for of 870,000 fastest growing sectors have been hotels & ba’s production lines are capable of producing an annual production of 870,000 metric market posted continual annual growth, infrastructure, social housing andinother tonnes per year, making Alba the biggest single-site smelter the world6. New investments restaurants, followed by social & personal 6 with growth premiums increasing steadily at .ofNew investments nnesproduction per year, making Albacapable the biggest single-site inproduction the world Alba’s production linesansmelter are capable producing an annual production of 870,000 metric social spending projects as schools services, and manufacturing.

In all three ba’s lines are of producing annual 870,000 metric in the of Gulf’s aluminium industries are expected to such exceed $20 billion byand 2020. a compound annual growth rate of around 6 the Gulf’s aluminium industries areper expected to exceed $20 billion bysingle-site 2020.

6 budgeted $10 billion, ten year areas, thetonnes year-on-year growth during the . New investments year, making Alba the smelter in The the world . Newhospitals. investments nnes per year, making Alba the biggest single-site smelter in biggest the world 15%, to register BD 201.5 million in Bahrain GCC fund is likely to be dedicated to projects first three quarters of the year was in the in theare Gulf’s aluminium industries are expected the Gulf’s aluminium industries expected to exceed $20 billion by 2020.to exceed $20 billion by 2020.

Insurance Market in 2010 compared to BD 58.6 such as these, in addition to already planned double digits. million in 2001. This vigorous insurance sector spending.

7 Bahrain’s productivity by sector has doubled in size over the last five years.

7 hrain’s productivity by sector Bahrain has highly developed commercial 7 7 Another significant and growing sector is Bahrain’s productivity by sector hrain’s productivity by sector links with a number of world economies. aluminium production, which is Bahrain’s Many international companies have second major export after oil. Bahrain is established a presence in Bahrain due to home to Alba, one of the world’s largest its attractive environment and pioneering aluminium smelters, producing the highestcommercial advantages, including the grade material and creating significant 2006 Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between opportunities in downstream aluminium Bahrain and the USA, which was the first manufacturing. such agreement between the US and a Gulf state to be signed and ratified.

Financial services are a significant and growing sector of Bahrain’s economy.

Bahrain has a proud financial history and, with over four decades of experience, it is the longest established financial centre in the Gulf with over 400 established financial institutions registered.

The financial sector in Bahrain has accounted for one third of GDP growth in the

The strength of the aluminium industry in Bahrain was underlined in 2011 when Alba announced a second quarter jump in sales of $645 million, compared to $543 million in the same period the year before.

Alba’s production lines are capable of producing an annual production of 870,000 metric tonnes per year, making Alba the biggest single-site smelter in the world6. New investments in the Gulf’s aluminium industries are expected to exceed $20 billion by 2020.

17

18

EGYPT

DEVELOPING EGYPTIAN AGRICULTURE The agricultural sector in Egypt managed to sustain its pace of activity by reporting a real growth of 2.9% in FY2012 compared to a slightly lower one of 2.7% in FY2011, a trend also seen so far in FY2013 as real growth moved from 3.1% in the first three months of FY2012 to 3.0% in the same period of the current fiscal year.

The sector, which accounts for 14.8% of the country’s GDP, is almost totally driven by production in the private sector.

While the private sector accounts for the bulk of total agriculture output, the value of implemented investments within the sector declined by 24.8% in FY2012 following a rise of 1.3% a year earlier.

Such a performance is linked to a weaker appetite from the private and the public sector. In fact, those stemming from the former entity reported a decline of 24.2% in FY 2012 after another one of 7.9% in FY2011 and those from the latter also declined by 25.6% in FY 2012 against a rise of 13.8% in FY 2011, according to Central Bank data.

Regarding the production of wheat, although wheat cultivated areas make up the highest share of the country’s agricultural land, Egypt remains the top global importer of wheat, as local production satisfies less than half the country’s consumption needs.

It is worth noting in this context that wheat cultivated areas accounted for more than 3 million Feddans in 2012, exceeding those of the year before, after a government announcement of a plan to raise the purchasing price to 400 pounds per Ardeb.

In parallel, Egypt was facing additional risks to inflation due to unfavourable weather conditions in major wheat exporting countries and to the damage affecting the US wheat crop. This issue was of major concern to the Egyptian government which has intended to maintain supplies of bread subsidies in tandem with its general policy of increasing food subsidies in the fiscal year 2012-2013.

Despite the record domestic harvest registered in 2012, the total strategic stocks of local and imported wheat have decreased to 2.207 million tons as of March 2013, enough to cover only 89 days of consumption.

Indeed, economic downturn in the country has made it diffcult to secure payments for wheat imports, with the rate of purchases having toppled since beginning 2013.

is a project reclaiming 100,000 Feddans in order to create the country’s second largest poultry farm, as part of the Toshka or New Valley project in the upper Nile region.

Egypt used for the first time US export credits to pay for a wheat purchase. The programme, created to facilitate US farm exports, assures lenders that they will get paid even in the case of a borrower’s default.

Two other projects aim at creating a laboratory for artificial inoculation and a buffalo breeding industry, also in partnership with the UAE.

A plan to establish the biggest poultry project in Egypt on an area of over 140,000 Feddans has been approved. It should help boost poultry production in the country.

The project falls within the government’s general plan to reclaim a million acres of agricultural land under a national project to close the country’s food gap.

In addition, the UAE agreed to undergo massive agricultural projects in Egyptian land with a budget of $3 billion. Among those

In an effort to boost the agricultural sector, the Principal Bank for Agriculture and Development, the largest specialised credit institution in Egypt, decided to decrease interest rates on loans for farmers who grow crops. Small farmers, identified at 90% of the country’s total farmers, will be granted loans at less than 3% interest rates.

In addition, the bank has earmarked $1.03 billion in loans for farmers who grow staples at an interest of about 5% per annum.

Bank Audi Report, March 2013

EGYPT

CAIRO EXPANDS TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE Egypt is reaffirming its commitment to the planned expansion of its broadband infrastructure, in the hopes of spurring new development in technologybased industries. ICT has grown rapidly in Egypt over the past decade, both in terms of take-up by consumers and outsourcing and offshoring activity.

In March 2013, Atef Helmy, the minister of communications and information technology, announced that the first phase of Egypt’s broadband strategy, initially unveiled a year and a half ago, would be completed as expected within the coming two years.

The strategy, known as eMisr, focuses not only on infrastructure, with an emphasis on developing high-capacity connections at public venues such as schools and health care facilities, but also increased data storage and access for government agencies. eMisr was launched in November 2011 with a range of ambitious goals to be met by 2015 and 2021. Formal implementation began in July 2012 when various task forces set about planning exactly what needed to be done to meet those goals.

Around $2.4bn of public and private investment was envisaged in the first four years of the plan. The eMisr roll-out is expected to generate 11,000 jobs per year and support broad-based economic and social development.

Particularly as Egypt is struggling to regain economic momentum, these sorts of enabling investments can have a broad range of positive externalities. Research by the World Bank has suggested that a 10% increase in broadband penetration can yield an extra 1.38 percentage points of economic growth in emerging markets.

Meanwhile, a report by telecoms firm Ericsson and Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology, published in September 2012, suggested that doubling Egypt’s broadband speed would lead to a 0.3% rise in GDP worth almost $688.59m, while quadrupling internet speeds would add around $1.38bn.

It has not, of course, been all smooth sailing. As a result of the broader political

uncertainty, pending reforms in the telecoms sector, and the cost and technical challenges of upgrading infrastructure, some goals set for 2015 have been pushed back by at least one year. Initially eMisr estimated 75% of households having access to 2-Mbps broadband and about 98% of the population to have coverage by mobile 3G networks by 2015.

Ensuring physical connections has been one of the primary hurdles to increasing internet penetration. Helmy’s predecessor, Hany Mahmoud, said in October 2012 that infrastructure was the biggest challenge to broadband development.

In this regard, Telecom Egypt (TE), the legacy fixed-line operator, was in the process of converting its copper cables to fibre-optics.

Plans have also been in place to encourage greater fixed-line competition between TE and the three Egyptian mobile operators, which hitherto has been a monopoly by the 80% state-owned TE. As well as supporting broader GDP growth, expanding broadband capacity should help Egypt’s export-oriented ICT service sector, particularly the outsourcing and offshoring segments. In recent years, Egypt has become a favoured destination for international companies establishing business and knowledge-process outsourcing centres.

Consultancy AT Kearney ranked Egypt fourth in the world on its global services index in 2011.

New investments, however, have been sluggish since the revolution, but with greater political and economic certainty, Egypt’s competitive advantages should re-assert themselves. They include location, a sizable pool of well-educated and multilingual graduates, strengthening international cable connectivity, relatively low overheads, and government support.

In March, Helmy announced plans to establish two technology parks in Upper Egypt to support the development of ICT – and specifically outsourcing – in the region.

Karim El Fateh, the country manager at Intel Egypt, told OBG that he sees three challenges for the industry. “Firstly, increasing broadband connectivity, including looking at ways of reducing cost and making the service more affordable, through either monthly or data subscriptions,” he said.

“Secondly, increasing local content and applications, and creating the necessary infrastructure to foster innovation of local content, specifically in education, entertainment and services, as innovation can enhance competitiveness, diversify industries, and realise all the benefits of the rapidly expanding market. And lastly, developing financing mechanisms that will allow for commercialisation of our research, innovation and development through the use of private or public technology incubators and investment funds.”

Achieving these goals will require a degree of political certainty and private sector will to invest, both of which have been in short supply in Egypt recently. However, the government and the private sector are both clear about the need to strengthen ICT infrastructure to support domestic demand and economic growth, and to help the export-oriented sector regain its competitive position.

OBG, 24/04/2013

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GULF MARKETS

SAUDI ARABIA, QATAR, UAE POISED FOR GROWTH Asset managers of all stripes were generally positive about 2013, believing that GCC markets, in particular, which have recently lagged behind their global peers, look attractive at current levels of valuation, the Qatar Financial Centre Authority’s MENA Asset Management Barometer launched in Doha showed.

Trading at a 6% discount to other emerging markets, GCC equities were predicted to enjoy a period of growth in 2013 and, according to the barometer, are set to return between 10 and 15% with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE poised to out-pace the rest of the region.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE remain particularly attractive from a valuations perspective, with banking and petrochemicals across all three – both underleveraged and offering high dividends – seen as the stocks likely to do well in 2013.

The GCC’s sound economic fundamentals will help it to consolidate the safe-haven status it acquired through uncertainties elsewhere in the region.

According to Barometer respondents it has done particularly well from wider MENA investment, with 85% of regional managers, citing inflows from MENA countries outside the GCC. The flow of wider-MENA capital into the GCC, which has mostly found a home in money market funds, is expected by Barometer respondents to continue in the short to medium term, with many expecting these ‘safe’ inflows to take on a more ‘riskon’ guise as investors “latch on to a new economic cycle” and show an appetite for “moving up the yield curve” and “taking on more risk”.

Managers responded positively to this trend of de-risking - seeing it as an opportunity to improve liquidity and inject fresh money into the market - and are planning to launch a batch of new equity, fixed income, Shariahcompliant and property strategies in 2013 to meet demand.

Even relatively large regional players, like NCB Capital (NCB) and the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), still derive the bulk of investment from a local base. Similarly, a number of sovereign wealth funds (SWFs)

have slowed GCC-wide investment, in favour of more domestic infrastructure projects.

Many independent and bank-owned fund managers who took part in the Barometer saw cross-border distribution in the GCC as key to their future development, albeit a trend that will develop slowly.

Barometer respondents said that a network of independent fund managers – many based in the UAE and Qatar – are best placed for the GCC and wider-MENA’s cross-border distribution opportunities.

Independent managers – a hedge fund or a small long only fund – with nimble marketing teams are more capable of fostering crossregional appeal. However, many still struggle to diversify because of regulatory impasse and because, realistically, they are only competing for 2-3% of local money that will leave its home GCC state.

Despite the challenges, the Barometer found that a number of GCC managers were eager to capitalise on cross-border distribution potential by setting up secondary and tertiary GCC offices in 2013.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar remained the most popular venues, particularly with those offering Shariah-compliant vehicles.

The long-term future of intra-GCC flows are difficult to define, according to Barometer respondents, although most saw asset flows between GCC states as a growing trend.

However, others pointed out that despite being designed as a free trade bloc, crossborder investment on both the retail side and institutional side is still comparatively low.

The emerging advisory network was expected to become the norm in a number of GCC hubs and would, according to Barometer respondents, follow a developmental life-cycle that would see them move from the expat market to more local advisory work – particularly if a regional private pensions industry takes off.

The report cited key emerging opportunities in the GCC: l Signs of resurgent stock market

performance. Managers expected a level of growth capable of significantly boosting the GCC’s combined market cap of $750 billion and broadening local equity markets; l A stable and competitive banking system – well capitalized, highly liquid and with supportive shareholders; l Safe-haven status of the GCC and its likely long-term stability, particularly compared to the rest of MENA; l A growing local familiarity with investment products and better distribution of these products. l Revived property markets, particularly in the UAE; l Islamic products driving more local, regional and global investment flows; l Large state surpluses and increased state spending; l A growth in oil production and the potential for higher oil prices; l Gradually improving regulation and the portability of using the GCC as an asset management hub; l The return to a ‘risk-on’ environment with more activity from both local investors and global allocators, who are showing an increased interest in frontier markets, particularly equities; l The development of a fully diversified institutional investor base, including a local private pension funds industry and existing state pensions that are becoming willing to engage with local markets.

Institutional investors, according to Barometer respondents, were also encouraged to participate in GCC markets by the ongoing growth of financial centre venues which continue to nurture the creation of a domestic fund management market and have also provided a key location for custodial and fund administration services.

