Category: Market

Assistant Director of the Department of Censuses, Surveys and Statistical Methods at the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) Saud Matar Al Shammari, expected the final results for the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), which is currently being conducted, to be announced by the end of the fourth quarter of the year 2023.

In an interview with the Qatar News Agency , Al Shammari explained that the survey aims to collect accurate data on the main indicators that are used to assess the situation of children and women in the State of Qatar, as a major source of data on child protection issues, maternal and child health, early childhood education, and child nutrition.

In the same context, Al Shammari pointed out that the survey also contributes to providing valuable data to monitor the progress made towards achieving the sustainable development goals, which are based on the household survey.

On aspects of cooperation and coordination with the concerned authorities in the country and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to achieve it, he said that a steering committee for the survey was formed, represented by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) and the Qatar Foundation for Social Work, where it supervises its implementation, approves its action plan, and undertakes the task of forming and following up the work of the technical committee, which in turn undertakes the responsibility of preparing and preparing for the implementation of the survey.

He indicated that the Planning and Statistics Authority had signed a cooperation agreement with UNICEF to implement it, according to which the organization would provide the necessary technical support for the various stages of implementation in order to make the project a success.

In terms of the steps taken by the agency to accomplish the task efficiently and competently, he confirmed the completion of all preparatory stages for the survey in terms of preparing the final survey form, programming its systems, the implementation of workshops for the technical teams participating in it, and the training of researchers in the data collection phase. A pre-experiment was also carried out to test the systems used in the survey, and the field visit phase is currently being implemented to collect data from families.

Regarding the specificity of the field work stage, which started on June 20, Al Shammari described it as one of the most important stages of the cluster survey project, which is implemented by the agency according to the UNICEF methodology. It relies on conducting personal interviews with the households participating in the survey sample to collect the required data.

He stressed that the agency’s commitment to implementing the survey in accordance with this methodology would contribute to extracting reliable results comparable to the results of the survey in its previous version, carried out in 2012, as well as with the results of other countries that carried out the same survey.

He pointed out that the percentage of completion monitored by the device from the total target sample is high, accordingly, the authority praises the remarkable cooperation of households with researchers during the current version of the 2023 survey.

With regard to the work of the field teams and the mechanism for monitoring their progress, Al Shammari indicated that an operations room was equipped to review and audit the data received from the field, to ensure its rationality and comprehensiveness, and to control the quality of work. The results and reports are then extracted on a daily basis, in the form of tables, graphs and geographical maps.

Assistant Director of the Department of Censuses, Surveys and Statistical Methods added that the statistical work is being audited in all its stages. The coordinates of the data received from the field from researchers and supervisors are also checked with the coordinates of the geographical database, in addition to directing field workers about their performance and correcting errors to complete deficiencies in the collected data.

On his evaluation of previous surveys, and the extent of household response to the teams assigned to complete them, Al Shammari pointed out that the agency follows, when preparing and implementing statistical surveys, the methodologies approved by specialized international organizations, and this is reflected positively on the response rates observed when conducting interviews with families, and on the quality of the results drawn.

At the end of his interview with QNA, the Assistant Director of the Department of Censuses, Surveys and Statistical Methods thanked all the families participating in the survey for their cooperation with the field work teams, emphasizing that all data obtained will be treated with strict confidentiality, and will only be used for the purposes of survey and statistical study, according to Amiri Decision No. 2 of 2011 regarding official statistics, noting that field female researchers carry an official identification card issued by the Planning and Statistics Authority, and the identity of the researcher can be verified by calling the toll-free number 8000800.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Jordanian exports to the European Union (EU) countries grew by 23.4 per cent during the first five months of 2023 to reach about JOD 136 million compared to about JOD 110 million for the same period last year.

According to Jordan News Agency (Petra), foreign trade data issued by the Department of Statistics indicated an increase in the value of the Kingdom’s imports from the EU during the first five months of 2023 by 3.6 per cent, reaching JOD 1.182 billion compared to JOD 1.140 billion for the same period last year.

The Netherlands topped the list of European countries in terms of Jordanian exports to the EU countries in the first five months of this year, reaching JOD 38 million, while Germany topped the list of countries from which Jordan imports, with the value of the Kingdom’s imports amounting to approximately JOD 253 million.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

The Central Bank of Jordan has decided to hike interest rates 25 basis points, effective from July 30.

In a statement today, the bank confirmed its careful monitoring of all monetary, banking, and economic developments, adding that it will take necessary measures to ensure their stability in the country.

The bank expressed satisfaction with the recent developments concerning the performance of the Jordanian economy and the positive performance of all monetary and banking indicators in the kingdom.

This decision comes one day after the US Federal Reserve raised its interest rate by 25 basis points.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli has stressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to and support for international efforts to build food systems that contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, noting that the world faces many challenges in food supplies, which requires greater cooperation and joint action among the world’s nations, as well as a commitment to the pathways of achieving sustainable transformation of food systems.

Al-Fadhli made the remarks during the Kingdom’s speech at the UN Food Systems Summit held between July 24 and 26 in Italy; he delivered in a session entitled “Food Systems Transformation in Practice – Successes, Challenges and the Way Forward.”

