Abe aims 'third arrow' The latest tranche of Japan's growth strategy will aim to triple infrastructure exports and double farm exports by 2020, as well as boost private investment, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday. The latest tranche of Japan's growth strategy will aim to triple infrastructure exports and double farm exports by 2020, as well as boost private investment, Prime Minister...

Qatari inflation seen near steady despite housing market pressure Qatar's inflation is not expected to rise 'significantly' beyond the average of 3.8% this year although there is a build-up of pressures in the housing market, according to Beltone Financial. Qatar's inflation is not expected to rise 'significantly' beyond the average of 3.8% this year although there is a build-up of pressures in...

GCC investments in digital education programs rising Digital education programs being introduced to schools in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE will have a positive long-term effect on students, says the regional president of Pearson, the world's leading education company. Digital education programs being introduced to schools in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE will have a positive long-term...

US removes Iraqi bank from Iran sanctions list The US has removed sanctions on an Iraqi bank that was blacklisted last year for helping Iran skirt international financial controls over its nuclear activities. The US has removed sanctions on an Iraqi bank that was blacklisted last year for helping Iran skirt international financial controls over its nuclear activities. The US Treasury said it...

.. the next three two-year budget cycles, of about 7.7pc of GDP. That should stabilise government debt at 40pc of GDP over the medium term. Authorities should also look to contain public sector wage increases, raise non-oil revenues, rationalise capital expenditures, and place the pension fund on a sustainable path. Bahrain's fiscal break-even oil price reached critical levels of $115 per...

Iran plans to boost diesel exports to Iraq Iran will more than double its diesel exports to Iraq thanks to higher capacity at its refineries, a leading oil official said. Iran will more than double its diesel exports to Iraq thanks to higher capacity at its refineries, a leading oil official said. Trade relations between the two former enemies have improved markedly over the last few years,...

.. competitions from other budget airlines, Al Ghaith said that competition is good for the industry and even better for the consumer. “Giving passengers a choice of airline keeps us on our toes, therefore we need to work hard to win customer’s patronage,” he said. Speaking about the challenges of running a low-cost carrier, Al Ghaith said “Business has developed in a way that if...

Petroleum sector to gain from Al-Dahra contract The first fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts manufacturing facility in the Middle East will be built in Abu Dhabi. The first fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts manufacturing facility in the Middle East will be built in Abu Dhabi. An agreement to this effect was has been signed by Abu Dhabi-based Al-Dahra Agriculture with US company WR...

400 companies to exhibit products at Jeddah show Saudi Arabia's food, hotel and hospitality event is set to be held from Sunday (19) to Wednesday (22) at Jeddah Center for Forums and Events. Saudi Arabia's food, hotel and hospitality event is set to be held from Sunday (19) to Wednesday (22) at Jeddah Center for Forums and Events. Labeled as the biggest of its kind in the Kingdom, the 18th...

Saudia Arabia's nonoil exports to Arab states up five-fold Minister of Commerce and Industry Tawfiq Al-Rabiah expected a growth in Saudi exports during the coming period. Minister of Commerce and Industry Tawfiq Al-Rabiah expected a growth in Saudi exports during the coming period. He stressed the fact that Saudi Arabia's nonoil exports to the Arab countries had increased five-fold compared to...

.. exports to finance budgetary outlays. The second aspect is given the centrality of the energy in the Saudi economic system it has become over due to reform the sector and start to manage demand not only the supply as Aramco has been trying to do with commendable competency." According to The Financial Times, the shale oil boom, which has raised US crude production by almost 50 per cent...

Iran defends disarmament forum post after US snub Iran yesterday defended its election as the rotating chair of the world's sole multilateral disarmament forum after the US announced that its ambassador to the UN Conference on Disarmament would boycott any meeting led by Tehran. Iran yesterday defended its election as the rotating chair of the world’s sole multilateral disarmament forum after...

.. higher than the 2012 budget, but 4 percent lower than the actual spending. Education, health care, and transport and infrastructure received higher budgetary allocations. The new budget’s objectives are in line with the Ninth Development Plan (2010-2014), which has allocated more than 50 percent of $ 390.0 billion for human resources development to transform productivity of the Kingdom’s...

Rising plastics exports dominate nonoil trade The value Saudi nonoil exports reached SR 13.7 billion in February, falling short of last year's SR 15.2 billion by 10 percent. The value Saudi nonoil exports reached SR 13.7 billion in February, falling short of last year's SR 15.2 billion by 10 percent. Volume-wise, they amounted to 3.43 megatons versus 3.92 megatons in the same month last year, a...

UAE GDP to hit $ 395b The UAE's gross domestic product, or GDP, will expand moderately to $ 395 billion in 2013, growing 3.6 per cent, according to Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, attributing to latest estimates put out by the Institute of International Finance, or IIF. The UAE's gross domestic product, or GDP, will expand moderately to $ 395 billion in 2013, growing 3.6...