Despite the difficult conditions prevailing in the country, the Libyan government has been able implement over 400 projects across the country. The Transport Minister, Abdel Kader Ahmed said that 12 major roads and 85 access roads are currently under construction. ‘We have also signed agreements to begin four projects for the maintenance and development of the sea ports at Zawarat, Syrte, Tripoli and Dorna,’ he indicated. ‘In the air transport sector, work has started on the development of the airports of Benina and Benghazi and five other airports at Toubrouk, Martouba, Kufra, Al-Abrik and Ghatt. The Minister said an agreement has also been reached with a French firm to start the construction of a new international airport in Tripoli. [PANA]

 

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ibrahim Saif, US Ambassador to Jordan Stuart Jones, and USAID Acting Mission Director Douglas Ball signed a five-year $140 million agreement on Thursday to support citizen engagement and participation, and civil society across the Kingdom. The assistance will also help local governments rapidly identify and address community needs by establishing mechanisms that will bring citizens and their elected officials together to identify, prioritize and then fund small but necessary projects to improve their communities. [JNA]

 

Inflation in Jordan rose to 5.6 percent in 2013 due to a sharp increase in transport, electricity and fuel costs. According to a survey conducted by the Statistics Department, transport costs jumped by nearly 11 percent, while fuel and electricity prices rose by 19.7 percent, vegetable prices rose 14.3 percent and those of fruit 17 percent. The government lifted subsidies last year on several basic items and services to reduce the budget deficit, a move that lead to criticism from the parliament and opposition parties, which called on the government to resign. [Jordan Times]

 

President of African Development Bank (AfDB) Donald Kaberuka reiterated, Thursday, the Bank’s willingness to continue its support to Tunisia so that the country could overcome its difficulties. Mr. Kaberuka noted that the region of North Africa, particularly Tunisia is facing two major problems, namely unemployment explained by the slowdown of the main drivers of development and the downgrading of the country’s sovereign rating. [TAP]

 

 

 

Major Gulf investments in Egyptian real estate market | DNE

Egypt finance minister: New system to ensure inflow of economic institutions’ surpluses | SIS

Libya will take to court foreign firms buying oil from rebels | Reuters

Libya infrastructure report 2014 | SBWires

Yemeni parliament audits report of 2014 budget committee | SABA

GCC regional railway network to expand to Yemen | ANSAMed