For a copy of the QFC’s MENA Asset Management Barometer see: http://www.qfc.com.qa/en-us/Mediacenter/Publications/Reports.aspx

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‫‪ARABIC SECTION‬‬

‫ﻭﻫﻨﺎﻙ ﺣﺎﺟﺔ ﻣﺎﺳﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﺨﺒﺮﺓ ﻓﻲ ﺻﻴﺎﻧﺔ ﺍﻟﻄﺮﻕ ﻭﺗﺨﻄﻴﻂ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﺮﻭﺭ ﻭﺻﻴﺎﻧﺔ ﺍﻟﻄﺮﻕ‪ .‬ﻭﺫﻛﺮ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﺳﺎﻭﺛﺠﻴﺖ ﺃﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻛﺎﻧﺖ ﻗﺪ ﺑﺪﺃﺕ‬ ‫ﺑﺨﻄﻂ ﻹﻧﺸﺎء ﺷﺒﻜﺔ ﺍﻟﺴﻜﻚ ﺍﻟﺤﺪﻳﺪﻳﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻋﺎﻡ ‪ 2008‬ﻋﻨﺪﻣﺎ ﻣﻨﺤﺖ ﻋﻘﺪﺍ‬ ‫ﻟﻜﻮﻧﺴﻮﺭﺗﻴﻮﻡ ﺍﻟﺮﻭﺳﻴﺔ ‪ /‬ﺍﻟﺼﻴﻨﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﻟﻢ ﻳﻜﻦ ﻣﻤﻜﻨﺎ ً ﺃﻥ ﻳﻌﺮﺽ ﻫﺬﺍ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﺸﺮﻭﻉ ﺃﻭ ﻏﻴﺮﻩ ﻟﻠﻤﻨﺎﻗﺼﺔ ﺁﻧﺬﺍﻙ‪ .‬ﻭﺫﻛﺮ ﺑﺄﻥ ‪ 16‬ﻣﻄﺎﺭﺍً ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺒﻼﺩ‪ ،‬ﻗﺪ‬ ‫ﺗﻢ ﺗﺼﻤﻴﻤﻬﺎ ﻻﺳﺘﻘﺒﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺮﺣﻼﺕ ﺍﻟﺪﻭﻟﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺃﻧﻪ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﻮﻗﻊ ﺃﻥ ﺗﺴﺘﻘﺒﻞ‬ ‫ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺣﺎﻟﻴﺎ ً ‪ 3‬ﻣﻼﻳﻴﻦ ﻣﺴﺎﻓﺮ ﺳﻨﻮﻳﺎ ً ﻭﺃﻥ ﻳﺮﺗﻔﻊ ﻋﺪﺩ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺎﻓﺮﻳﻦ ﻣﻦ ﻭﺇﻟﻰ‬ ‫ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﻘﺒﻞ ﺍﻟﻘﺮﻳﺐ ﺇﻟﻰ ‪ 20‬ﻣﻠﻴﻮﻥ ﻣﺴﺎﻓﺮ ﺳﻨﻮﻳﺎً‪ .‬ﺃﻣﺎ ﺑﺸﺄﻥ ﺷﺤﻦ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺤﻤﻮﻻﺕ ﺍﻟﺠﻮﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻄﺮﻭﺩ‪ ،‬ﻓﻬﻲ ﺗﺘﻢ ﺍﻵﻥ ﻋﻦ ﻁﺮﻳﻖ ﺍﺭﺳﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺒﻀﺎﺋﻊ ﺇﻟﻰ‬ ‫ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻁﺮﻭﺩ ﺻﻐﻴﺮﺓ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻮﻗﺖ ﺍﻟﺤﺎﺿﺮ‪ ،‬ﻭﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﺘﻮﺳﻊ ﻓﻲ ﻁﺎﻗﺔ ﺍﻟﺸﺤﻦ‬ ‫ﻳﻌﺘﺒﺮ ﺃﻭﻟﻮﻳﺔ ﻣﻦ ﺃﻭﻟﻮﻳﺎﺕ ﺗﻄﻮﻳﺮ ﻗﻄﺎﻉ ﺍﻟﻨﻘﻞ‪ .‬ﻭﺑﺨﺼﻮﺹ ﺍﻟﻤﻮﺍﻧﺊ‪ ،‬ﻓﺈﻥ‬ ‫ﻣﻴﻨﺎء ﻣﺼﺮﺍﺗﺔ ﻫﻮ ﺍﻟﻮﺣﻴﺪ ﺍﻟﻤﻔﺘﻮﺡ ﻟﻤﺪﺓ ‪ 24‬ﺳﺎﻋﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻮﻗﺖ ﺍﻟﺮﺍﻫﻦ‪.‬‬

‫ﻭﺃﺑﺪﻯ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﺟﻮﻥ ﺑﺮﻭﻙ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﺸﺎﺭ ﺍﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮﻧﻲ ﻓﻲ ﺷﺮﻛﺔ ﻛﻼﻳﺪ ﺁﻧﺪ ﻛﻮ‬ ‫)‪ (Clyde & Co‬ﻭﺟﻬﺔ ﺍﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺍﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮﻧﻴﺔ ﻓﻴﻤﺎ ﻳﺘﻌﻠﻖ ﺑﻤﻤﺎﺭﺳﺔ ﺍﻷﻋﻤﺎﻝ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭ ﻓﻲ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﻭﺳﻠﻂ ﺍﻟﻀﻮء ﻋﻠﻰ ﺑﻌﺾ ﺍﻟﺘﻐﻴﻴﺮﺍﺕ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺮﺋﻴﺴﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻘﻮﺍﻧﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﻳﺔ ﻣﻨﺬ ﺍﻟﺘﻐﻴﻴﺮ ﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﺣﺼﻞ ﻓﻲ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﺑﻤﺎ ﻓﻲ‬ ‫ﺫﻟﻚ ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﻠﻜﻴﺔ ﺍﻷﺟﻨﺒﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪﺓ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺣﺪﺩﺕ ﻧﺴﺒﺔ ﺃﻗﺼﺎﻫﺎ ‪ %49‬ﻣﻦ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﻠﻜﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻤﺴﺘﺜﻤﺮ ﺍﻷﺟﻨﺒﻲ‪ .‬ﻭﺫﻛﺮ ﺑﺄﻥ ﻫﻨﺎﻙ ﺑﻌﺾ ﺍﻷﺻﻨﺎﻑ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻷﻋﻤﺎﻝ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺧﺼﺼﺖ ﻟﻠﻤﻮﺍﻁﻨﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﻠﻠﻴﺒﻴﻴﻦ‪ ،‬ﻭﻣﻨﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﻌﻤﻞ ﺑﺼﻔﺔ ﻭﻛﻴﻞ‬ ‫ﺗﺠﺎﺭﻱ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺒﻼﺩ‪ .‬ﻭﻗﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﺑﺮﻭﻙ ﺃﻧﻪ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻤﻌﺮﻭﻑ ﺗﺎﺭﻳﺨﻴﺎ ً ﻋﻦ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‬ ‫ﺑﻌﺪﻡ ﻧﺸﺮﻫﺎ ﻟﻠﺘﺸﺮﻳﻌﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮﻧﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺼﺎﺩﺭﺓ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺒﻼﺩ‪ ،‬ﻭﻟﻢ ﺗﻜﻦ ﻫﻨﺎﻙ‬ ‫ﻧﺼﻮﺹ ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻧﻴﺔ ﻣﻨﺸﻮﺭﺓ ﺃﻭ ﻣﺘﺮﺟﻤﺔ‪ .‬ﻭﺫﻛﺮ ﺑﺄﻥ ﻫﻨﺎﻙ ﻻ ﻳﺰﺍﻝ ﻋﺪﻡ‬ ‫ﻭﺿﻮﺡ ﻓﻲ ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻥ ﻣﻠﻜﻴﺔ ﺍﻷﺭﺽ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﺘﺴﺠﻴﻞ ﺍﻟﻌﻘﺎﺭﻱ ﻟﻸﺭﺍﺿﻲ ﻭﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﻻ‬ ‫ﻳﺰﺍﻝ ﻣﻌﻄﻼً ﻟﺤﺪ ﺍﻵﻥ‪ .‬ﻭﺍﺿﺎﻑ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﺑﺮﻭﻙ‪ ،‬ﺑﺄﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﺜﻤﺮﻳﻦ ﺍﻷﺟﺎﻧﺐ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻠﺬﻳﻦ ﻳﺮﻏﺒﻮﻥ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺴﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﺑﺤﺎﺟﺔ ﺃﻥ ﻳﻜﻮﻧﻮﺍ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻋﻠﻢ "ﺑﺄﻥ ﻓﻲ‬ ‫ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻟﻢ ﻳﻜﻦ ﺳﻬﻮﻟﺔ ﺑﻤﻜﺘﻦ ﺍﻟﻮﺻﻮﻝ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻣﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎﺕ ﻋﻦ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﻳﺔ‪ ،‬ﺃﻭ ﺃﻥ ﻣﺜﻞ ﻫﺬﻩ ﺍﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎﺕ ﻏﻴﺮ ﻣﻮﺟﻮﺩﺓ‪ ،‬ﻋﻠﻰ ﺧﻼﻑ ﻣﺎ ﻫﻮ‬ ‫ﻣﺘﻌﺎﺭﻑ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻓﻲ ﺑﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺎ"‪.‬‬

‫ﻭﺫﻛﺮﺕ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪﺓ ﺳﺎﺭﺓ ﻛﺎﻳﻦ ﺑﺄﻥ ﻫﻨﺎﻙ ﻣﻮﺍﻗﻊ ﺿﻌﻒ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻨﻈﺎﻡ ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺮﻓﻲ‬ ‫ﻓﻲ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﻭﻫﺬﻩ ﻋﻘﺒﺎﺕ ﻻﺗﺰﺍﻝ ﺗﻤﺜﻞ ﻋﻘﺒﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻭﺟﻪ ﺗﻄﻮﺭ ﻋﻤﻠﻴﺎﺗﻬﺎ ﻓﻲ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺒﻼﺩ‪ .‬ﻭﺃﺿﺎﻓﺖ ﺑﺄﻥ ﻫﺬﺍ ﺍﻟﻮﺿﻊ ﻳﺘﺤﺴﻦ ﺑﺒﻂء‪ .‬ﻭﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺎﺋﻞ ﺍﻷﺧﺮﻯ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﺠﺐ ﺗﻄﻮﻳﺮﻫﺎ ﻣﺎ ﻳﺘﻌﻠﻖ ﺑﻜﻔﺎءﺓ ﺧﺪﻣﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺄﺷﻴﺮﺓ ﻭﺍﻟﺴﻔﺮ‪ ،‬ﻭﻛﺬﻟﻚ‬ ‫ﺧﺪﻣﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺸﻮﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﺴﺪﻳﻬﺎ ﻣﻜﺘﺐ ﻭﺯﺍﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﺨﺎﺭﺟﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﻋﻠﻰ ﺣﺪ ﺳﻮﺍء‪ .‬ﻭﻗﺎﻟﺖ ﺑﺎ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﺨﻄﻮﻁ ﺍﻟﺠﻮﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﺗﺴﻌﻰ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺯﻳﺎﺩﺓ‬ ‫ﺧﺪﻣﺎﺗﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺴﺘﻮﻯ ﺛﻼﺙ ﺭﺣﻼﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻷﺳﺒﻮﻉ ﺍﻟﺤﺎﻟﻲ ﻣﻦ ﻣﻄﺎﺭ ﻫﻴﺜﺮﻭ‬ ‫ﺇﻟﻰ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﻭﺇﻥ ﻫﺬﺍ ﻣﺮﺗﺒﻂ ﺍﺭﺗﺒﺎﻁﺎ ً ﻭﺛﻴﻘﺎ ً ﺑﺘﺤﺴﻦ ﺍﻷﻭﺿﺎﻉ ﺍﻷﻣﻨﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ‬ ‫ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﻣﺸﻴﺮﺓ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻘﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻷﻓﺮﻳﻘﻴﺔ ﻛﺎﻧﺖ ﻭﻻﺯﺍﻟﺖ ﻣﺠﺎﻻً ﺭﺋﻴﺴﻴﺎ ً ﻭﻫﺎﻣﺎ ً‬ ‫ﻓﻲ ﺇﺳﺘﺮﺍﺗﻴﺠﻴﺔ ﺗﻄﻮﻳﺮ ﺍﻷﻋﻤﺎﻝ ﻟﻠﺸﺮﻛﺔ‪.‬‬

‫ﺃﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺣﺮﻳﺼﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻘﻴﺎﻡ ﺑﺄﻋﻤﺎﻝ ﺗﺠﺎﺭﻳﺔ ﻣﻊ ﺍﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪﺓ؛ ﺑﺄﻥ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺴﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺮﻏﻢ ﻣﻦ ﻛﻮﻧﻬﺎ ﺳﻮﻗﺎ ً ﻣﻌﻘﺪﺓ ﺇﻻ ﺃﻧﻬﺎ ﺟﺬﺍﺑﺔ‬ ‫ﻟﻠﻤﺴﺘﺜﻤﺮﻳﻦ ﻻﺳﻴﻤﺎ ﺑﻌﺪ ﺇﻗﺮﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﻤﻴﺰﺍﻧﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﺏ‪ 33 ،‬ﻣﻠﻴﺎﺭ ﺩﻭﻻﺭ ﻓﻲ‬ ‫ﻋﺎﻡ ‪ ،2013‬ﻭﺇﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻗﺪ ﺑﺪﺃﺕ ﺑﺨﻄﺔ ﺍﻹﻧﻔﺎﻕ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻤﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺍﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪﺓ ﻋﺒﺮ‬ ‫ﻣﺠﻤﻮﻋﺔ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻘﻄﺎﻋﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﻌﺮﺽ ﻓﺮﺹ ﺟﺪﻳﺪﺓ ﻟﻸﻋﻤﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﻳﺔ‪،‬‬ ‫ﻭﺃﻥ ﻓﻲ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻁﻠﺐ ﻭﺭﻏﺒﺔ ﻛﺒﻴﺮﺗﻴﻦ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺟﺬﺏ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭﺍﺕ ﻻﺳﻴﻤﺎ ﺑﻌﺪ‬ ‫ﺳﻨﻮﺍﺕ ﻣﻦ ﻧﻘﺺ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭﺍﺕ‪ ،‬ﻭﺇﻥ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﺑﺤﺎﺟﺔ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺃﻥ‬ ‫ﺗﻜﻮﻥ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻋﻠﻢ ﺑﺤﺎﻟﺔ ﺍﻟﺴﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﺍﻹﻳﺠﺎﺑﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺃﻥ ﺗﺘﺎﻫﺐ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺮﺍﻏﺒﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﺪﺧﻮﻝ ﻟﻠﺴﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﺑﺤﺎﻟﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺎﻓﺴﺔ ﺍﻟﺸﺪﻳﺪﺓ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ‬ ‫ﺟﻠﺒﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﺘﻐﻴﻴﺮ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺎﺳﻲ ﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﺣﺪﺙ ﺑﻌﺪ ﺍﻟﺜﻮﺭﺓ ﻭﺩﺧﻮﻝ ﺷﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﻣﻦ‬ ‫ﺟﻨﺴﻴﺎﺕ ﻋﺪﺓ ﻟﻠﺒﻼﺩ‪.‬‬

