Day: March 25, 2024

Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat praised the constructive relationship between Egyptian institutions at both the governmental and private sector levels and the African Export-Import Bank “Afreximbank,” and its role in supporting the business community, facilitating trade exchanges among African countries, as well as providing financing for various sectors.

This came during Mashat’s meeting on Monday with President of Afreximbank Benedict Oramah, at the headquarters of the Ministry of International Cooperation in the New Administrative Capital, where extensive discussions were held in the presence of the bank’s Vice President Kanayo Awani, Head of Trade and Corporate Finance Sector Ayman El Zaghloul, Director of Consultations and Capital Markets Hatem El Demerdash, and several bank officials, as well as the Ministry of International Cooperation team.

The meeting witnessed constructive discussions on enhancing cooperation with Afreximbank to boost South-South cooperation, benefiting from
Egypt’s developmental experiences and expertise in international cooperation with other African countries. It also discussed joint work in food security and enhancing agricultural investment on the continent, in addition to various development areas.

Discussions also covered cooperation with the bank through the “Hafez” platform for financial and technical support for the private sector, to achieve integration between the bank’s efforts to empower the private sector and the platform’s provision of services and information to connect with development partners and the business community.

Furthermore, discussions covered linking the “Hafez” platform with the bank’s Electronic Platform for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Contracts (EPC), launched during the third edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2023 in Cairo, under the patronage and attendance of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Mashat emphasized the vital role played by development partners in financing the private sector and providing consu
ltancy services and technical support, noting that facilitated financing and contributions amounted to dlrs 10.3 billion over the past four years.

During the meeting, Mashat reviewed the framework of international cooperation and development finance, and the role of the ministry within the state’s vision to expand cooperation with multilateral and bilateral development partners, the private sector, and civil society to maximize the benefits of development financing and ensure the coherence of development projects with national priorities in implementation of presidential directives. She also stressed the importance of improving the management of development cooperation to implement projects effectively.

Minister Al-Mashat pointed out that the ministry is working to enhance Egypt’s economic diplomacy by achieving alignment between strategies with development partners and the state’s strategic priorities. She also highlighted the importance of promoting economic diplomacy through constructive partnerships wit
h international institutions, enhancing technical support and knowledge exchange, effective monitoring of implemented projects with development partners, coordination between development partners and regional and international organizations, UN agencies, and beneficiary entities represented in ministries, government bodies, universities, research centers, the private sector, and civil society.

Meanwhile, Afreximbank president expressed gratitude to the minister for the warm reception, confirming the pivotal relationship between the bank and Egypt and the great support received from the government, especially in hosting the Intra-African Trade Fair last year. He stressed the importance of the meeting in exploring areas of common interest for cooperation with the Ministry of International Cooperation.

He explained that the bank has a long-standing relationship with Egyptian institutions at both the governmental and private sector levels, having provided dlrs 30 billion in financing over the past five years, i
ncluding dlrs 16 billion to the financial sector, which has enhanced the capacity of Egyptian companies to expand their operations in Africa.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

An exciting archaeological discovery was made during construction work in Aachen’s city center, Germany. At the corner of Pontstrasse and Marktplatz, archaeologists found an ancient Roman defensive wall from the 3rd century.

As part of a construction project, archaeologists were excavating a street close to the historic city center when they discovered a wall that had collapsed, according to city officials. The wall was immediately recognized as an ancient Roman construction.

The uncovered wall segment, measuring 23 feet long and three feet thick, hints at a broader fortification yet to be fully explored.

This fortification, used until the 12th century, played a pivotal role in shaping Aachen’s layout, including the iconic Market Square.

Source: Oman News Agency

The Cabinet’s media center has denied reports claiming that a new deadly virus is affecting poultry in farms.

In a statement Monday, the media center said it had contacted the Ministry of Agriculture, which dismissed the news as baseless.

No variants of avian viruses have been detected in the farms, the Ministry assured, noting that campaigns are conducted across Egypt to health check fowl as a precautionary measure.

So far, the production cycles are regular and no health problems have been reported.

The media center called on all media outlets to verify any information from official sources before circulating it, warning that such news could create confusion.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have announced the recovery of the Codices of San Andrés Tetepilco.

The three codices date from the late 16th to early 17th century and are believed to be a continuation of the Boturini Codex.

The codices depicts a transition from pre-Hispanic Mexica to the arrival of the Spanish, the latter represented with the image of Hernán Cortés who appears dressed like a Roman centurion. Another scene corresponds to the reign of Izcóatl, the fourth king of Tenochtitlan, and the founder of the Aztec Empire.

According to a press statement, the collection was in private ownership and has been acquired for the National Library of Anthropology and History (BNAH).

Following confirmation of authenticity by experts, INAH, in collaboration with various companies and philanthropists raised 9.5 million pesos (237,115.00 Pound sterling) for the purchase.

A closer examination has revealed that the codices were made on amate, a type of bark paper, wit
h an applied layer of gesso and cochineal extract. Inks used to paint the various scenes come from plants, charcoal, indigo, and different shades of ochre.

