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Small Egypt Farmers Catch the Eye of Agribusiness: IFAD Finds Key to Success
Twenty-odd years ago, groups of dispossessed farmers and unemployed youth were resettled on smallholdings in Upper Egypt. Authorities told the new arrivals to go till the desert soil. Plots – sandboxes really – of one to two hectares were duly
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Christopher Colford, World Bank: Competitive Cities Can Meet the Challenge of Job Creation
Focusing policies on competitive industries can provide jobs for the impoverished, hungry, restive urban millions As magnets for talent and crucibles of creativity, dynamic cities are the pacesetters for innovation in this era of relentless global competition. Vibrant metropolitan regions
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Looking for a Fig Leaf: US & UK Mull Punitive Action against Syria
Here we go again. The US and Britain are whipping themselves once more into a frenzy over the actions of an evil strongman in the Middle East. This time around the recipient of American and British ire is Syrian president
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Connecting a Country: Iraq Gears Up for a Telecoms Leap
In Iraq the budding telecom sector is to spearhead the country’s drive to full economic recovery. The Baghdad government has adopted a series of policies to encourage the sector’s growth through innovation and the early adoption of new technologies. The
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Use of Chemical Weapons in Damascus: UN Voices Deep Shock and Concern
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his shock at reports of alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria’s Damascus suburbs yesterday, as a United Nations team continues to investigate the matter in other parts of the war-torn country. Following a late-day closed-door
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Facebook Zero: Connecting the World
As Facebook is looking for growth it increasingly turns to Africa, India and the Middle East. These are about the only places left with vast markets and a pent-up demand for the services of the social network. Elsewhere on earth
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The Magic Number to Watch in Dubai: 2020
For Dubai the magic number is 2020. This is of course when the city-state hopes to host the World Expo. However, 2020 is also to herald the arrival of a new era. The emirate’s rulers seem decided to propel Dubai
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Empty Threats: Little to Fear from the Chattering Classes
Western intelligence services are sounding the alarm over a possible terrorist attack soon to strike Yemen or another country in the Middle East. Spying agencies noted a significant increase of “chatter” prompting the US government to close its embassy in
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Mohamed Al Jaber: The Arabs and Technology
Mohamed Al Jaber, born in Jeddah in 1959, is a UNESCO special envoy who likes constructive dialogue and so do we. He believes in building bridges between the Middle East and the wider world and we applaud him for this
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Bentley Motors Middle East: World’s Biggest Workshop in Dubai
Sales In March this year, Bentley Motors announced its financial results for the year ending 31 December 2012, reporting a significantly increased operating profit of Euros 100.5m compared to Euros 8m in 2011. Bentley boosted its total turnover by 29.9%
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