‫ﻭﻗﺎﻝ ﺳﺎﻭﺛﺠﻴﺖ ﺃﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻛﺎﻧﺖ ﻗﺪ ﺍﺳﺘﺜﻤﺮﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺎﺿﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺒﻨﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺤﺘﻴﺔ ﺇﻻ ﺃﻥ ﻫﺬﻩ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭﺍﺕ ﻛﺎﻧﺖ ﺗﻔﺘﻘﺮ ﻟﻸﺳﺲ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻤﻮﻳﺔ ﻭﻟﻢ‬ ‫ﺗﺴﺘﻨﺪ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺧﻄﻂ ﻟﻠﺘﻨﻤﻴﺔ‪ .‬ﻭﻗﺎﻝ ﺍﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺗﺤﺘﺎﺝ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺗﻌﺰﻳﺰ ﺛﻘﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﺜﻤﺮﻳﻦ‬ ‫ﻓﻲ ﺳﻮﻗﻬﺎ ﻭﺫﻟﻚ ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼﻝ ﺗﺤﺴﻴﻦ ﻣﺴﺘﻮﻳﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺸﻔﺎﻓﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻋﻤﻠﻴﺔ ﺻﻨﺎﻋﺔ ﻭﻧﺼﺢ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﺑﺮﻭﻙ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺮﺍﻏﺒﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺴﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﺇﻟﻰ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻘﺮﺍﺭ‪ .‬ﻭﺃﺿﺎﻑ ﺃﻥ ﻋﻤﻠﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻔﺎﻫﻢ ﻣﻊ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺆﻭﻟﻴﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﻴﻦ ﺃﺻﺒﺤﺖ ﺩﺭﺍﺳﺔ ﺍﻟﺴﻮﻕ ﻭﺣﺎﺟﺘﻪ ﺃﻭﻻً‪ ،‬ﻭﻛﺬﻟﻚ ﺍﻷﺧﺬ ﺑﺎﻟﺤﺴﺒﺎﻥ ﺑﺄﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﻠﻜﻴﺔ ﺃﻳﺔ‬ ‫ﻣﺸﺮﻭﻉ ﻣﺸﺘﺮﻛﺔ ﻣﻊ ﺍﻟﻄﺮﻑ ﺍﻟﻤﺤﻠﻲ ﻓﻲ ﺣﻴﻦ ﺃﻥ ﻣﻠﻜﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻄﺮﻑ ﺍﻷﺟﻨﺒﻲ‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻬﻞ ﺗﺪﺭﻳﺠﻴﺎً‪.‬‬ ‫ﺳﻮﻑ ﺗﺘﺠﺎﻭﺯ ﻧﺴﺒﺔ ‪ .%49‬ﻭﻗﺎﻝ ﺃﻧﻪ ﻣﻦ ﻫﺬﺍ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﻄﻠﻖ ﻳﺘﻮﺟﺐ ﻋﻠﻰ‬ ‫ﻭﻓﻲ ﻛﻠﻤﺘﻬﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮ ﻗﺎﻟﺖ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪﺓ ﺳﺎﺭﺓ ﻛﺎﻳﻦ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﻤﺪﻳﺮ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﻱ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﺑﺤﺚ ﻭﺗﻘﺼﻲ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻙ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺎﺳﺐ‪ .‬ﻛﻤﺎ ﺃﻧﻪ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺨﻄﻮﻁ ﺍﻟﺠﻮﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ )‪ (BA‬ﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘﺔ ﺷﻤﺎﻝ ﺃﻓﺮﻳﻘﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﺑﺄﻥ ﺍﻷﺳﺎﺱ ﺑﺎﻹﻣﻜﺎﻥ ﺇﻧﺸﺎء ﺷﺮﻛﺔ ﻣﺴﺎﻫﻤﺔ ﻓﻘﻂ ﺑﺸﺮﻁ ﺇﻳﺪﺍﻉ ﻣﺒﻠﻎ ﻣﻠﻴﻮﻥ ﺩﻳﻨﺎﺭ ﻟﻴﺒﻲ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘﻲ ﻭﺭﺍء ﻗﺮﺍﺭ ﺷﺮﻛﺔ ﺍﻟﻄﻴﺮﺍﻥ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻻﺳﺘﺌﻨﺎﻑ ﺍﻟﺨﺪﻣﺎﺕ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻓﻲ ﺃﺣﺪ ﺍﻟﺒﻨﻮﻙ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ‪ .‬ﻭﺑﺸﺄﻥ ﻣﻨﺎﺥ ﻭﺑﻴﺌﺔ ﺍﻷﻋﻤﺎﻝ‪ ،‬ﻗﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﺑﺮﻭﻙ ﺃﻥ‬ ‫ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﺃﺗﺨﺬ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻷﻭﻝ ﻣﻦ ﺷﻬﺮ ﺁﻳﺎﺭ )ﻣﺎﻳﻮ( ‪ ، 2012‬ﻭﺃﻥ ﻫﻨﺎﻙ ﺍﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮﻥ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻲ ﻳﻨﺺ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺃﻥ ﺿﺮﻭﺭﺓ ﺣﻔﺎﻅ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺣﺴﺎﺑﺎﺕ‬ ‫ﺁﻓﺎﻕ ﻟﺘﻮﺳﻴﻊ ﻋﺪﺩ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﺮﺣﻼﺕ ﺍﻟﺠﻮﻳﺔ ﻣﻊ ﻋﻮﺩﺓ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﻘﺮﺍﺭ ﻓﻲ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻳﻮﻣﻴﺔ ﻟﻬﺎ ﻣﻜﺘﻮﺑﺔ ﺑﺨﻂ ﺍﻟﻴﺪ ﻭﺑﺎﻟﻠﻐﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ‪.‬‬ ‫ﺗﺪﺭﻳﺠﻴﺎ ً‪ .‬ﻭﺫﻛﺮﺕ ﺳﺎﺭﺓ ﻛﺎﻳﻦ ﺑﺄﻥ ﺍﻟﺨﻄﻮﻁ ﺍﻟﺠﻮﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻣﻠﺘﺰﻣﺔ‬ ‫ﺑﺈﻋﺎﺩﺓ ﺑﻨﺎء ﻋﻼﻗﺎﺗﻬﺎ ﻣﻊ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻭﺷﻬﺪﺕ ﺍﺗﺠﺎﻫﺎ ﺇﻳﺠﺎﺑﻴﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻄﻠﺐ ﻋﻠﻰ‬ ‫ﻭﺫﻛﺮ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﺍﻧﺠﻮﺱ ﺟﺎﻛﺴﻮﻥ‪ ،‬ﺍﻷﺧﺼﺎﺋﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻫﻴﺌﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺴﻔﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﺒﻼﺩ ﻭﺧﺎﺻﺔ ﺭﺟﺎﻝ ﺍﻷﻋﻤﺎﻝ ﻭﺍﻟﺮﺣﻼﺕ ﺍﻟﺨﺎﺻﺔ ﺑﻬﻢ‪.‬‬ ‫ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪﺓ‪ ،‬ﺑﺄﻥ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﻴﻦ ﻳﻌﺘﺒﺮﻭﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪﺓ ﺷﺮﻳﻚ ﻳﺘﻤﺘﻊ‬ ‫ﺑﺎﻟﺠﻮﺩﺓ ﻭﺍﻟﺴﻤﻌﺔ ﺍﻹﻳﺠﺎﺑﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻟﻤﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺇﻥ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻣﺮﻏﻮﺑﺔ‬ ‫ﻭﺃﺷﺎﺭﺕ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪﺓ ﺳﺎﺭﺓ ﻛﺎﻳﻦ ﺑﺄﻥ ﺍﻟﺨﻄﻮﻁ ﺍﻟﺠﻮﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ )‪ (BA‬ﻗﺪ ﻓﻲ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‪.‬‬ ‫ﺗﻌﻬﺪﺕ ﺃﻳﻀﺎ ً ﺑﺘﻮﻅﻴﻒ ﺍﻟﻤﺰﻳﺪ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻤﻮﻅﻔﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﻴﻦ ﻓﻲ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻭﺭﻓﺪﻫﻢ‬ ‫ﺑﺎﻟﺘﺪﺭﻳﺐ ﺍﻟﻼﺯﻡ ﻟﻀﻤﺎﻥ ﺇﻳﺼﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺨﺪﻣﺔ ﺍﻟﺠﻴﺪﺓ ﻭﺑﺸﻜﻞ ﻣﺘﻮﺍﺻﻞ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﻌﻤﻞ ﻓﻲ ﺧﺘﺎﻡ ﻣﺆﺗﻤﺮ ﻳﻮﻡ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﻓﻲ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﻟﺨﺺ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﺇﺩﻭﺍﺭﺩ ﺃﻭﻛﺪﻥ ﻋﻠﻰ‬ ‫ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﺳﺘﻴﻔﺎء ﺍﻟﻤﻌﺎﻳﻴﺮ ﺍﻟﺪﻭﻟﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺼﺎﺭﻣﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺘﺒﻌﺔ ﺑﻨﻈﺎﻡ ﺍﻟﺨﻄﺰﻁ ﺍﻟﺠﻮﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﺎﺋﻞ ﺍﻟﺮﺋﻴﺴﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﻨﺎﻭﻟﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﻢ ﺗﺴﻠﻴﻂ ﺍﻟﻀﻮء ﻋﻠﻴﻬﺎ‬ ‫ﻭﻣﺎﺩ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﺎﺋﻞ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺍﺳﺘﺨﻠﺼﻬﺎ ﻫﺬﺍ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮ ﻫﻲ‪:‬‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ‪.‬‬

‫ﻭﺧﻼﻝ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺎﻗﺸﺔ‪ ،‬ﺃﻭﺿﺢ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﺇﺩﻭﺍﺭﺩ ﺃﻭﻛﺪﻥ ﺑﺄﻥ ﺳﻴﺎﺳﺔ ﻭﺯﺍﺭﺓ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺨﺎﺭﺟﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﻌﻠﻘﺔ "ﺑﺘﺠﻨﺐ ﺍﻟﺴﻔﺮ ﺃﻭ ﺍﻟﺘﻮﺍﺟﺪ ﺇﻻ ﻓﻲ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻀﺮﻭﺭﺓ" ﻻ ﻳﻌﻨﻲ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻨﺎﺱ ﻳﻜﻮﻧﺰﺍ ﻣﻘﻴﺪﻳﻦ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺴﻔﺮ ﻭﺯﻳﺎﺭﺓ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‪.‬‬ ‫ﻭﺃﺿﺎﻑ "ﻓﻲ ﺣﻴﻦ ﺃﻥ ﺃﺟﺰﺍء ﻣﻌﻴﻨﺔ ﻣﻦ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻳﺠﺐ ﺗﺠﻨﺒﻬﺎ‪ ،‬ﺃﻥ ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ‬ ‫ﻁﺮﺍﺑﻠﺲ ﺗﺘﻤﺘﻊ ﺑﺎﻷﻣﺎﻥ ﺍﻟﺠﻴﺪ ﻣﻊ ﺍﻷﺧﺬ ﺑﺎﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﺍﺗﺨﺎﺫ ﺍﻻﺣﺘﻴﺎﻁﺎﺕ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻼﺯﻣﺔ"‪.‬‬

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‫ ‪ARABIC SECTION‬‬

‫ﺍﻟﺑﺎﺭﻭﻧﺔ ﺳﻳﻣﻭﻧﺯ ﺭﺋﻳﺱ ﻏﺭﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﺟﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺔ‬

‫ﺍﻟﺩﻛﺗﻭﺭﺓ ﺃﻓﻧﺎﻥ ﺍﻟ ُ‬ ‫ﺷﻌﻳﺑﻲ‪ ،‬ﺍﻷﻣﻳﻥ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻡ ﻭﺍﻟﺭﺋﻳﺱ ﺍﻟﺗﻧﻔﻳﺫﻱ ﻟﻐﺭﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﺟﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺔ‬

‫ﻭﻓﻲ ﻛﻠﻤﺔ ﺳﻌﺎﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﻣﺤﻤﻮﺩ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺍﻟﻨﺎﻛﻮﻉ‪ ،‬ﺳﻔﻴﺮ ﻓﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﺩﺓ‬ ‫ﻭﻣﻔﻮﺽ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻟﺪﻯ ﺍﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪﺓ ﻭﺷﻤﺎﻝ ﺃﻳﺮﻟﻨﺪﺍ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺑﺪﺃﻫﺎ ﺑﺸﻜﺮ‬

‫ﺗﺮﺃﺱ ﺍﻟﺠﻠﺴﺔ ﺍﻷﻭﻟﻰ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﺇﺩﻭﺍﺭﺩ ﺃﻭﻛﺪﻥ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﻤﺪﻳﺮ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻔﻴﺬﻱ ﻟﻘﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ‬ ‫ﺍﻹﺳﺘﺮﺍﺗﻴﺠﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻫﻴﺌﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪﺓ ﻭﺍﻟﺴﻔﻴﺮ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺴﺎﺑﻖ‪ ،‬ﻭﻗﺎﻝ ﺑﺄﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻗﺪ ﺃﻗﺮﺕ ﻣﻴﺰﺍﻧﻴﺘﻬﺎ‪ ،‬ﻭﺃﻥ ﺍﻹﻧﻔﺎﻕ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺇﻋﺎﺩﺓ ﺍﻹﻋﻤﺎﺭ‬ ‫ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻴﺰﺍﻧﻴﺔ ﻛﺒﻴﺮﺍً‪ ،‬ﻣﺎ ﻣﻦ ﺷﺄﻧﻪ ﺃﻥ ﻳﺸﺠﻊ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻟﺪﺭﺍﺳﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻔﺮﺹ ﺍﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪﺓ ﺍﻟﻨﺎﺷﺌﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺴﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ‪.‬‬