He noted that the success of the transformation of the Kingdom’s food systems had increased the financing of agricultural investments by about 1,000% over the past five years, enhanced the volume of agricultural loans to some SAR 7 billion in 2022, in addition to allocating SAR 12 billion to the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, stimulating the private sector to diversify sources of food import, and building strategic sustainable food reserves. All these factors played a role in boosting the Kingdom’s agricultural production to more than 11 million tons, achieving a surplus in products and price stability, and increasing the rates of self-sufficiency for many basic commodities.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Mohamed Hassan Qatana underlined the importance of expanding the scientific and applied research and benefiting from study centers to avoid severe environmental, social and economic crises that we are facing.

Speaking at the UN Food Systems Summit that is being held in the Italian capital, Rome, Qatana pointed out the magnitude of the threats to food security and the sustainability of resources as demand for food grows.

Qatana stressed the need for adopting rapid measures to transform agricultural and food systems towards sustainable production and consumption patterns to reach comprehensive economic growth and to support countries suffering from crises.

Qatna noted that Syria, after the challenges it faced due to terrorism and the blockade, is looking forward to cooperating with countries, which truly believe and work for human rights and security, and with international governmental and non-governmental organizations to implement early recovery and development programs in Syria.

Qatana underlined that Syria is working to develop a comprehensive and coordinated approach to transform agricultural and food systems into more efficient, comprehensive, flexible, and sustainable systems, in cooperation with the FAO office in Damascus, in order to build an integrated strategy to transform agricultural and food systems in Syria.

Minister Qatna stressed the need to identify opportunities and unify Arab efforts and joint Arab action towards transforming food systems in fragile environments, and the need to increase investments and provide financing for such projects in countries suffering from crises, including Syria.

He pointed out to the role of the Arab League and joint Arab action organizations in this regard and the importance of inter-Arab cooperation in this field.

On the sidelines of the summit, Minister Qatna also met the Regional Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Dina Saleh, and discussed with her aspects of cooperation in the field of developing livestock and implementing new development projects in Syria.

In turn, the Regional Director reviewed the difficulties that the (IFAD) is facing in providing the necessary funding to implement wider projects in Syria.

She noted that the (IFAD) will constantly seek to provide the necessary funding to implement these important projects, which represent national priorities for Syria and at the same time are in line with the principles of work in the (IFAD).

She also drew attention that the (IFAD) has submitted proposals to some donors and is still awaiting responses from them.

At the end of the meeting, Minister Qatana invited the regional director of the (IFAD) to visit Damascus and discuss prospects for cooperation in the agricultural fields in depth, and work on implementing the proposals that were put forward.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, said that Bahrain’s fiscal sustainability initiatives provide a roadmap that supports long-term economic growth and competitiveness.

Speaking to Oxford Business Group (OBG) in an interview which was published in its annual report for 2023, said the Economic Development Board (EDB) attracted a record $1.1bn in direct investment in 2022 from a total of 88 companies. He said this was expected to generate over 6300 jobs by 2025.

The Deputy Prime Minister underlined the importance of public private partnerships (PPPs), which form a key part of government plans.

The kingdom is working towards efficient and effective governance by changing the role of the government from operator to regulator, while enabling the private sector to aid in driving economic development, he said.

On digitalisation, Shaikh Khalid said Bahrain’s strategy aims to increase the number of ICT startups by 20%; automate an additional 200 government services; increase national employment in the sector by 35%; and train at least 20,000 citizens on cybersecurity to support the digital economy by 2026.

Below is the full text of the interview:

To what extent is Bahrain’s drive towards sustainability shaping investment attraction strategies?

Several fiscal sustainability initiatives aim to promote foreign direct investment (FDI). The Economic Recovery Plan (ERP), which launched in 2021, includes a roadmap that supports long-term economic growth and competitiveness. The plan includes 27 programmes under five main pillars: launching major strategic projects; developing priority sectors through the rollout of various strategies; increasing the efficiency of commercial procedures; achieving fiscal sustainability and economic stability; and providing quality employment for Bahrainis.

The plan also aims to increase FDI by more than $2.5bn by the end of 2023 by streamlining business set-up procedures and supporting the development of a skilled local workforce to make the kingdom an attractive base for investors. The Bahrain Economic Development Board attracted a record $1.1bn in direct investment in 2022. This investment came from a total of 88 companies and is expected to generate over 6300 jobs by 2025.

The kingdom has also pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 with interim environmental targets, joining global efforts in combatting climate change. These goals have been integrated into the ERP, as have concurrent strategies to promote sustainability and achieve targets, such as the National Renewable Energy Action Plan.

In what ways can public-private partnerships (PPPs) help meet future labour market needs?

PPPs form a key part of government plans, including Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, which launched in 2008. The kingdom is working towards efficient and effective governance by changing the role of the government from operator to regulator, while enabling the private sector to aid in driving economic development. To this end, the government issued standards regulating PPPs in 2022 and has engaged in strategic partnerships with private institutions, international companies and agencies in a variety of fields, including cloud computing, e-services, software development and e-payment solutions.

