The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development launched theprogramme for expanding the infrastructurein North Afghanistan with a package of measures.It aims to improve people’s living conditionsin one of the poorest areas of Afghanistan, Badakhshan in Hindukush. Two thirds of the population are living below thepoverty line. 75% are working in the agriculture,because of a lack of economic alternatives, facing the facts that only 12% of thecountry is arable. New streets and bridgeswill provide new employment opportunitiesand expand economic circles for counteringrural depopulation and developing the province’s life prospects, as well as extendingthe region’s water supply to enable cleanwater in every household.

Afghanistan accepts Indian steel enterprises’ iron ore bid

A pool of Indian steel enterprises led by the Steel Authority of India Ltd. has had their bid accepted for the mining of three iron ore resource fields, which were tendered by thegovernment. The fields are based in the areaof Hajigak in the province of Bamyan, a distance of from 130 kilometres west of Kabul. Members of the pool are: NMDC Ltd.,Monnet Ispad and Energy Ltd, JSW SteelLtd. Jindal Steel Power Ltd. and JSW Ispat Steel Ltd. The contract for the fourthresource field was given to the CanadianKilo Gold Comp.

Algeria expands its natural gas sector

Algeria is developing its natural gas productionwith the help of international joint venturesand technological advances. The Irish Petroceltic International (PCI) has doubledits production rates together with its Algerianpartner company Sonatrach, which dominatesthe countries’ natural gas production and wholesale distribution.Additionally, Algeria is seeking to establishitself as a regional transit hub for natural gas from Nigeria aiming the European market,similar to the Hassi R’Mel natural gas hub.With 159 tcf of proven natural gas, 2.4%  of the world’s total proven gas reserves and areserve-to-production ratio of 55.3 years,Algeria is ranked as the world’s eighthlargestholder. In addition, there are 1,000tcf of natural gas, to be found in shale rock 1,000 meters below surface.

German RMA builds factory in Bahrain

The German manufacturing company RMAhas begun construction on a plant for themanufacturing of pipeline inspection gaugetraps and tee-pipefittings for the oil and gassector. The 6,000m2 plant is expected to start operation in August 2012 at the BahrainInternational Investment Park. The investmentof EUR 13m shall establish 100 jobs.The output is going to be exported by 95%.The factory will be the second German enterprise to open there following BASF withits antioxidant blends plant opened at theend of September 2011. The Bahrain International Investment Park is an optimallocation for German firms, because of theopportunities Bahrain offers: highly-educatedemployees, duty-free access to the GCCcountries and the low cost base.

German foil manufacturer gains foothold in Egypt

The German company RKW SE, specializedin foil production, recently inaugurated itsfirst plant in Egypt. The construction hasbeen co-financed by the German Investmentand Development Society (DEG), who granted the company a long-term loan. The RKWGroup is one of the leading foils and fleecemanufacturers in the world and is a forerunnerof modern technologies in this industry.Its most important industrial consumer is the hygiene sector. Due to the high demand fortoiletries in the region, the local productionwill have to meet the requirements and reinforcethe growth of the industry. The newmanufacturing plant near Cairo will generate 100 new jobs in the company itself and othersin related industries. RKW SE attachesgreat importance to the advanced training ofits employees and offers frequent schoolings,also in Germany.

Iran’s oil revenue in 2011, USD 72bn

The Centre for Global Energy Studies saysthat Iran’s oil revenue in 2011 will top USD72bn. CGES which was founded by formerSaudi oil minister Sheikh Ahmad ZakiYamani in 1990 also says that the 12 OPECmembers will earn USD 894bn from oilexport in 2011, 38% more than a year ago.Saudi Arabia’s revenue will reach USD 287bn and Iran would rank 5th within OPECafter UAE, Kuwait and Iraq, the report says.

Iran’s exports to Asia up 28 percent in the first 8 months of 2011

Iran exported more than 41.1m tons ofgoods (without oil), worth over USD 19.3bn, to Asian countries in the first eight monthsof the current calendar year (ended 21stNovember), showing respectively 28% and 6% rise in terms of value and volume comparedto the same period last year. Exportsto Europe, Africa, America and Oceania stood at USD 1.4bn, USD 318m, USD 224mand USD 67m respectively in the mentionedperiod of time, the ISNA news agency reported.Iran exported over USD 28 bn worth ofnon-oil goods in the eight-month period, up35% compared with the same period lastyear. The country also imported some USD 40bn worth of goods in the mentioned periodof time, showing 6% fall year on year, theIRNA news agency reported. Exports of technical and engineering services amountedto USD 2.9bn in the eight-month period,the report added. Previously, Trade Promotion Organization chief Hamid Safdelhad said the value of non-oil exports isexpected to hit USD 43bn in the current yearand USD 50.5bn in the year after.