‫ﺍﻟﻤﻨﻈﻤﻴﻦ ﻭﺍﻟﻘﺎﺋﻤﻴﻦ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺃﻋﻤﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮ‪ ،‬ﻋﻠﻰ ﺇﺗﺎﺣﺔ ﺍﻟﻔﺮﺻﺔ ﻟﻤﻨﺎﻗﺸﺔ‬ ‫ﺇﻋﺎﺩﺓ ﺇﻋﻤﺎﺭ ﺑﻼﺩﻩ‪ .‬ﻭﺃﻛﺪ ﺃﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻮﻗﺖ ﺍﻟﺤﺎﻟﻲ ﻻ ﺗﺰﺍﻝ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺮﺣﻠﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻧﺘﻘﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻭﻟﻜﻨﻬﺎ ﺗﺤﺮﺯ ﺗﻘﺪﻣﺎ ً ﻣﻄﺮﺩﺍً‪ ،‬ﻭﺧﻔﻒ ﺳﻌﺎﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﺴﻔﻴﺮ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻨﺎﻛﻮﻉ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺨﺎﻭﻑ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﺜﻤﺮﻳﻦ ﺍﻟﻤﺤﺘﻤﻠﻴﻦ ﺑﺨﺼﻮﺹ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﺎﻁﺮ‬ ‫ﻭﺃﺿﺎﻑ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﺃﻭﻛﺪﻥ ﺑﺄﻥ ﺍﻟﻌﻮﺍﻣﻞ ﺍﻟﺮﺋﻴﺴﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺆﺳﺲ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻣﻨﺎﺥ ﺗﺠﺎﺭﻱ‬ ‫ﺍﻷﻣﻨﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﺘﺨﻮﻓﻮﻥ ﻣﻨﻬﺎ‪.‬‬ ‫ﻭﺍﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭﻱ ﺟﻴﺪ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺒﻠﺪ ﻫﻲ ﻭﺟﻮﺩ ﺛﻘﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﺴﻮﻕ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺒﻨﻰ ﺑﺪﻭﺭﻫﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﺳﺘﻬﻞ ﺣﺪﻳﺜﻪ ﺑﺬﻛﺮ ﺍﻟﻌﻼﻗﺎﺕ ﺍﻻﻗﺘﺼﺎﺩﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﻴﻨﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺮﺑﻂ ﺑﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺎ ﺍﻟﺸﻔﺎﻓﻴﺔ ﻛﺄﺣﺪ ﺍﻻﺳﺎﺳﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﻴﻨﺔ ﻟﻠﺘﺠﺎﺭ ﻭﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺃﺛﻨﺎء ﺿﺮﻭﺭﺓ‪ .‬ﻭﺷﺪﺩ‬ ‫ﻣﻊ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻭﺧﺎﺻﺔ ﺑﻌﺪ ﺍﻧﺘﺼﺎﺭ ﺍﻟﺜﻮﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﻮﻗﻒ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻲ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﺃﻭﻛﺪﻥ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﻮﺍﻁﻨﻴﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﻴﻦ ﻳﺘﻄﻠﻌﻮﻥ ﻟﺮﺅﻳﺔ ﺇﻋﻤﺎﺭ ﺑﻠﺪﻫﻢ ﻋﻠﻰ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺜﻮﺭﺓ‪ ،‬ﺣﻴﺚ ﻗﺪﻣﺖ ﺑﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺎ ﺍﻟﺪﻋﻢ ﻭﺍﻻﺳﻨﺎﺩ ﻟﺪﻋﻢ ﺍﻟﺘﺤﻮﻝ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺎﺳﻲ ﺃﺭﺽ ﺍﻟﻮﺍﻗﻊ‪ ،‬ﻭﻳﺘﻮﻗﻮﻥ ﺃﻥ ﺗﻜﻮﻥ ﻟﻠﺤﻜﻮﻣﺔ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﺧﻄﻂ ﺣﺮﻳﺼﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻋﻤﻞ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﻟﻮﺻﻮﻝ ﻟﻼﺳﺘﻘﺮﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺸﻮﺩ‪ .‬ﻭﻛﺬﻟﻚ ﺍﻟﺤﺎﻝ ﺑﺸﺄﻥ ﺍﻟﻌﻼﻗﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﻳﺔ ﻳﻮﺟﻪ ﺍﻹﻧﻔﺎﻕ ﻧﺤﻮ ﺍﻟﻤﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺍﻟﻤﻬﻤﺔ ﻭﺍﻷﺳﺎﺳﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺒﻠﺪ‪ ،‬ﻭﺃﻥ ﺗﺮﻯ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭﻳﺔ‪ ،‬ﺣﻴﺚ ﺗﺘﻮﺍﺟﺪ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻣﻨﺬ ﺯﻣﻦ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻤﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺗﻨﻔﺬ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻭﺟﻪ ﺍﻟﺴﺮﻋﺔ‪ .‬ﻭﻧﺼﺢ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪﺓ ﺃﻥ‬ ‫ﺍﻷﺭﺽ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﻗﺪ ﺗﺰﺍﻳﺪﺕ ﻭﺗﻌﻤﻘﺖ ﺍﻟﺼﻼﺕ ﺑﻌﺪ ﺍﻟﺘﺤﻮﻝ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺎﺳﻲ ﺗﻜﻮﻥ ﺟﺎﺩﺓ ﻓﻲ ﺩﺧﻮﻟﻬﺎ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﺴﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﻋﻦ ﻁﺮﻳﻖ ﺇﻗﺎﻣﺔ ﻋﻼﻗﺎﺕ ﺗﺠﺎﺭﻳﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻷﺧﻴﺮ ﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﺷﻬﺪﺗﻪ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻻﺳﻴﻤﺎ ﺑﻌﺪ ﺭﻓﻊ ﺍﻟﻌﻘﻮﺑﺎﺕ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻘﻴﻴﺪ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻭﺍﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭﻳﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﻫﺬﺍ ﺃﻣﺮ ﻣﻬﻢ ﺧﺼﻮﺻﺎ ً ﺍﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺎﻓﺴﻴﻦ ﻟﻠﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻷﺭﺻﺪﺓ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﻗﺎﻝ "ﺍﻵﻥ ﻭﻗﺪ ﺗﻢ ﺭﻓﻊ ﺍﻟﺘﻘﻴﻴﺪ ﻭﺍﻟﻌﻘﻮﺑﺎﺕ ﻋﻦ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻧﺸﻄﻴﻦ ﺟﺪﺍً ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺴﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ‪ .‬ﻭﺃﺿﺎﻑ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻬﺪﻑ ﻣﻦ ﻫﺬﺍ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮ ﻳﺴﻨﺢ‬ ‫ﺗﻤﺎﻣﺎً‪ ،‬ﻭﻗﺪ ﻣﺮﺕ ﻣﺮﺣﻠﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺤﻮﻝ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺎﺳﻲ ﺍﻷﻭﻟﻰ ﻭﺗﻢ ﺗﺸﻜﻴﻞ ﺣﻜﻮﻣﺔ‬ ‫ﺑﺎﻟﺪﺭﺟﺔ ﺍﻷﻭﻟﻰ ﻟﺘﻤﻜﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﻌﺘﺒﺮ ﻧﻔﺴﻬﺎ ﻣﺘﺄﻟﻔﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺴﻮﻕ‬ ‫ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﺟﺪﻳﺪﺓ‪ ،‬ﺃﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺗﺴﻴﺮ ﻓﻲ ﻁﺮﻳﻖ ﺍﻹﻋﻤﺎﺭ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻄﻮﺭ ﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﻁﺎﻟﻤﺎ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﻟﺘﺒﺎﺩﻝ ﺍﻟﺨﺒﺮﺍﺕ ﻣﻊ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺧﺮﻯ ﺍﻟﻄﺎﻣﺤﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺩﺣﻮﻝ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻭﺗﻘﺪﻳﻢ‬ ‫ﺣﺮﻣﺖ ﻣﻨﻪ ﻭﻟﻌﻘﻮﺩ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﺰﻣﻦ"‪ .‬ﻭﺃﺿﺎﻑ "ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﺤﻜﻮﻣﺔ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﻗﺪ‬ ‫ﺃﻗﺮﺕ ﻣﻴﺰﺍﻧﻴﺔ ﻛﺒﻴﺮﺓ‪ ،‬ﻭﺃﻥ ﺗﺨﺼﻴﺼﺎﺕ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻴﺰﺍﻧﻴﺔ ﻛﺒﻴﺮﺓ ﺍﻟﻤﺸﻮﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﺸﺠﻴﻊ ﺍﻟﻼﺯﻣﻴﻴﻦ‪.‬‬ ‫ﻭﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﻮﻯ ﺍﻟﻤﻌﻴﺸﻲ ﻟﻠﻔﺮﺩ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻲ ﻗﺪ ﺍﺭﺗﻔﻊ ﺑﺸﻜﻞ ﻣﻠﺤﻮﻅ"‪ .‬ﻭﺃﺷﺎﺭ‬ ‫ﺳﻌﺎﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﺴﻔﻴﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺃﻧﻪ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺘﻈﺮ ﺃﻥ ﺗﻘﻮﻡ ﺍﻟﺤﻜﻮﻣﺔ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ‬ ‫ﺍﻷﺳﺎﺑﻴﻊ ﺍﻟﻘﻠﻴﻠﺔ ﺍﻟﻘﺎﺩﻣﺔ ﺑﺈﻗﺮﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﻌﺪﻳﺪ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻤﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺍﻟﻤﻬﻤﺔ ﻭﺧﺎﺻﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﻤﻜﻦ ﺇﻧﺠﺎﺯﻫﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻞ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺼﻐﻴﺮﺓ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺘﻮﺳﻄﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺤﺠﻢ‪ ،‬ﻭﺃﻥ ﻫﺬﺍ ﻳﻌﺪ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻔﺮﺹ ﺍﻟﻤﻬﻤﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﺠﺐ ﺍﻗﺘﻨﺎﺻﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻞ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﺧﺼﻮﺻﺎ ً ﻣﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺑﻨﺎء ﺍﻟﻤﺪﺍﺭﺱ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺸﺎﻓﻲ‬ ‫ﻭﻏﻴﺮﻫﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺍﻟﺒﻨﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺤﺘﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺤﺘﺎﺟﻬﺎ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺑﺸﻜﻞ ﻋﺎﺟﻞ‪..‬‬

‫ﻭﻓﻲ ﺧﺘﺎﻡ ﻛﻠﻤﺘﻪ ﺃﻛﺪ ﺳﻌﺎﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﺴﻔﻴﺮ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺍﻟﻨﺎﻛﻮﻉ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻌﻼﻗﺎﺕ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ "ﻗﻮﻳﺔ ﻭﻣﺜﻤﺮﺓ ﻭﻓﻲ ﻣﺠﺎﻻﺕ ﻋﺪﺓ" ﻭﺃﻥ "ﻫﺬﺍ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮ ﻭﻫﺬﺍ ﺍﻟﺠﻤﻊ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﺨﺒﺮﺍء ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺨﺘﺼﻴﻦ ﻭﻣﻦ ﻣﺨﺘﻠﻒ ﺍﻟﻘﻄﺎﻋﺎﺕ‬ ‫ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻠﺬﻳﻦ ﻳﻤﺘﻠﻜﻮﻥ ﺍﻟﺨﺒﺮﺓ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺴﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﺳﻴﻜﻮﻥ ﻋﻮﻧﺎ ً ﻛﺒﻴﺮﺍً ﻟﻤﻦ‬ ‫ﻳﺮﻏﺐ ﺍﻟﺪﺧﻮﻝ ﻓﻲ ﻋﺎﻟﻢ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭ ﻓﻲ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺍﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪﺓ‬ ‫ﺗﻢ ﺗﻘﺴﻴﻢ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺟﻠﺴﺘﻴﻦ‪ :‬ﺍﻟﺠﻠﺴﺔ ﺍﻷﻭﻟﻰ ﺭﻛﺰﺕ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻗﻄﺎﻋﺎﺕ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻨﻘﻞ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﺒﻨﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺤﺘﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺒﻨﺎء ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺮﺍﻓﻖ‪ ،‬ﻓﻲ ﺣﻴﻦ ﺭﻛﺰﺕ ﺍﻟﺠﻠﺴﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺜﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺘﻌﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻊ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺎﺋﻞ ﺍﻷﻣﻨﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺎﻟﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺗﻜﻨﻮﻟﻮﺟﻴﺎ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎﺕ ﻭﺍﻟﻄﺎﻗﺔ‪.‬‬

‫ﻭﻣﻦ ﺑﻌﺪ ﺗﺤﺪﺙ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ ﺟﻮﻥ ﺳﺎﻭﺛﺠﻴﺖ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﻤﺪﻳﺮ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻔﻴﺬﻱ ﻓﻲ ﺷﺮﻛﺔ‬ ‫)‪ ،(Capita Symonds‬ﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﺗﻄﺮﻕ ﻟﺬﻛﺮ ﺍﻟﻌﻮﺍﻣﻞ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺠﻌﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‬ ‫ﺳﻮﻗﺎ ً ﺟﺬﺍﺑﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﻗﺎﻝ ﺃﻥ "ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻗﺪ ﺣﺮﻣﺖ ﻭﻟﻤﺪﺓ ﺗﺰﻳﺪ ﻋﻠﻰ ‪ 40‬ﺳﻨﺔ ﻣﻦ‬ ‫ﺍﻹﻋﻤﺎﺭ ﺍﻟﺤﻘﻴﻘﻲ ﻭﻧﻘﺺ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭﺍﺕ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺮﻏﻢ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻣﺘﻼﻛﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﻤﻮﺍﺭﺩ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺒﺸﺮﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﻜﺒﻴﺮﺓ‪ ،‬ﻭﻫﻲ ﺑﺤﺎﺟﺔ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻋﻤﻠﻴﺔ ﺇﻋﺎﺩﺓ ﺇﻋﻤﺎﺭ ﺣﻘﻴﻘﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗﺴﺘﻐﻞ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ ﻣﻮﺍﺭﺩﻫﺎ ﺑﺎﻟﻄﺮﻳﻘﺔ ﺍﻟﺠﻴﺪﺓ ﻟﺘﺤﻘﻴﻖ ﻁﻤﻮﺣﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﻴﻦ"‪.‬‬ ‫ﻭﺗﺮﻛﺰ ﻣﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺇﻋﺎﺩﺓ ﺍﻹﻋﻤﺎﺭ ﻓﻲ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻣﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺍﻟﺒﻨﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺤﺘﻴﺔ ﻭﺃﻫﻤﻬﺎ‬ ‫ﻣﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺍﻟﻄﺮﻕ ﺍﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪﺓ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﻄﺎﺭﺍﺕ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﻮﺍﻧﺊ ﻭﺍﻟﺴﻜﻚ ﺍﻟﺤﺪﻳﺪﻳﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻲ‬ ‫ﻳﻘﺪﺭ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻔﺮﺹ ﻓﻲ ﻫﺬﻩ ﺍﻟﻤﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺃﺻﺒﺤﺖ ﺍﻵﻥ ﺃﻛﺒﺮ ﻣﻦ ﺃﻱ ﻭﻗﺖ ﻣﻀﻰ‪.‬‬ ‫ﻛﻤﺎ ﺃﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺗﺮﻛﺰ ﺃﻳﻀﺎ ً ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺍﻟﺒﻨﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺤﺘﻴﺔ ﺍﻻﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﻴﺔ ﻣﺜﻞ‬ ‫ﻣﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﻓﻲ ﻗﻄﺎﻉ ﺍﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻢ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﺪﺭﻳﺐ ﻭﺍﻟﺮﻋﺎﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺼﺤﻴﺔ‪ .‬ﻭﺷﺪﺩ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ‬ ‫ﺳﺎﻭﺛﺠﻴﺖ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺃﻫﻤﻴﺔ ﺇﺟﺮﺍء ﺩﺭﺍﺳﺔ ﻣﻔﺼﻠﺔ ﻟﻠﺴﻮﻕ‪ ،‬ﻭﻗﺎﻝ ﺑﺄﻧﻪ ﻗﺪ ﺯﺍﺭ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‬ ‫ﻓﻲ ﺛﻤﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﺭﺣﻼﺕ ﻋﻤﻞ ﻣﻨﻔﺼﻠﺔ ﻣﻨﺬ ﻗﻴﺎﻡ ﺍﻟﺜﻮﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﻭﺣﺘﻰ ﺍﻵﻥ‪.‬‬ ‫ﻭﺍﺿﺎﻑ ﺳﺎﻭﺛﺠﻴﺖ ﺑﺄﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺗﻌﺪ ﺑﻠﺪﺍً ﻣﺴﺘﻮﺭﺩﺍً ﺭﺋﻴﺴﻴﺎ ً ﻣﺎ ﻳﻌﻨﻲ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﺤﺎﺟﺔ‬ ‫ﺇﻟﻰ ﻣﻌﺎﻟﺠﺔ ﺍﺯﺩﺣﺎﻡ ﺍﻟﻄﺮﻳﻖ ﻳﺸﻜﻞ ﺃﻭﻟﻮﻳﺔ‪ ،‬ﻻﺳﻴﻤﺎ ﻭﺇﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺗﻌﺎﻧﻲ ﻣﻦ‬ ‫ﻣﻌﺪﻻﺕ ﻋﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﺯﺩﺣﺎﻣﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻄﺮﻕ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﺻﻤﺔ ﻁﺮﺍﺑﻠﺲ‪ ،‬ﻭﺇﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺗﺤﺘﺎﺝ‬ ‫ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﺘﻘﻨﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺤﺪﻳﺜﺔ ﻹﻧﺸﺎء ﻓﻲ ﺇﺩﺍﺭﺓ ﺗﻘﻨﻴﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺷﺒﻜﺔ ﺍﻟﻄﺮﻕ‪.‬‬

‫‪ARABIC SECTION‬‬

‫‪Libya Trade Day: New Economic Landscape‬‬

‫ﻳﻭﻡ ﺍﻟﺗﺟﺎﺭﺓ ﻓﻲ ﻟﻳﺑﻳﺎ‪ :‬ﺭﺅﻳﺔ ﺟﺩﻳﺩﺓ ﻟﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﺟﺩﻳﺩ‬

‫ﺳﻌﺎﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﺳﻳﺩ ﻣﺣﻣﻭﺩ ﻣﺣﻣﺩ ﺍﻟﻧﺎﻛﻭﻉ‪ ،‬ﺳﻔﻳﺭ ﻓﻭﻕ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﺩﺓ‬ ‫ﻭﻣﻔﻭﺽ ﻟﻳﺑﻳﺎ ﻟﺩﻯ ﺍﻟﻣﻣﻠﻛﺔ ﺍﻟﻣﺗﺣﺩﺓ ﻭﺷﻣﺎﻝ ﺃﻳﺭﻟﻧﺩﺍ‬

‫ﺳﻌﺎﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﻠﻭﺭﺩ ﻣﺎﺭﻻﻧﺩ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﻣﺑﻌﻭﺙ ﺍﻟﺧﺎﺹ ﻟﺭﺋﻳﺱ ﺍﻟﻭﺯﺭﺍء ﺍﻟﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻲ ﻟﺷﺅﻭﻥ ﺍﻟﺗﺟﺎﺭﺓ‬

‫ﺃﻗﻴﻢ ﻣﺆﺗﻤﺮ "ﻳﻮﻡ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﻓﻲ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ" ﺑﺤﻀﻮﺭ ﺃﻛﺜﺮ ﻣﻦ ‪ 100‬ﻣﻦ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﺪﻳﺮﻳﻦ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻔﻴﺬﻳﻴﻦ ﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﻣﻦ ﻗﻄﺎﻋﺎﺕ ﻣﺘﻨﻮﻋﺔ ﻣﻦ ﺷﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺑﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﻭﺭﺟﺎﻝ ﺃﻋﻤﺎﻝ ﻋﺮﺏ‪ .‬ﻭﻗﺎﻡ ﺑﺘﻨﻈﻴﻢ ﻫﺬﺍ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮ ﻏﺮﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﺘﻌﺎﻭﻥ ﻣﻊ ﻫﻴﺌﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪﺓ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﻟﻌﻤﻞ ﺍﻟﻤﺸﺘﺮﻙ ﻣﻊ ﺳﻔﺎﺭﺓ ﺩﻭﻟﺔ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻟﻨﺪﻥ‪ .‬ﻭﻋﻘﺪ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮ ﻓﻲ ‪10‬‬ ‫ﻣﻦ ﺷﻬﺮ ﻧﻴﺴﺎﻥ )ﺃﺑﺮﻳﻞ( ﻓﻲ ﻣﺮﻛﺰ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮﺍﺕ ﻋﻨﺪ ﻣﻘﺮ ﻫﻴﺌﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪﺓ ﻓﻲ ﻭﻳﺴﺘﻤﻨﺴﺘﺮ ﻓﻲ ﻗﻠﺐ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﺻﻤﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻟﻨﺪﻥ‪ .‬ﻗﺪﻡ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮ ﺭﺳﺎﻟﺔ ﺇﻳﺠﺎﺑﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﺿﺤﺔ ﻣﻔﺎﺩﻫﺎ ﺃﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‬ ‫ﺗﻤﻀﻲ ﻗﺪﻣﺎ ً ﻓﻲ ﻋﻤﻠﻴﺔ ﺇﻋﺎﺩﺓ ﺍﻹﻋﻤﺎﺭ‪ ،‬ﻭﻫﻲ ﺗﺮﺣﺐ ﺑﺎﻟﻌﻤﻞ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻌﺎﻭﻥ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﺸﺘﺮﻙ ﻣﻊ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ‪.‬‬

‫ﺗﺮﺃﺳﺖ ﺭﺋﻴﺲ ﻏﺮﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺭﻭﻧﺔ ﺳﻴﻤﻮﻧﺰ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺠﻠﺴﺔ ﺍﻻﻓﺘﺘﺎﺣﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﻗﺎﻟﺖ ﺑﺄﻥ "ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺗﻘﺘﺮﺏ ﻣﻦ ﻓﺘﺮﺓ ﺣﺎﺳﻤﺔ ﻭﻣﻬﻤﺔ ﺣﻴﺚ‬ ‫ﺳﺘﺒﺮﻡ ﺍﻟﻌﺪﻳﺪ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻌﻘﻮﺩ ﺍﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪﺓ ﺍﻟﻬﺎﻣﺔ ﻣﻊ ﺷﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭﻳﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺃﻥ ﻫﺬﺍ‬ ‫ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﻮﻗﻊ ﺃﻥ ﻳﺤﺪﺙ ﻓﻲ ﻏﻀﻮﻥ ﺍﻷﺷﻬﺮ ﺍﻟﻘﻠﻴﻠﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﻘﺒﻠﺔ"‪ .‬ﻭﺃﺿﺎﻓﺖ ﺑﺄﻥ‬ ‫"ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺑﻤﻮﻗﻌﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﺠﻐﺮﺍﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﻤﻴﺰ ﻭﺛﺮﻭﺍﺗﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﻜﺒﻴﺮ‪ ،‬ﺗﻌﺘﺒﺮ ﻧﻘﻄﺔ ﻋﺒﻮﺭ‬ ‫ﺭﺋﻴﺴﻴﺔ ﻟﻸﻋﻤﺎﻝ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﺑﻴﻦ ﻗﺎﺭﺓ ﺃﻭﺭﻭﺑﺎ ﻭﻗﺎﺭﺓ ﺃﻓﺮﻳﻘﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﻭﻫﻲ ﺑﻠﺪ ﻏﻨﻲ‬ ‫ﺑﺎﻟﻤﻮﺍﺭﺩ ﺍﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺆﻫﻠﻬﺎ ﺃﻥ ﺗﻨﻔﺬ ﻛﻞ ﺧﻄﻄﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻤﻮﻳﺔ ﻭﺑﻨﺠﺎﺡ‪ .‬ﻭﻣﻦ‬ ‫ﺟﺎﻧﺒﻪ‪ ،‬ﺃﻛﺪ ﺍﻟﻠﻮﺭﺩ ﻣﺎﺭﻻﻧﺪ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﺤﻜﻮﻣﺘﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﺗﻨﺒﺪﻳﺎﻥ ﺭﻏﺒﺔ‬ ‫ﻛﺒﻴﺮﺓ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺩﻋﻢ ﻭﺗﺤﺴﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﺘﻌﺎﻭﻥ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺠﺎﻻﺕ ﺍﻷﻋﻤﺎﻝ ﻭﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭ ﺑﻴﻦ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺒﻠﺪﻳﻦ‪.‬‬

‫ﺍﺳﺘﻤﻊ ﺍﻟﺤﻀﻮﺭ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻣﺎ ﺗﻄﺮﺣﻪ ﺍﻟﺴﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﻣﻦ ﻓﺮﺻﺎ ً ﺍﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭﻳﺔ‬ ‫ﻭﺗﺠﺎﺭﻳﺔ ﻛﺒﻴﺮﺓ ﻣﺘﻮﺯﻋﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺠﺎﻻﺕ ﺍﻟﻨﻔﻂ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻌﺪﻳﻦ ﻭﺍﻟﺒﻨﻮﻙ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻤﻮﻳﻞ‪،‬‬ ‫ﻭﺍﻟﺒﻨﺎء‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﻨﻘﻞ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻻﺗﺼﺎﻻﺕ ﺍﻟﺴﻠﻜﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻼﺳﻠﻜﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺗﺠﺎﺭﺓ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺰﺋﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﺮﻋﺎﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺼﺤﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻢ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﺰﺭﺍﻋﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﺴﻴﺎﺣﺔ‪ .‬ﺷﻬﺪﺕ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺠﻠﺴﺔ ﺍﻷﻭﻟﺔ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﻤﺎﻉ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻛﻠﻤﺎﺕ ﻛﻞ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻠﻮﺭﺩ ﻣﺎﺭﻻﻧﺪ‪ ، ،‬ﺍﻟﻤﺒﻌﻮﺙ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺨﺎﺹ ﻟﺮﺋﻴﺲ ﺍﻟﻮﺯﺭﺍء ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻲ ﻟﺸﺆﻭﻥ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ‪ ،‬ﻭﺳﻌﺎﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﺴﻴﺪ‬ ‫ﻣﺤﻤﻮﺩ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺍﻟﻨﺎﻛﻮﻉ‪ ،‬ﺳﻔﻴﺮ ﻓﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﺩﺓ ﻭﻣﻔﻮﺽ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻟﺪﻯ ﺍﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪﺓ ﻭﺷﻤﺎﻝ ﺃﻳﺮﻟﻨﺪﺍ‪ .‬ﻭﻓﻲ ﺍﻓﺘﺘﺎﺡ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮ‪ ،‬ﺷﻜﺮﺕ ﺍﻟﺪﻛﺘﻮﺭﺓ ﺃﻓﻨﺎﻥ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺸُﻌﻴﺒﻲ‪ ،‬ﺍﻷﻣﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻡ ﻭﺍﻟﺮﺋﻴﺲ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻔﻴﺬﻱ ﻟﻐﺮﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻫﻴﺌﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪﺓ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﺗﺤﺎﺩ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻐﺮﻑ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻲ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﻟﺼﻨﺎﻋﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺰﺭﺍﻋﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﺴﻔﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻌﻤﻞ ﺳﻮﻳﺘﺎ ﻣﻊ ﻏﺮﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻟﺘﻨﻈﻴﻢ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮ‪.‬‬

‫ﺃﻋﺮﺏ ﺍﻟﻠﻮﺭﺩ ﻣﺎﺭﻻﻧﺪ ﻋﻦ ﺍﻋﺘﻘﺎﺩﻩ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻭﺿﻊ ﺟﻴﺪ‬ ‫ﻣﻦ ﺣﻴﺚ ﺗﻮﺍﺟﺪﻫﺎ ﻭﻗﺪﻭﻣﻬﺎ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﻻﺳﻴﻤﺎ ﺑﺴﺒﺐ ﻣﻮﻗﻒ ﺑﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺎ ﻓﻲ‬ ‫ﻣﺴﺎﻋﺪﺓ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺨﺮﻭﺝ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻘﻮﺩ ﻣﻦ ﻧﻘﺺ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭﺍﺕ‪.‬‬ ‫ﻭﺭﻛﺰﺕ ﻛﻠﻤﺔ ﺳﻌﺎﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﻠﻮﺭﺩ ﻣﺎﺭﻻﻧﺪ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﻤﺒﻌﻮﺙ ﺍﻟﺨﺎﺹ ﻟﺮﺋﻴﺲ ﺍﻟﻮﺯﺭﺍء‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻲ ﻟﺸﺆﻭﻥ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻌﻼﻗﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﻤﻴﺰﺓ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺮﺑﻂ ﺍﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪﺓ ﻣﻊ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﻭﻗﺎﻝ ﺑﺄﻥ ﺍﻟﻌﻼﻗﺎﺕ ﺑﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﻄﺮﻓﻴﻦ ﺗﻄﻮﺭﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻵﻭﻧﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻷﺧﻴﺮﺓ ﻻﺳﻴﻤﺎ ﺑﻌﺪ ﺍﻧﺘﺼﺎﺭ ﺍﻟﺜﻮﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﻭﺣﺎﻟﺔ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﻘﺮﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺰﺍﻳﺪ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ‬ ‫ﺗﺸﻬﺪﻫﺎ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻳﻮﻣﺎ ً ﺑﻌﺪ ﻳﻮﻡ‪ .‬ﻛﻤﺎ ﺗﺤﺪﺙ ﻣﺎﺭﻻﻧﺪ ﻋﻦ ﺍﻟﻤﺠﺎﻻﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﻤﻜﻦ‬ ‫ﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﻔﺎﺩﺓ ﻣﻨﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼﻝ ﻋﻼﻗﺎﺗﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﻤﻴﺰﺓ ﻣﻊ ﺑﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺎ ﻭﺧﺎﺻﺔ ﻓﻲ‬ ‫ﻣﺠﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻢ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﺪﺭﻳﺐ ﺍﻟﻤﻬﻨﻲ ﻭﺍﻷﻛﺎﺩﻳﻤﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻤﺘﺎﺯ ﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﺗﺘﻤﻴﺰ ﺑﻬﺎ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺠﺎﻣﻌﺎﺕ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺆﺳﺴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﺣﻴﺚ ﻗﺎﻝ "ﺃﻥ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺗﻤﺘﻠﻚ ﺍﻟﺜﺮﻭﺓ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﺎﺩﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﻬﺎﺋﻠﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺆﻫﻠﻬﺎ ﺃﻥ ﺗﺪﻓﻊ ﺑﺄﻭﻟﻮﻳﺎﺗﻬﺎ ﻧﺤﻮ ﺍﻷﻣﺎﻡ ﻻﺳﻴﻤﺎ ﺗﻌﻠﻴﻢ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺸﺒﺎﺏ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻲ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺠﺎﻣﻌﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻭﻛﺬﻟﻚ ﺗﺄﻫﻴﻞ ﺍﻟﻘﻮﻯ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻣﻠﺔ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻮﺳﺎﺋﻞ ﺍﻟﺘﻜﻨﻮﻟﻮﺟﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺤﺪﻳﺜﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﻤﻜﻦ ﻟﻬﻢ ﺍﻟﺤﺼﻮﻝ ﻋﻠﻴﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ‬ ‫ﺧﻼﻝ ﺍﻟﺘﺪﺭﻳﺐ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺳﺴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ"‪.‬‬

‫ﻭﻓﻲ ﻛﻠﻤﺘﻬﺎ ﺍﻻﻓﺘﺘﺎﺣﻴﺔ ﻗﺎﻟﺖ ﺍﻟﺪﻛﺘﻮﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﺸُﻌﻴﺒﻲ ﺃﻥ ﻣﺆﺗﻤﺮ ﻳﻮﻡ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ‬ ‫ﻓﻲ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﺍﺧﺘﺎﺭ ﺃﻥ ﻳﺘﻢ ﺍﻟﺘﺮﻛﻴﺰ ﻭﺍﻻﻫﺘﻤﺎﻡ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻓﺮﺹ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭ ﻭﺍﺧﺘﺘﻢ ﺍﻟﻠﻮﺭﺩ ﻣﺎﺭﻻﻧﺪ ﻛﻠﻤﺘﻪ ﻓﻲ ﺩﻋﻮﺓ ﺍﻟﺤﻀﻮﺭ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﻭﺭﺟﺎﻝ‬ ‫ﻓﻲ ﺑﻌﺾ ﺍﻟﻘﻄﺎﻉ ﺍﻟﺮﺋﻴﺴﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻻﻗﺘﺼﺎﺩ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻲ‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺃﺻﺒﺤﺖ ﻣﺘﺎﺣﺔ ﺍﻷﻋﻤﺎﻝ ﻟﻠﺸﺮﻭﻉ ﻓﻲ ﺇﻧﺸﺎء ﻋﻼﻗﺎﺕ ﺗﺠﺎﺭﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭﻳﺔ ﻣﻊ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﻭﻗﺎﻝ‬ ‫ﻟﻠﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﺆﺗﻤﺮ ﺳﻴﻄﺮﺡ ﺍﻟﻔﺮﺹ ﺍﻷﻓﻀﻞ ﻭﺍﻷﻛﺜﺮ‬ ‫ﺑﺄﻥ "ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻟﺪﻳﻬﺎ ﺇﻣﻜﺎﻧﺎﺕ ﻫﺎﺋﻠﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﺴﻮﻕ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ﻣﻔﺘﻮﺣﺔ ﻟﻠﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ‬ ‫ﻗﺪﺭﺓ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻨﺠﺎﺡ ﺧﺎﺻﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺮﺣﻠﺔ ﺍﻟﺤﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﻌﻴﺸﻬﺎ ﻟﻴﺒﻴﺎ ﻭﻛﺬﻟﻚ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﻻﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎﺭ ﺧﺼﻮﺻﺎ ً ﻟﻠﺸﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺜﺎﺑﺮﺓ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻻ ﺗﻨﺪﻓﻊ ﻭﺭﺍء‬ ‫ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﻘﺒﻞ ﺍﻟﻘﺮﻳﺐ‪.‬‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺤﺼﻮﻝ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺮﺑﺢ ﺍﻟﺴﺮﻳﻊ‪.‬‬

