Manufacturing and Industry

looking at the manufacturing and industry sector in the Middle East

Qatar subsidizes flour
Qatar has decided to further subsidize the flour used in making Lebanese 'khubs', known as the common man's bread, reported The Peninsula. A 50-kg bag of wheat flour is being made available to the bakeries to make 'khubs' at QR28.80 from the earlier rate of QR36, reducing the price burden by as much as 20%. The decision by the Ministry of Finance will remain in force for a year to keep the prices of 'khubs' remain at QR1.
Qatar: Monday, April 14 - 2008 at 09:05

UAE to amend industrial rules
The UAE plans to amend its federal law that regulates the country's industrial sectors, reported Gulf News. A draft of the amendments has been published at the Ministry of Economy and Financial Affairs website for public consultation. As many as 39 articles comprise the draft amendments that seek to set a better environment to enhance the industrial sector across the country.
United Arab Emirates: Thursday, April 10 - 2008 at 09:52

UAE firms to get subsidies
The UAE Ministry of Economy's Industrial Affairs Department has announced that it will subsidise services to help local industries that are suffering losses due to the UAE's monetary policy, especially the pegging of the dirham to the weakening US dollar, reported Gulf News. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, teh UAE's Minister of Economy, said the ministry is seeking to 'find comprehensive solutions to help these industries and harmonise the sector throughout the country'. The UAE dirham has lost 37% of its value in the last five years.
United Arab Emirates: Thursday, April 10 - 2008 at 07:13

GCC steel output to hit 5.2mtpa in 2010
Flat steel production in the GCC is expected to reach 5.2 metric tonnes per annum in 2010, according to a study by the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting presented at the ongoing Project Qatar 2008 trade fair. The study also examines the present level of imports and future plans for expansion of steel production in 15 neighboring countries. Based on available data, 10 of them have been selected as target countries for export of rolled steel from the GCC. The total steel import of these 10 target countries was 7.7 million ton in 2006, while the study has shown the shortfall in flat steel products will reach some 5.2 MTPA in 2010.
Wednesday, April 09 - 2008 at 10:52

Gulf pack and print market soars
The Middle East printing market reached $5.3bn in 2007, and industry forecasts predict the market to grow 7.7% annually till 2012, according to organisers of the 2009 Gulf Pack and Gulf Print exhibitions, the region's leading tradeshows for the print, publishing and packaging sectors. Packing printing accounted for the lion's share of business in 2007 with a 41.8% market catchment, followed by the print advertising, commercial printing and newspapers sectors accounting for a combined share of 33%. The region's packaging industry is expected to follow suit with suggested growth figures predicted by Dubai-based management consultants, IMES, forecasting that the UAE alone is expecting 15-20% annual increases in packaging categories such as dairy, soft drinks and flexible packaging.
Wednesday, April 09 - 2008 at 08:55

FPI wins $138m Qatar contract
Dubai-based Future Pipe Industries Group, has won a $138m contract to supply Fiberstrong fiberglass pipes and fittings for Phase 2, category II, of the project to expand the seawater cooling facility at Ras Laffan Industrial City, in Qatar. FPI, through its subsidiary, Future Pipe Industries Qatar, has already supplied Fiberstrong for a portion of Ras Laffan's piping systems in connection with Phase 1 and the category I of Phase 2. By the time Phase 2 is complete, FPI is expected to have delivered approximately 176,000 meters of Fiberstrong fiberglass pipes, or equivalent to one third the length of Qatar's coastline.
Qatar: Tuesday, April 08 - 2008 at 10:52

Thales and AEC sign JV
Thales, a global leader in mission-critical information systems for the aerospace, defense and security markets, and Advanced Electronics Company, a Riyadh-based company, have signed an agreement to establish a new company to manufacture simulators in the kingdom. The partnership will include the design, development and manufacture of different types of simulators in the kingdom and provision of training and full technical support, manpower and spare parts.
Saudi Arabia: Tuesday, April 08 - 2008 at 08:27

Kraft to open plant in Bahrain
Kraft Food is set to open its $40m plant in Bahrain on April 15. The unit is expected to generate $120m per year in wages, raw and packaging material and operations, said news reports. The 60,000 sqm. factory has begun production late last year for Kraft Foods' cheese and powdered beverage products, including flagship brands Tang, Kraft Cream Cheese Spread and Kraft Cheddar Cheese.
Bahrain: Monday, April 07 - 2008 at 09:55