Economy and trade

Iraq inches closer to Egyptian, Jordanian axis

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Jordanian King Abdullah II and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi met in Cairo to discuss ways to enhance economic and strategic relations, as well as a unified Arab position toward the regional developments, including the US recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights.

Egypt

Iran continues to struggle to keep workers content

The Iranian government, members of parliament, employers and labor activists have finally agreed on wage increases to alleviate the burden on workers. But much more remains to be done to shield Iranian workers from rising prices.

Iran

New crossing aims to restore Aleppo’s economic status

Civilians and traders in northern Syria hope commercial activities will resume there now that the Abu al-Zandeen crossing is open, linking regime-controlled territory to Turkish-backed opposition areas for the first time.

Syria

Putin, Aoun discuss Syrian refugee crisis, regional issues

President Putin and President Aoun hold wide-ranging talks, including about the return of refugees to Syria, and Lebanon indicates that despite its issues with Washington, strong US-Lebanese government ties are going to continue.

Lebanon

Russian businesses wary of Syria reconstruction investments

Russia faces many barriers in its bid to invest in Syria's reconstruction, including excessive Syrian bureaucracy.

Syria

IRGC commanders begin to reprimand Iranians for electing Rouhani

Ultraconservative commanders in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are now openly criticizing voters for electing Hassan Rouhani, whose performance they view as the root cause of the country's economic woes.

Iran

New pact will open flow of Egyptian workers to Libya

Egypt and Libya recently signed an agreement to cooperate on screening Egyptian laborers so more of them can enter Libya as the security situation is gradually improving.

Egypt

Will Iraq lose its benefits from Shatt al-Arab River to Iran?

The recent renewal of an Iraqi-Iranian agreement on the Shatt al-Arab River stirred controversy among Iraqis, as many are concerned Iran will take over the border river.

Iraq

Will Mankai Textile Industrial Park be a blessing for Egypt's textile sector?

The construction of the largest Chinese textile city in Egypt is raising the concerns of local manufacturers and state-owned textile factories, which are already suffering huge losses.

Egypt

Egypt seeks capital market boost with new futures exchange

Economists say the futures contracts exchange that was recently approved in Egypt will enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian market in general, paving the way for launching a number of futures contracts and commodity exchanges.

Egypt

Road map for Iran-EU trade and investment relations

Europe is making efforts to set up a special purpose vehicle to uphold legitimate trade with Iran, but there is a need for a more comprehensive action plan for such trade and political relations.

United States

Politicians in Lebanon take aim at three key sectors to reduce record deficit

The Lebanese government is discussing economic reforms aimed at reducing the country’s budget deficit, a key condition to receive billions of dollars worth of foreign investments.

Lebanon