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‫ ‪ARABIC SECTION‬‬

‫‪ABCC signs Mou with Dar Al-Hekma College‬‬ ‫ﻣﺫﻛﺭﺓ ﺗﻔﺎﻫﻡ ﺑﻳﻥ ﻏﺭﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﺟﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺔ ﻭﻛﻠﻳﺔ ﺩﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺣﻛﻣﺔ‬ ‫ﻭﻗﻌﺕ ﻏﺭﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﺟﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺔ‪ ،‬ﻓﻲ ‪ 10‬ﻣﻥ ﺷﻬﺭ‬ ‫ﻧﻳﺳﺎﻥ )ﺃﺑﺭﻳﻝ(‪ ،‬ﻣﺫﻛﺭﺓ ﺗﻔﺎﻫﻡ ﻣﻊ‬ ‫ﻛﻠﻳﺔ ﺩﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺣﻛﻣﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻣﻣﻠﻛﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺳﻌﻭﺩﻳﺔ‪ ،‬ﺗﻬﺩﻑ ﺇﻟﻰ‬ ‫ﺗﻌﺯﻳﺯ ﺍﻟﺑﺭﺍﻣﺞ ﺍﻟﺧﺎﺻﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﻲ ﺗﻌﺎﻟﺞ‬ ‫ﻟﻠﺷﺑﺎﺏ‬ ‫ﺍﻻﺣﺗﻳﺎﺟﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﻠﻳﻣﻳﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻲ ﻭﺍﻟﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻲ‪ .‬ﻭﻗﺩ ﺟﺎء‬ ‫ﺗﻭﻗﻳﻊ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﻣﺫﻛﺭﺓ ﻓﻲ ﺃﺟﻭﺍء‬ ‫ﺣﻣﻳﻣﺔ‪ .‬ﻭﺣﻔﻝ ﺍﺳﺗﻘﺑﺎﻝ ﻣﻣﻳﺯ ﺃﻗﻳﻡ‬ ‫ﻓﻲ ﻣﻘﺭ ﺍﻟﻐﺭﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﻓﻲ ﻗﻠﺏ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻌﺎﺻﻣﺔ ﺍﻟﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺔ ﻟﻧﺩﻥ‪ ،‬ﻓﻲ ‪43‬‬ ‫ﺃﺑﻭﺭ ﻏﺭﻭﺳﻔﻳﻧﻭﺭ ﺳﺗﺭﻳﺕ‪ ،‬ﻣﺎﻳﻔﻳﺭ‪.‬‬

‫ﺍﻟﻴﻤﻴﻦ‪ :‬ﺍﻟﺪﻛﺘﻮﺭﺓ ﺳﻬﻴﺮ ﺣﺴﻦ ﺍﻟﻘﺮﺷﻲ ﻋﻤﻴﺪﺓ ﻛﻠﻴﺔ ﺩﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺤﻜﻤﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺪﻛﺘﻮﺭﺓ ﺃﻓﻨﺎﻥ ﺍﻟﺸُﻌﻴﺒﻲ ﺍﻷﻣﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻡ ﻭﺍﻟﺮﺋﻴﺲ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻔﻴﺬﻱ ﻟﻐﺮﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺎﺭﺓ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ‬

‫ﻭﻭﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﻣﺫﻛﺭﺓ ﺭﺳﻣﻳﺎ ً ‪ ،‬ﻣﻥ ﻁﺭﻑ ﻏﺭﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﺟﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺩﻛﺗﻭﺭﺓ ﺃﻓﻧﺎﻥ ﺍﻟ ُ‬ ‫ﺷﻌﻳﺑﻲ‪ ،‬ﺍﻷﻣﻳﻥ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻡ ﻭﺍﻟﺭﺋﻳﺱ ﺍﻟﺗﻧﻔﻳﺫﻱ ﻟﻠﻐﺭﻓﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﻣﻥ ﻁﺭﻑ‬ ‫ﻛﻠﻳﺔ ﺩﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺣﻛﻣﺔ ﺍﻟﺩﻛﺗﻭﺭﺓ ﺳﻬﻳﺭ ﺣﺳﻥ ﺍﻟﻘﺭﺷﻲ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﺗﻲ ﺗﺷﻐﻝ ﻣﻧﺻﺏ ﺭﺋﻳﺱ ﻛﻠﻳﺔ ﺩﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺣﻛﻣﺔ‪ .‬ﻭﻛﻠﻳﺔ ﺩﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺣﻛﻣﺔ ﻟﻠﺑﻧﺎﺕ ﺗﺎﺑﻌﺔ ﻟﻠﻘﻁﺎﻉ ﺍﻟﺧﺎﺹ‬ ‫ﻭﻣﻘﺭﻫﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺩﻳﻧﺔ ﺟﺩﺓ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻣﻣﻠﻛﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺳﻌﻭﺩﻳﺔ‪.‬‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺩﻛﺗﻭﺭﺓ ﺃﻓﻧﺎﻥ ﺍﻟ ُ‬ ‫ﺷﻌﻳﺑﻲ‪ ،‬ﺍﻷﻣﻳﻥ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻡ ﻭﺍﻟﺭﺋﻳﺱ ﺍﻟﺗﻧﻔﻳﺫﻱ ﻟﻐﺭﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﺟﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺔ‪ ،‬ﺍﻓﺗﺗﺣﺕ ﺍﻟﺣﻔﻝ ﺑﻛﻠﻣﺔ ﺗﺭﺣﻳﺏ ﻭﺗﻌﺭﻳﻑ ﺍﻟﺣﺿﻭﺭ ﺑﺎﻫﻣﻳﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻳﺟﺎﺩ ﺃﺭﺿﻳﺔ ﻟﻠﺗﻔﺎﻫﻡ ﻭﺍﻟﺗﻌﺎﻭﻥ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺟﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﻠﻳﻡ ﻭﺍﻟﺗﺩﺭﻳﺏ ﺣﻳﺙ ﻗﺎﻟﺕ‪" :‬ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﻠﻳﻡ ﻫﻭ ﻣﻥ ﺍﻷﻣﻭﺭ ﺍﻟﻬﺎﻣﺔ ﺟﺩﺍً ﻭﺗﺗﺯﺍﻳﺩ ﺍﻫﻣﻳﺗﻪ ﻓﻲ ﻋﻣﻠﻧﺎ ﻻﺳﻳﻣﺎ ﻣﻥ‬ ‫ﺧﻼﻝ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﺎﻭﻥ ﺍﻟﺛﻧﺎﺋﻲ ﺑﻳﻥ ﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺎ ﻭﺍﻟﺩﻭﻝ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ‪ ،‬ﺣﻳﺙ ﺗﻘﻭﻡ ﺍﻟﻐﺭﻓﺔ ﻛﻣﺅﺳﺳﺔ ﺑﺩﻭﺭ ﺑﻧﺎء ﻭﻣﺣﻭﺭﻱ ﻓﻲ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﻌﻣﻠﻳﺔ''‪ .‬ﻭﻗﺎﻝ ﺍﻟ ُ‬ ‫ﺷﻌﻳﺑﻲ "ﺃﻧﻪ ﻟﻣﻥ‬ ‫ﺩﻭﺍﻋﻲ ﺳﺭﻭﺭﻱ ﺃﻥ ﺃﺭﺣﺏ ﺑﻛﻡ ﺟﻣﻳﻌﺎ ً ﻓﻲ ﻫﺫﺍ ﺍﻟﺣﺩﺙ ﺍﻟﺧﺎﺹ ﻫﺫﺍ ﺍﻟﻣﺳﺎء‪ ،‬ﻭﺍﻟﺫﻱ ﺳﻳﻌﻠﻥ ﺑﺩﺍﻳﺔ ﻟﺷﺭﺍﻛﺔ ﺟﺩﻳﺩﺓ ﺑﻳﻥ ﻏﺭﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺔ ﻟﻠﺗﺟﺎﺭﺓ‬ ‫ﻭﻛﻠﻳﺔ ﺩﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺣﻛﻣﺔ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﻣﺅﺳﺳﺔ ﺍﻷﻛﺎﺩﻳﻣﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﻣﻌﺭﻭﻓﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻣﻣﻠﻛﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺳﻌﻭﺩﻳﺔ"‪ .‬ﻭﺗﻁﺭﻗﺕ ﺍﻟﺩﻛﺗﻭﺭﺓ ﺃﻓﻧﺎﻥ ﺍﻟ ُ‬ ‫ﺷﻌﻳﺑﻲ ﻟﺫﻛﺭ ﻧﺑﺫﺓ ﻣﺧﺗﺻﺭﺓ ﻋﻥ ﻛﻠﻳﺔ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ﺩﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺣﻛﻣﺔ ﺣﻳﺙ ﻗﺎﻟﺕ "ﺃﻥ ﻛﻠﻳﺔ ﺩﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺣﻛﻣﺔ ﻫﻲ ﺃﺣﺩﻯ ﺍﻟﻣﺅﺳﺳﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﻛﺎﺩﻳﻣﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﻣﺗﻣﻳﺯﺓ ﺍﻟﺗﻲ ﺃﻧﺷﺋﺕ ﻟﺗﻣﺛﻝ ﻧﻣﻭﺫﺟﺎ ﻧﺎﺟﺣﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺩﻳﻧﺔ ﺟﺩﺓ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻣﻣﻠﻛﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺳﻌﻭﺩﻳﺔ"‪.‬‬ ‫ﻭﺑﺩﻭﺭﻫﺎ ﺭﺣﺑﺕ ﺍﻟﺩﻛﺗﻭﺭﺓ ﺳﻬﻳﺭ ﺣﺳﻥ ﺍﻟﻘﺭﺷﻲ ﺑﺎﻻﺗﻔﺎﻕ‪ ،‬ﻭﺻﻔﺗﻪ ﺑﺎﻟﻣﻬﻡ ﻟﻛﻠﻳﺔ ﺩﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺣﻛﻣﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﻫﻲ ﺍﻟﻣﺅﺳﺳﺔ ﺍﻟﻣﺗﻣﻳﺯﺓ ﺍﻟﺗﻲ ﺃﺳﺳﺕ ﻟﺗﻭﻓﻳﺭ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﻠﻳﻡ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻟﻲ ﻟﻠﺷﺎﺑﺎﺕ ﻣﻥ ﺧﻼﻝ ﺑﺭﺍﻣﺞ ﺃﻛﺎﺩﻳﻣﻳﺔ ﻋﺎﻟﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺟﻭﺩﺓ‪.‬‬ ‫ﻭﻗﺎﻟﺕ ﺍﻟ ُ‬ ‫ﺷﻌﻳﺑﻲ ﺑﺄﻥ "ﺷﻌﺏ ﻣﺗﻌﻠﻡ ﻳﻣﺛﻝ ﺃﺣﺩﻯ ﺃﻫﻡ ﺿﺭﻭﺭﺍﺕ ﺿﻣﺎﻥ ﺍﻗﺗﺻﺎﺩ ﻗﻭﻱ ﻭﻣﺳﺗﺩﺍﻡ"‪ .‬ﻭﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻘﺎﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺏ ﻳﻘﺩﺭﻭﻥ ﻭﺑﺷﻛﻝ ﻣﺗﺯﺍﻳﺩ ﺍﻟﺣﺎﺟﺔ ﺇﻟﻰ‬ ‫ﺍﺳﺗﺛﻣﺎﺭ ﺍﻟﻣﺯﻳﺩ ﻣﻥ ﻣﻭﺍﺭﺩ ﺍﻟﺑﻼﺩ ﺍﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺟﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﻠﻳﻡ ﻭﺍﻟﺗﺩﺭﻳﺏ‪ ،‬ﻭﺫﻟﻙ ﻟﺗﻠﺑﻳﺔ ﺗﻁﻠﻌﺎﺕ ﺟﻳﻝ ﺍﻟﺷﺑﺎﺏ ﻭﺗﺯﻭﻳﺩﻫﻡ ﺑﺎﻟﻣﻬﺎﺭﺍﺕ ﺍﻟﻼﺯﻣﺔ ﻟﺗﺣﻘﻳﻕ ﺍﻟﻧﺟﺎﺡ‬ ‫ﻓﻲ ﺳﻭﻕ ﺍﻟﻌﻣﻝ‪ .‬ﻭﺃﺿﺎﻓﺕ ﺑﺄﻥ ﻫﻧﺎﻙ ﺃﻏﻠﺑ ﻳﺔ ﻛﺑﻳﺭﺓ ﻣﻥ ﺃﻋﺩﺍﺩ ﺍﻟﺷﺑﺎﺏ ﻭﺍﻟﺷﺎﺑﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺏ ﻳﻧﻅﺭﻭﻥ ﻭﺑﺗﻔﺎﺅﻝ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻻﺷﺗﺭﺍﻙ ﻭﺑﺷﻛﻝ ﻓﺎﻋﻝ ﻓﻲ ﺑﻧﺎء ﻣﺳﺗﻘﺑﻝ‬ ‫ﺑﻠﺩﺍﻧﻬﻡ ﻣﻥ ﺧﻼﻝ ﻛﻔﺎءﺍﺗﻬﻡ ﺍﻟﻌﻠﻣﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻷﻛﺎﺩﻳﻣﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻣﻬﻧﻳﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﻣﻥ ﺧﻼﻝ ﺇﻳﺟﺎﺩ ﻓﺭﺹ ﻋﻣﻝ ﺗﻠﻳﻕ ﺑﻬﻡ‪.‬‬ ‫ﻭﻋﻥ ﺃﻫﻣﻳﺔ ﻣﺫﻛﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﺎﻭﻥ ﻭﺍﻟﺗﻔﺎﻫﻡ ﺑﻳﻥ ﺍﻟﻣﺅﺳﺳﺗﻳﻥ ﺫﻛﺭﺕ ﺍﻟﺩﻛﺗﻭﺭﺓ ﺍﻟ ُ‬ ‫ﺷﻌﻳﺑﻲ ﺑﺄﻥ ﻏﺭﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﺟﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺔ ﺗﻌﻣﻝ ﻣﻥ ﺧﻼﻝ ﺇﻳﻣﺎﻥ ﺭﺍﺳﺦ‬ ‫ﺑﺄﻥ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﺎﻭﻥ ﺑﻳﻥ ﺍﻟﻣﺅﺳﺳﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺳﻳﻌﻁﻲ ﻧﺗﺎﺋﺞ ﺇﻳﺟﺎﺑﻳﺔ ﻻﺳﻳﻣﺎ ﺍﻟﺧﺑﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﺗﻲ ﺗﺗﻣﺗﻊ ﺑﻬﺎ ﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺟﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﻠﻳﻡ‪ ،‬ﻭﺇﻥ ﻛﺛﻳﺭ ﻣﻥ ﻫﺫﻩ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻣﺅﺳﺳﺎﺕ ﻣﻥ ﺫﺍﺕ ﺍﻟﺧﺑﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻟﻣﻳﺔ ﺗﺗﻁﻠﻊ ﻟﻠﺩﺧﻭﻝ ﻓﻲ ﺷﺭﺍﻛﺔ ﻣﻊ ﻧﻅﺭﺍﺋ ﻬﻡ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻣﻣﻠﻛﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺳﻌﻭﺩﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻌﺎﻟﻡ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻲ‪ ،‬ﻣﻥ ﺧﻼﻝ ﺑﺭﺍﻣﺞ ﺣﺩﻳﺛﺔ‬ ‫ﺗﻣﻳﺯ ﺍﻷﻭﻟﻭﻳﺎﺕ‪ ،‬ﻭﺗﺷﺟﻊ ﺭﻭﺡ ﺍﻹﺑﺩﺍﻉ ﻣﻥ ﺧﻼﻝ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﻠﻳﻡ ﻭﺍﻟﺗﺩﺭﻳﺏ‪.‬‬ ‫ﻭﺑﻣﻭﺟﺏ ﺷﺭﻭﻁ ﻣﺫﻛﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﺗﻔﺎﻫﻡ ﻫﺫﻩ‪ ،‬ﺗﺗﻌﻬﺩ ﻛﻝ ﻣﻥ ﻏﺭﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﺟﺎﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺔ ﻭﻛﻠﻳﺔ ﺩﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺣﻛﻣﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻣﻣﻠﻛﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻌﻣﻝ ﻣﻌﺎ ً ﻟﺗﻌﺯﻳﺯ ﺍﻟﻣﺻﺎﻟﺢ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻣﺗﺑﺎﺩﻟﺔ ﺍﻟﻣﺗﻌﻠﻘﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﺗﻌﻠﻳﻡ ﻭﺍﻟ ﺗﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺛﻘﺎﻓﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺗﺟﺎﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﻟﻌﻠﻭﻡ‪ .‬ﻭﻳﺗﺿﻣﻥ ﻫﺫﺍ ﺍﻟﻌﻣﻝ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺗﺳﻬﻳﻝ ﺍﻧﺿﻣﺎﻡ ﺍﻟﺷﺑﺎﺏ ﻭﺍﻟﺷﺎﺑﺎﺕ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﺑﺭﺍﻣﺞ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﻠﻳﻣﻳﺔ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﻟﺗﺑﺎﺩﻝ ﺍﻟﺛﻘﺎﻓﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻛﻝ ﻣﻥ ﺍﻟﻣﻣﻠﻛﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺳﻌﻭﺩﻳﺔ ﻭﺑﺭﻳﻁﺎﻧﻳﺎ‪ .‬ﻭﺃﻋﻘﺏ ﺍﻟﺗﻭﻗﻳﻊ ﺍﻟﺭﺳﻣﻲ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺫﻛﺭﺓ ﺗﻔﺎﻫﻡ ﺣﻔﻝ ﺍﺳﺗﻘﺑﺎﻝ ﺣﺿﺭﻩ ﻋﺩﺩ ﻛﺑﻳﺭ ﻣﻥ‬ ‫ﺭﺟﺎﻝ ﺍﻷﻋﻣﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺑﺎﺭﺯﻳﻥ ﻭﺷﺧﺻﻳﺎﺕ ﻣﻥ ﺍﻟﺳﻠﻙ ﺍﻟﺩﺑﻠﻭﻣﺎﺳﻲ ﻭﻋﺩﺩ ﻣﻥ ﺍﻟﺧﺑﺭﺍء ﻓﻲ ﻣﺟﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﻠﻳﻡ‪.‬‬ ‫ﻭﺃﻋﺭﺑﺕ ﺍﻟﺩﻛﺗﻭﺭﺓ ﺍﻟ ُ‬ ‫ﺷﻌﻳﺑﻲ ﻋﻥ ﺷﻛﺭﻫﺎ ﻭﺗﻘﺩﻳﺭﻫﺎ ﻟﻠﻭﻓﺩ ﺍﻟﻘﺎﺩﻡ ﻣﻥ ﺍﻟﻣﻣﻠﻛﺔ ﻭﻟﻠﺣﺿﻭﺭ ﻭﺃﺛﻧﺕ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺩﻋﻡ ﺍﻟﺫﻱ ﻗﺩﻣﻭﻩ ﻟﺩﻋﻡ ﻣﺛﻝ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﻣﺑﺎﺩﺭﺍﺕ ﺍﻟﺗﻲ‬ ‫ﺗﺣﺿﻰ ﺑﺎﻫﺗﻣﺎﻡ ﺍﻟﻣﺳﺅﻭﻟﻳﻥ ﻭﺍﻟﺷﺑﺎﺏ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺣﺩ ﺳﻭﺍء‪.‬‬