The PPPs incorporated in the ERP aim to create quality job opportunities for locals and enhance their skill sets to meet the evolving needs of the labour market. Bahrain has also put in place initiatives to encourage private sector growth. On top of facilitating foreign investments, the kingdom supports startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through Tamkeen, a semi-autonomous agency that underpins private sector development. In 2019 Tamkeen’s development programme disbursed over BD29m ($76.9m), benefitting around 1700 Bahraini businesses, of which 93% were SMEs.

How would you characterise the country’s long-term vision of digitalisation as enabling socio-economic development?

The Telecommunications, ICT and Digital Economy Sector Strategy 2022-26 intends to transform services through digital technologies, while enhancing the sector environment and encouraging adoption. Through this strategy, the country aims to increase the number of ICT startups by 20%; automate an additional 200 government services; increase national employment in the sector by 35%; and train at least 20,000 citizens on cybersecurity to support the digital economy by 2026.

The kingdom has launched several initiatives to support digitalisation efforts, including Tamkeen’s innovation programme, which provides support to digital start-ups in research and development, prototyping, and product testing and launching. Another example is Citibank’s Global Technology Hub, which aims to create 1000 coding jobs by 2033.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Aamal Company’s net profit in the six-month period ending June 30, 2023 increased 6.6% to QR 166.767 million in comparison to net profit QR 156.433 million for the same period of the previous year.

An Aamal’s press release posted on Qatar Stock Exchange website said that the Earnings per share (EPS) amounted to QR 0.026 as of June 30, 2023 versus EPS QR 0.025 for the same period in 2022.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The general index of the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) ended today’s trading, up by 2.13 points, or by 0.02 percent, to reach the level of 10,497.04 points.

During today’s session, 229,318,920 shares were traded, with a value of QR 526,533,102.560, as a result of the implementation of 17,418 transactions in all sectors.

Shares of 24 companies rose in the session, and the prices of 21 other companies decreased, while 5 companies maintained their previous closing prices.

The market capitalization at the end of the trading session amounted to QR 618,734,199,325.090, compared to QR 619,900,357,715.140, in the previous session.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Eng. Mohammed Hassan Qatana said that wheat production for the current season is “good”, adding that the marketed amounts reached about 750,000 tons.

Eng. Qatana was briefed on, during a meeting on Saturday with Directors of Agricultural Departments in the wheat-producing provinces, the reality of the final production estimates for the crops of wheat and barley for this season.

Eng. Qatana pointed out that preparations for setting up a plan for the upcoming season according to the periodical agricultural cycles, with focus on wheat as an important food security crop, are underway.

He added that the government continues to grant priority for the agricultural sector and exerts all efforts to provide the production requirements.

Director of Damascus Countryside Agricultural Department said that the areas cultivated with wheat reached 18,000 hectares, and that about 40,000 tons have been marketed.

The wheat amounts marketed in Daraa reached 85,000 tons and in Quneitra 2,500 tons.

Director of the General Commission for Management and Development of al–Ghab, Eng. Awfa Wassouf, said that the areas cultivated with wheat reached 52,959 hectares and about 137,414 tons have been marketed.

In Hama, Director of Hama Agricultural Department Eng. Ashraf Bakir said that about 83,000 tons have been marketed from the cultivated areas which reached 46,000 hectares.

Eng. Bakir added that the areas cultivated with barley reached 88,000 hectares and the amounts marketed reached 7000 tons.

In Homs, Director of Homs Agricultural Department Eng. Younis Hamdan said that about 70,278 tons have been marketed from the cultivated areas which reached 42,000 hectares.

Director of Idleb Agricultural Department Eng. Yousef Qassem said that about 18,000 tons have been marketed from the cultivated areas which reached 18,000 hectares.

In Aleppo, the areas cultivated with wheat reached 132,000 hectares and the marketed amounts reached 207,000 tons, according to Director of Aleppo Agricultural Department Eng. Radwan Harsouni.

Director of Raqqa Agricultural Department Eng. Mohammad al-Khadali said that the marketed amounts reached 35,200 tons and the areas cultivated with wheat reached 15,500 hectares, while in Deir Ezzor, the cultivated areas reached 24.400 hectares and the marketed amounts reached 50,400 tons according to Director of Deir Ezzor Agricultural Department Eng. Fouad Abdoun.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

The Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim has met with delegation leaders, ministers and heads of international organizations (IGOs) on the sidelines of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) at the United Nations. These meetings enabled discussions about topics of common interest and opportunities for cooperation within the framework of international efforts towards achieving sustainable development goals.

During the HLPF, Alibrahim met the Director General of the United Nations Development Program Achim Steiner, Under Secretary General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States of the United Nations (UNOHRLLS) Rabab Fatima, Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Egypt Dr. Hala Elsaid, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, and Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations Dr. Mohamed Al-Hassan.

The Kingdom’s participation in the HLPF reinforces the Saudi Vision 2030 agenda, which includes projects and initiatives to help it achieve economic, social, and environmental sustainability. It also demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to forging partnerships at the national and international levels to enable peace and prosperity and chart a sustainable future for all.

Source: Saudi Press Agency