Source: Oman News Agency

An exciting archaeological discovery was made during construction work in Aachen’s city center, Germany. At the corner of Pontstrasse and Marktplatz, archaeologists found an ancient Roman defensive wall from the 3rd century.

As part of a construction project, archaeologists were excavating a street close to the historic city center when they discovered a wall that had collapsed, according to city officials. The wall was immediately recognized as an ancient Roman construction.

The uncovered wall segment, measuring 23 feet long and three feet thick, hints at a broader fortification yet to be fully explored.

This fortification, used until the 12th century, played a pivotal role in shaping Aachen’s layout, including the iconic Market Square.

Source: Oman News Agency

The Municipal Council of the Governorate of South Al Batinah today held its 3rd meeting for 2024 under the chairmanship of Eng. Masoud Said Al Hashimi, Governor of South Al Batinah.

The meeting discussed a spectrum of topics on the agenda, namely investment projects in the field of agriculture, fisheries and water resources, facilities provided to those willing to benefit from usufructs for agricultural projects and the results of a study on some social phenomena, among other topics.

Source: Oman News Agency

The management of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) started to implement the Council of Ministers’ decision to develop and supervise municipal services and public facilities in layouts not classified as public utility within the economic zone’s general layout.

SEZAD began introducing municipal licensing services and technical services, in addition to training employees to provide these services at a time a special office is being established to look after municipal services for the old Sayy commercial district.

Represented by Tatweer Company, SEZAD is assessing the current status of services at layouts deemed not as public utility. It started constructing roads, opening lanes, removing debris and installing signboards.

At SEZAD, a total area of 33 square kilometres deemed not public utility, are distributed over 9 different layouts, including the old Sayy commercial district and other layouts set aside for industrial, commercial and residential purposes.

Source: Oman News Agency

DUBAI: The Most Noble Number charity auction for special numbers, held yesterday evening in Dubai, raised a total of AED38.095 million that will go fully to supporting the Mothers’ Endowment campaign, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to honour mothers by establishing an AED1 billion endowment fund to support the education of millions worldwide.

Organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), in collaboration with Emirates Auction and with support from the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), etisalat by e and and Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du), the charity event auctioned 31 special numbers, including 10 RTA special plate numbers, ten du mobile phone numbers and 11 etisalat by e and mobile phone numbers.

Proceeds from the auction will go towards the Mothers’ Endowment campaign, which will help implement education projects in underprivileged communities around the world in co
llaboration with humanitarian organisations. This will provide millions of people with the tools and skills necessary to lead an independent life.

The total bids for RTA special plate numbers amounted to AED29.025 million, while bids for etisalat by e and special numbers totalled AED4.135 million, and du special numbers raised AED4.935 million.

Leading businessmen and philanthropists attended the charity auction, held at the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, as part of a community-wide response to the campaign which honours mothers and supports underprivileged communities in a sustainable manner through education.

Bids for special plate numbers at the auction were as follows: AED2.5 million for number (O74), AED3 million for number (O51), AED4 million for number (V39), AED3.225 million for number (P42), AED3 million for number (Q49), AED2.5 million for number (T95), AED2.8 million for number (U53), AED2.55 million for number (U79), AED2.775 million for number (W62) and AED2.675 million for numb
er (W85).

Funds raised from auctioning etisalat by e and special numbers were as follows: AED2.875 million for number (0545555555), AED150,000 for number (0561444444), AED285,000 for number (0569111111), AED250,000 for number (0548888881), AED125,000 for number (0545555551), AED75,000 for number (0544000001), AED105,000 for number (0568888800), AED70,000 for number (0564488888), AED45,000 for number (0564444499), AED80,000 for number (0563000004) and AED75,000 for number (0564344444).

Funds raised from auctioning du special numbers were as follows: AED290,000 for number (0587777770), AED120,000 for number (0587777771), AED190,000 for number (0587777772), AED150,000 for number (0587777773), AED180,000 for number (0587777774), AED160,000 for number (0587777775), AED175,000 for number (0587777776), AED3.2 million for number (0587777777), AED305,000 for number (0587777778) and AED165,000 for number (0587777779).

Other Most Noble Numbers auctions continue to be held across the UAE this week, including the Abu
Dhabi Police online auction for 555 special plate numbers via https://eca.ae/app, which closes on 26th and 27th March.

The Most Noble Number auction adds to six main donation channels available to contribute to the Mothers’ Endowment campaign, including the campaign’s website (Mothersfund.ae) and a dedicated call centre via the toll-free number (800 9999). Donations are also possible via bank transfer in the UAE dirham to the campaign bank account number with Emirates Islamic Bank (AE790340003708472909201).

Donations via SMS are possible by sending the word ‘Mother’ to the following numbers (1034, 1035, 1036, 1038) for Etisalat by e and users. Other possible platforms for donating to the campaign are the DubaiNow app by clicking the ‘Donations’ tab and Dubai’s community contributions platform Jood (Jood.ae).

Source: Emirates News Agency