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TENDERS

TENDERS BAHRAIN HIRING OF MOBILE GENERATORS 90KVA (20) & 250KVA (15) FOR FOUR MONTHS Tender No 2013/62/PP/FRSD Contact Tender Board Kingdom of Bahrain http://www.tenderboard.gov.bh/ Deadline: 02/05/2013

ENG CAMCORDER SYSTEM FOR INFORMATION AFFAIRS AUTHORITY Tender No IAA/3/2013 Bid Bond: BHD500 Document Cost: BHD15 Contact Tender Board Kingdom of Bahrain http://www.tenderboard.gov.bh/ Deadline: 15/05/2013

SHORT TERM ACTION MEASURES – IMPROVEMENT OF SECONDARY EFFLUENT PUMP STATION, BALANCING TANK AND BALANCING TANK LIFTING STATION AT TUBLI WPCC Tender No SD/15/2013 Bid Bond: BHD4000 Document Cost: BHD50 Contact Tender Board Kingdom of Bahrain http://www.tenderboard.gov.bh/ Deadline: 15/05/2013

MONITORING OF MINOR STPS –TWO YEARS (2013 TO 2014) Tender No SD/10/2013 Bid Bond: BHD1000 Document Cost: BHD50 Contact Tender Board Kingdom of Bahrain http://www.tenderboard.gov.bh/ Deadline: 08/05/2013

FURNITURE FOR SALMANIYA MEDICAL COMPLEX Tender No MOH/112/2013 Bid Bond: BHD500 Document Cost: BHD15 Contact Tender Board Kingdom of Bahrain http://www.tenderboard.gov.bh/ Deadline: 15/05/2013

PESTICIDES Tender No MOH/001/2013 Bid Bond: BHD500 Document Cost: BHD15 Contact Tender Board Kingdom of Bahrain http://www.tenderboard.gov.bh/ Deadline: 15/05/2013

CONSTRUCTION OF CAR AUCTION YARD AT SALMABAD Tender No CMSD/06/013 Bid Bond: BHD500 Document Cost: BHD15 Contact Tender Board Kingdom of Bahrain http://www.tenderboard.gov.bh/ Deadline: 08/05/2013

CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR GARDENS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS Tender No: CMSD/05/2013 Bid Bond: BHD5000 Document Cost: BHD50 Contact Tender Board Kingdom of Bahrain http://www.tenderboard.gov.bh/ Deadline: 08/05/2013

PROVISION FOR SPORTSWEAR AND SHOES FOR SPORT TEACHERS Tender No: M/18/2013 Bid Bond: BHD500 Document Cost: BHD15 Contact Tender Board Kingdom of Bahrain http://www.tenderboard.gov.bh/ Deadline: 08/05/2013

COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF REFUSE FROM AWALI, REFINERY SITRA TANKS, TERMINAL AND WHARF AREAS Tender No: T130030 Bid Bond: BHD2500 Document Cost: BHD25 Contact Tender Board Kingdom of Bahrain http://www.tenderboard.gov.bh/ Deadline: 15/05/2013

JORDAN Firms are invited to participate in the prequalification process for the supply of Liquefied Natural Gas as part of the Jordan LNG Project Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Invitation to Tender No 2/W/2013 Invitation for Prequalification The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) plans to import quantities of LNG equivalent to 150 mmscf/d in order to meet the increased demand for fuel required for power generation in the Kingdom.

The LNG will be delivered to Aqaba commencing in Q4 2014 to Q2 2015.

The initial contract will for a period of between three to five years.

The contract volume, commencement window and contract terms will be specified in a subsequent Request for Proposal to be issued in July 2013.

The National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) has a long-term contract to purchase natural gas from Egypt which is delivered through the Jordan Gas Transmission Pipeline (JGTP). However, the contracted quantity of natural gas is no longer sufficient to meet NEPCO’s current and anticipated future fuel demand. NEPCO is at present importing diesel and heavy fuel oil to meet the additional demand at significant cost.

Furthermore, over the past 24 months the supply of natural gas from Egypt has been subject to disruptions and shortfalls in supply. This project will enable Jordan to overcome these shortfalls in gas supplies.

Contact Interested parties can obtain the prequalification documents on the submission of a written application to the postal or email address below: Eng Farouq Al-Hiyari Chairman of the Special Tender Committee Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources Jabal Amman, 7th Circle, Zahran St PO Box 140027 Amman 11814, Jordan Email: generals@memr.gov.jo A copy of the application should be emailed to: Richard.bass@navigant.com For further information see: http://www.memr.gov.jo/Default. aspx?tabid=221 Deadline for submission of applications to prequalify: 16/05/2013

TENDERS

QATAR PLANT & LOGISTICS SERVICES WITHIN THE GCC Tender No GT13104300 Bid Bond: QR350000 Contact Qatar Petroleum PO Box 3212, Doha, Qatar Tel: (974) 4440 2000; Fax: (974) 4483 1125 www.qp.com.qa Deadline: 19/05/2013

FEED UPGRADING & CONSTR OF VARIOUS RD IN MES COMMU & INDUSTRY Tender No GT13103900 Bid Bond: QR125000 Contact Qatar Petroleum PO Box 3212, Doha, Qatar Tel: (974) 4440 2000; Fax: (974) 4483 1125 www.qp.com.qa Deadline: 19/05/2013

PROVISION OF WELL INTEGRITY TESTING & DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES FOR QP OFFSHORE WELLS Tender No GT13104900 Bid Bond: QR360000 Contact Qatar Petroleum PO Box 3212, Doha, Qatar Tel: (974) 4440 2000; Fax: (974) 4483 1125 www.qp.com.qa Deadline: 26/05/2013

EPIC OF STP WORKSHOP, LABORATORY BUILDING AND GUARD HOUSE WITHIN DUKHAN FIELDS Tender No GT13104400 Bid Bond: QR230000 Contact Qatar Petroleum PO Box 3212, Doha, Qatar Tel: (974) 4440 2000; Fax: (974) 4483 1125 www.qp.com.qa Deadline: 26/05/2013

PROVISION FOR 3RD PARTY INSPECT, ENGG, EXPED & C Tender No GT13104800 Bid Bond: QR700000 Contact Qatar Petroleum PO Box 3212, Doha, Qatar Tel: (974) 4440 2000; Fax: (974) 4483 1125 www.qp.com.qa Deadline: 02/06/2013

SAP PHASE 3 IMPLEMENTATION - CONSULTANCY & TRAINING SERVICES Tender No GT13105100 Bid Bond: QR500000 Contact Qatar Petroleum PO Box 3212, Doha, Qatar Tel: (974) 4440 2000; Fax: (974) 4483 1125 www.qp.com.qa Deadline: 16/06/2013

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, CALIB & CERT OF FUME CUPBOARDS ON CALL OFF BASIS AT QPGO –MES Tender No ST13102700 Bid Bond: QR15,000 Contact Qatar Petroleum PO Box 3212, Doha, Qatar Tel: (974) 4440 2000; Fax: (974) 4483 1125 www.qp.com.qa Deadline: 20/05/2013

SALE & REMOVAL OF LINEPIPES WITH SUPPORT Tender No STC/ST13MT0131 Contact Qatar Petroleum PO Box 3212, Doha, Qatar Tel: (974) 4440 2000; Fax: (974) 4483 1125 www.qp.com.qa Deadline: 20/05/2013

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION & INSTALLATION OF STORAGE RACKS AT GEOLOGY LAB-DUKHAN Tender No ST13102400 Contact Qatar Petroleum PO Box 3212, Doha, Qatar Tel: (974) 4440 2000; Fax: (974) 4483 1125 www.qp.com.qa Deadline: 13/05/2013

UAE GROUP MEDICAL INSURANCE EXPENSES Tender No 2121300021 Document Cost: AED1000 Contact Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager, Zabeel East, PO Box 564, Dubai Tel: (9714) 3244444 Fax: (9714) 3248111 Email: contracts@dewa.gov.ae www.dewa.gov.ae Deadline: 06/05/2013

SUPPLY AND COMMISSIONING OF 2 X 1500KVA DIESEL GENERATOR SETS WITH ENCLOSURE AND ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRUCKS Tender No 2131300015 Document Cost: AED500 Contact Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager, Zabeel East, PO Box 564, Dubai Tel: (9714) 3244444 Fax: (9714) 3248111 Email: contracts@dewa.gov.ae www.dewa.gov.ae Deadline: 06/05/2013

CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR REVIEWING & UPGRADING FIRE PROTECTION DESIGN SPECIFICATION Tender No 2421300012 Document Cost: AED500 Contact Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager, Zabeel East, PO Box 564, Dubai Tel: (9714) 3244444 Fax: (9714) 3248111 Email: contracts@dewa.gov.ae www.dewa.gov.ae Deadline: 07/05/2013

PURCHASE OF LIGHT MOTOR VEHICLES Tender No 2211300013 Document Cost: AED1000 Contact Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager, Zabeel East, PO Box 564, Dubai Tel: (9714) 3244444 Fax: (9714) 3248111 Email: contracts@dewa.gov.ae www.dewa.gov.ae Deadline: 07/05/2013

SUPPLY OF 33KV POWER CABLES Tender No 2051300021 Document Cost: AED1000 Contact Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager, Zabeel East, PO Box 564, Dubai Tel: (9714) 3244444 Fax: (9714) 3248111 Email: contracts@dewa.gov.ae www.dewa.gov.ae Deadline: 08/05/2013

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ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA OUTLOOK Economic performance across the Middle East and North Africa was again mixed in 2012, the IMF observes in its recent World Economic Outlook report.

decreasing food inflation, a benign global inflation environment, and lower increases in rents in some Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Growth in the MENA region was relatively robust at 4¾% in 2012, but is expected to fall to about 3% in 2013 largely because of an expected slowdown among oil exporters

Risks to the near-term outlook for oil exporters centre on the evolution of oil prices and global growth.

Although most of the region’s oil-exporting countries grew at healthy rates, economic growth remained sluggish in the oil importers—many of which are undergoing political transitions.

Although fiscal and external balances are sensitive to fluctuations in oil prices, many countries have low public debt levels and would be able to draw on the reserves they have built up in the past to sustain aggregate demand in the event of a decline in oil prices.

