http://www.zawya.com/middle-east/agricultureen-usCopyright 2012 Zawya Ltd. All rights reserved.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:25:00 GMT1814476http://www.zawya.com/middle-east/agriculturehttp://www.zawya.com/images/newsletter_zawya_logo.gifhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213052545/Egyptian_company_sells_25000_tons_of_veg_oil_to_IraqThe Iraqi Trade Ministry has inked a contract with Egyptian company Arma for the purchase of 25,000 tons of vegetable oil.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:57:07 GMTAK News ZAWYA20120213052545Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213015115/Sattam_inaugurates_halal_food_event_in_RiyadhRiyadh Gov. Prince Sattam opened an international conference on halal food in the capital here on Sunday. The Saudi Food and Drugs Authority organized the three-day conference focusing on monitoring halal food.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:16:53 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120213015115Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212032349/Riyadh_meeting_to_clarify_the_concept_of_halal_foodSaudi Arabia will host the first ever international conference on halal food in the Saudi capital on Sunday, Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) Chairman Mohammed Al-Kanhal announced in Riyadh Saturday .Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:38:24 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120212032349Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidGN_11022012_120208/Farmers_to_be_taught_techniques_to_improve_yieldFarmers are being taught new techniques to increase productivity, which will help reduce the price of vegetables, the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) said.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:09:34 GMTGulf News GN_11022012_120208Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidpdf_100212123523/BMI_Egypt_Food__Drink_Report_Dec12Egypt's near-term growth outlook remains weak. Nevertheless, in an outlook pertinent for our food and drink forecasts, household and government spending are expected to outperform, even though fixed investment and the export sector will be unlikely to stage a more pronounced recovery amidst the political crisis. Risks to our food and drink forecasts are, however, on the downside, as consumer confidence takes time to recover, especially as we see little prospects for a swift economic recovery in Egypt heading into 2012. Still, in our opinion, Egypt has the greatest potential as a consumer market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and is also one of our favourite emerging markets. We expect it to be targeted both by imports from regional bases and directly.- 2011 per capita food consumption = +12.1%; forecast compound annual growth rate to 2016 = +11.2%- 2011 beer sales = +11.2%; forecast compound annual growth rate to 2016 = +11.8%- 2011 carbonated drink sales = +7.9%; forecast compound annual growth rate to 2016 = +9.6%- 2011 mass grocery retail sales = +14.9%; forecast compound annual growth rate to 2016 = +38.6%Key Company TrendsRegional and Multinational Players Remain Interested in Egypt ? Saudi Arabia-based industrial company The Savola Group reported plans to buy a controlling stake in two Egyptian food makers. The firm is looking at a deal worth US$97.8mn to acquire a 78% stake in Al-Malika and Al-Farasha. Similarly, USbased multinational beverage corporation The Coca-Cola Company announced plans to launch a new juice product wholly made in Egypt. The firm said it has invested around US$16.7mn in the production of Cappy juice and is focusing on the expansion of its fruit juice product portfolio. Having opened its first Egypt store at the end of 2010, UK-based retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) unveiled plans to launch three more stores in the country, as part of its five-year regional expansion programme.Key Risks to OutlookDownsiFri, 10 Feb 2012 12:30:00 GMTBusiness Monitor International Limited pdf_100212123523Subscriptionhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120210102748/Syrias_agricultural_sector_losses_due_to_terrorists_attacks_estimated_at_SYP450mThe value of damages caused by the armed groups to the agricultural sector has been estimated at SYP 450 million.Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:27:09 GMTSANA (Syria Arab News Agency) ZAWYA20120210102748Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidANA20120209T160832ZHUB06/India_eyes_business_with_sanctionshit_IranIndia Thursday said it would send a "huge" trade mission to Iran to explore business opportunities created by sanctions imposed by the West over the Islamic Republic's disputed nuclear programme.Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:08:31 GMTAFP ANA20120209T160832ZHUB06Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120209112654/Palestine_Exchange_VOIC_preliminary_yearend_financial_statementsThe Palestine Exchange (PEX) received unaudited year-end preliminary financial statements from The Vegetable Oil Industries Company ( VOIC). Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:18:46 GMTPress Release ZAWYA20120209112654Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120209044201/Petra_springs_to_be_tested_periodicallyThe Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) and the energy centre at the University of Jordan on Wednesday signed an agreement, under which the latter will conduct periodic tests of water springs in the Petra region.Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:40:13 GMTJordan Times ZAWYA20120209044201Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120208062819/Overseas_farmland_investment_still_an_option_says_H_E_SajwaniThe option for Oman to boost its food security by investing in overseas farmland is still open, with interest shown by 'a number of countries,' according to H E Dr Fouad bin Ja'afar al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:17:07 GMTMuscat Daily ZAWYA20120208062819Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120208062639/Virtual_geology_museum_an_OmanGerman_project_gets_7000_environment_grantA joint project between Oman and Germany to set up a virtual museum of geological wonders in the sultanate, has received US$7,000 from Ford Motor Company's Conservation and Environmental Grant for 2011-12.Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:10:46 GMTMuscat Daily ZAWYA20120208062639Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120208042813/Move_on_GCClevel_reporting_of_foodborne_diseases The Dubai Municipality is taking the lead in establishing a GCC-level reporting and surveillance system for food-borne illnesses and food poisoning cases. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:38:51 GMTKhaleej Times ZAWYA20120208042813Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120208043117/Dubai_bans_raw_eggs_in_readytoeat_productsDubai eateries have been barred from using raw eggs in ready-to-eat products after authorities found them as a cause for many salmonella infections reported here.Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:28:56 GMTKhaleej Times ZAWYA20120208043117Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120208044901/New_ministry_plan_to_combat_rising_prices_in_KSAThe Ministry of Commerce and Industry plans to tackle rising prices by forcing importers to place price tags, which include only a small profit, on their products, before they can receive their government subsidies.Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:24:26 GMTThe Saudi Gazette ZAWYA20120208044901Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120208034751/Comoros_Islands_Oman_hold_trade_talksChairman of the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development, Dr Salem bin Nasser al Ismaily, played host to a Comoros Islands delegation yesterday which aims to strengthen business ties and promote trade between Oman and the Comoros Islands.Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:36:37 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20120208034751Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidGN_07022012_080252/Dubai_to_host_global_food_safety_conferenceFood imports into Dubai rose by 18 per cent last year to 6.7 million tonnes compared to 5.6 million tonnes in 2010, said Hussain Nasser Lootah, director-general of Dubai Municipality.Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:31:07 GMTGulf News GN_07022012_080252Open