In 2013, these differences are expected to narrow because of a scaling back of hydrocarbon production among oil exporters and a mild economic recovery among oil importers.

The IMF says that capital expenditures can be sustained but need to be prioritized to ensure that the quality of public investment is not compromised.

While many countries face immediate challenges, the IMF says the region must not lose sight of medium-term challenges of diversifying their economies, creating more jobs, and generating more inclusive growth.

Oil-Exporting Economies For MENA oil exporters, 2012 was a year of robust growth, which reached about 5¾%, driven largely by the almost complete restoration of Libya’s oil production and strong expansions in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Economic growth is projected to fall to 3¼% in 2013 as oil production growth pauses against a backdrop of relatively weak global oil demand.

Additional oil supplies from Iraq and Libya are expected to more than offset a decline in oil exports, while lower net demand for Saudi Arabian exports is expected to result in slightly reduced production. As a result, aggregate oil GDP is expected to stagnate in 2013, compared with growth of 4½% recorded in 2012.

Sustained high government spending will continue to support buoyant non-oil GDP growth, expected at 4¼% this year. Overall, growth in the oil exporters of the region is projected to strengthen to about 3¾% in 2014 on the back of rising non-oil GDP growth and resuming oil GDP growth.

Inflation is expected to remain moderate in most oil exporting countries because of

Fiscal consolidation is more pressing for some low-income oil exporters (particularly Yemen), which are already burdened by constrained fiscal positions.

More broadly, countries need to continue their efforts to develop fiscal policy frameworks that mitigate the economic effects of oil price volatility and ensure the sustainable use of resource wealth.

To address medium-term challenges, the oil exporters need to continue with reforms that increase the pace of economic diversification and support job creation. The former will require continued infrastructure investment and further improvements in the business climate, while the latter will require enhancing education and training, improving job placement services, and reviewing the incentives for working in the private relative to the public sector.

Oil-Importing Economies

Besides these broad trends, a few prominent country-specific factors have also played a role.

In Jordan, for example, growth has been affected by the disruption of trading routes through Syria; in Morocco, an extended period of sound economic performance has been challenged by the deterioration of the situation in Europe The weak domestic and external environment will continue to pose challenges for MENA oil importers during 2013–14. Growth is projected to be 2¾% this year, a downward revision of ½ percentage point relative to the October 2012 WEO, owing to slower progress in political transitions and the protracted recovery in European trading partners.

Nonetheless, assuming progress is made in the region’s political and economic transitions, growth in oil importers could accelerate to 3¾% in 2014. Inflation is expected to rise during 2013–14, reflecting monetization of fiscal imbalances in several countries and cutbacks in commodity price subsidies, despite moderating commodity import prices.

Downside risks remain elevated for oil importers, largely as the result of domestic and regional political instability and social unrest. Several governments in the region are transitional, and continued political instability could further delay policy action to maintain macroeconomic stability and aid the recovery.

In addition, there is a risk that the conflict in Syria could spread to neighbouring countries (Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon) and the broader subregion. In addition, an increase in global food and fuel prices could reduce output and worsen the oil importers’ already large fiscal and external deficits.

In these countries, growth remains weighed down by a number of factors including the soft external demand from European trading partners, and persistently high commodity prices, particularly for food and fuel.

A protracted period of slow European growth could further affect MENA oil importers’ growth through economic linkages, including trade, tourism, remittances, and FDI.

As a result, exports of goods and foreign direct investment (FDI) flows have declined; tourism arrivals remain below the 2010 levels (including in Egypt and Lebanon); and unemployment has risen in many countries

The IMF says that action is needed to formulate and implement a credible and bold agenda of institutional and regulatory reforms, which will enhance the business environment, bolster private sector activity, and create greater and more equal access to economic and employment opportunities.

At the same time, inflation has generally remained muted, reflecting tepid demand.

IMF, World Economic Outlook, April 2013

UK-GULF RELATIONS

LONDON SEEKS TO INCREASE TRADE WITH THE GULF London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)has undertaken a trade mission to the Gulf in order to boost exports and strengthen business ties.

Willie Walsh, president of LCCI and chief executive of International Airlines Group, led the trade missionQatar which took place from 14-17 April.

The mission was the latest in a series of private sector trade missions run by the LCCI and supported by British Airways, KPMG and UKTI which are designed to help small and medium enterprises drive exports.

Building on the success of the London 2012 Games, the mission will focus on promoting British companies’ experience in sport, infrastructure and construction.

Qatar is to host the 2022 World Cup and is investing billions in infrastructure projects.

The country was recently reported to have begun talks to invest up to £10bn in the UK’s key infrastructure projects including power plants, road and rail projects.

According to UKTI figures, British exports to Qatar nearly doubled in recent years and the LCCI believes more can be done to help London firms do business in the Gulf country.

The LCCI president commented: “Qatar is one of the world’s fastest growing economies and offers great potential for British businesses. Qatar’s successful 2022 World Cup bid has accelerated large-scale infrastructure and construction projects worth more than $60bn.

“We are looking to seize the opportunities this presents for British businesses who delivered the fantastically successful London 2012 Games.

“British companies are highly regarded in Qatar and those with international ambitions can use this mission as their first step in obtaining global recognition. Businesses will learn how they can leverage the Games to build their sustainable strategies and boost their long-term competitiveness beyond 2012 internationally.”

Meanwhile, the Mayor London also undertook an official visit to the Gulf states, visiting Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar. During his five-day trip, the Mayor held a series of high-level meetings with political, state and business leaders, including senior members of the Royal families in the region, sovereign wealth funds and investment authorities.

The aim of the Mayor’s visit was to attract foreign investment, promote export, create jobs in the capital ensuring London’s status as a global leader and building on the huge exposure that the capital received as a result of hosting the 2012 Olympics.

The Mayor visited two of Qatar’s leading cultural attractions - the Museum of Islamic Art and the Katara Cultural Village - during his three day trade mission to Doha.

He was scheduled to meet major investors, many of whom already have an interest in London, including Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem,

chairman of DP World, which owns the London Gateway port and business park development now under construction; Khaled al-Sayed, acting CEO of Qatari Diar, investors in London’s Olympic Village. While in Qatar, he met Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Secretary General of Qatar Olympic Committee.

Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi, the mayor met Dr Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, CEO of Masdar and the UAE Minister of State. He visited Masdar City and Institute, the emerging cleantech cluster and university focused on developing alternative energy and sustainability for the region.

During the Dubai part of the trip, the Mayor’s team forged links between Dubai Internet City - the largest ICT business park in the Middle East – and London’s Tech City led by Joanna Shields, the CEO of Tech City (and British Business Ambassador for the Digital Industries).

Coinciding with the visit, the London Mayor announced plans for the return of Shubbak – London’s celebration of contemporary culture from across the Arab world, which he first launched in 2011.

Shubbak 2013 runs from 22 June to 6 July, with 40 events and nine exhibitions taking place at venues across London celebrating the best of Arab art and culture.

Sources: LCCI press release; London Mayor press release.

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MOROCCO

MOROCCO EMERGING AS REGIONAL CAR PRODUCER At a factory in Casablanca this month, executives and officials gathered at a launch ceremony for a new car model. It was a small but significant step, Moroccan officials hope, in the country’s emergence as a regional auto producer.

The factory is operated by Somaca, a venture majority owned by the Moroccan arm of French car maker Renault. Somaca produced 60,000 cars in 2012 under the Renault and Dacia brand names.

Renault car plant in Tangier

Now it is making a new version of the Sandero, a small, low-cost sedan from Dacia, the Romanian unit of Renault.

Somaca is part of an expanding network of car makers and parts suppliers in Morocco, a heavily agricultural country which hopes to use the auto sector to expand its industrial base.

Morocco’s total car production last year was about 120,000 cars, with roughly 90,000 of them exported, mainly to Europe and Arab nations.

A strong auto industry, exporting cars to Europe, North Africa and further afield, could help strengthen the economy and create jobs in industry. Currently, agriculture employs about 40% of the workforce of over 11 million people.

The Kingdom has two factories making fully assembled cars: the Somaca facility and a plant opened by Renault near the northern port city of Tangier in February last year.

At the Tangier plant production began with two new entry models: the new family car, Lodgy, and a small van also available in passenger car form.

Morocco offers many advantages for the production of cars. In addition to its geographical location, situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea at the heart of the Tangier Med Port area, the plant benefits not only from an extensive network of competitive suppliers, but also from a pool of highly qualified staff with trained to modern automotive production techniques.

Designed from the start to meet the standards of the Renault Group’s environmental policy, the Tangier facility was the fruit of a unique partnership between Morocco, Renault and Veolia Environnement.

CO2 emissions have been slashed by 98% compared to an equivalent factory with a

production capacity of 400,000 vehicles per year, a feat which represents an annual saving of 135,000 tonnes of CO2.

An ambitious staff training programme has been put in place to ensure the highest possible standards with regard to quality and performance. To provide training for factory staff and suppliers alike, Renault and Morocco have jointly founded the IFMIA (Institut de Formation aux Métiers de l’Automobile).

Meanwhile, car exports from Morocco benefit from several free trade agreements signed by the government, mainly with the European Union and with Jordan, Egypt and Tunisia.

Morocco is offering a range of monetary incentives to foreign investors in the auto industry. Trade minister Abdelkader Amara has said talks are at an advanced stage on possible investments by other foreign firms including India’s Tata Motors.

The Tangier car factory, the biggest in North Africa, required initial investment of €600 million ($785 million) and is expected to reach an annual production capacity of 400,000 vehicles in coming years.

Morocco faces obstacles such as a shortage of qualified technicians and engineers which it is trying to overcome by building training institutes and allowing foreign investors to run them.

“The capacity of the Tangier plant will double in 2013 and 95% of its production is to be exported,” the head of Renault’s Moroccan operations, Jacques Prost, stated.

It could also face actual or potential competition in future from other relatively low-cost countries, such as Turkey, Egypt and Algeria. Last year Renault said it would build a car factory in Algeria, resuming production there after an absence of more than four decades.

Many of the benefits to the wider Moroccan economy come in the form of parts orders from Renault to local companies; Prost said some 42% of the content of Renault’s Moroccan cars came from local suppliers.

Renault claims a 37% market share within Morocco, selling 47,700 new cars in 2012 including 24,042 under the Dacia brand.

Peugeot and Ford also have major presences in the market.

The Algerian plant is to begin operating in 2014 with initial annual production of about 25,000 cars, which would be sold in the local market. Production there could grow to 75,000 cars depending on demand.

Sources: Reuters, 18/04/2013; Renault Group press release.

BUSINESS EVENTS

BUSINESS EVENTS, TRADE FAIRS AND CONFERENCES 6th International Conference on Genetically Modified Food

6-7 May 2013 Amman, Jordan Contact The Technical Consultancy Centre Conferences Department Tel: +962 6 55 333 86 Email: conferences@tc-center.com www.conferences@tc-center.com Solar Maghreb Conference

21-22 May 2013 Casablanca, Morocco Contact Green Power Conferences Email: samantha.coleman@ greenpowerconferences.com www.greenpowerconferences.com/GSEC Putting a Roof over Britain: The Future of Housing in the UK Policy Briefing

22 May 2013 Central London Contact Policy Knowledge Email: info@policy-knowledge.com Tel: 0845 647 7000

Iraq Energy 2013/2014: Opportunities for UAE-Iraq Cooperation

22-24 May 2013 Abu Dhabi, UAE Contact Jinanda Sheth Portfolio Director – Middle East The Energy Exchange World Refining Association Tel: 00 971 4 450 8628 Email: j.sheth@theenergyexchange.co.uk www.theenergyexchange.co.uk/iraqenergy 4th Annual Qatar Transport Conference

27-29 May 2013 The Renaissance Doha City Centre Hotel, Qatar Contact Meed Events Angela Powell Tel: +971 (0) 4 368 1643 http://www.meed.com/events/qatartransport-conference-2013/3171902.article Cityscape Qatar Trade fair for investors, real estate developers, architects, designers and senior executives

Doha Exhibition Centre, Doha, Qatar 27 - 29 May 2013 Contact Informa Exhibitions PO Box 28943, Dubai, UAE Tel: 971 (0) 4 407 2535 http://www.cityscapeqatar.com/

The Entrepreneurial University Business seminar hosted by Coventry University Enterprises Ltd, the commercial arm of Coventry University, and under the patronage of His Royal Highness Sheikh Juma Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum

Dubai, UAE 30 May 2013 Contact Mark Farnan Communications Officer Coventry University Tel: 0247 7658245 Email mark.farnan@coventry.ac.uk www.eventsforce.net/ theentrepreneurialuniversity

10th Convergence Summit Telecoms and media industry conference

Four Seasons Hotel, Amman, Jordan 3-4 June 2013 Contact Arab Advisors Group Tel: +962 6 582 8849 Fax: +962 6 582 8809 Email: arabadvisors@arabadvisors.com Web: http://www.arabadvisors.com/ Convergence/schedule.htm JIMEX 2013 The 10th International Machines and ElectroMechanical Exhibition

3-6 June 2013 Halls of Amman International Motor Show Centre, Amman, Jordan Contact Golden Gate for Exhibitions PO Box 340 Amman 11941 Al-Jubeiha, Jordan Tel: 00 962 6565 8501 Fax: 00 962 6565 0085 Email: goldgate@go.com.jo; info@jordanfairs.com www.jordan-fairs.com Smart to Future Cities: From Vision to Reality in Developed Markets

11-12 June 2013 Central London Contact George Shaw Sponsorship Manager, Ovum george.shaw@ovum.com www.smarttofuture.com

7th Annual London Sukuk Summit

Serving the Demand 12-13 June 2013 Jumeirah Carlton Hotel, London Contact ICG-Events Ltd Tel: 020 8200 9002 Email: info@icg-events.com Tunisia Investment Forum 2013 New Tunisia: Towards a New Sustainable Investment Strategy This annual international economic event brings together businessmen, managers and high-level policy-makers, representatives of international organisations and experts, to introduce the Tunisia investment environment and the emerging opportunities 13-14 June 2013

El Mouradi Gammarth Hotel, Tunis, Tunisia Contact Beligh Ben Soltane Director (UK Office) FIPA Tunisia Email: fipa.london@investintunisia.org.uk www.tunisiainvestmentforum.tn 7th Annual Gas Storage Conference

19-20 June 2013 Copthorne Tara Hotel, London Contact Andrew Gibbons SMI Tel: +44 (0)20 7827 6156 Email: agibbons@smi-online.co.uk www.gas-storage-event.com The London link: Innovation, Opportunities and Challenges in Emerging Markets

9 July 2013 The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A Contact The Law Society Tel: +44 (0) 20 7242 1222 http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/get-in-touch/ Inventions and Nanotech Middle East Conference & Exhibition

Qatar National Convention Centre, Doha, Qatar 3-5 November 2013 Contact Inventions Nanotech MiddleEast Salwa Road, West Corner Bldg Entrance 5, Office 26 PO Box 22345 Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 44 688065 Fax: +974 44 687952 www.invnanome.com 4th Basra Oil & Gas International Conference and Exhibition

5 - 8 December 2013 Basra International Fair Ground, Basra, Iraq Contact Basra Oil & Gas Sales Team Expotim International Fair Organizations INC. Fulya Mah. Vefa Deresi Sok. No: 9 34394 Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey Email: sales@basraoilgas.com Tel: +90 212 356 0056; Fax: +90 212 356 0096

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