“We have recently approved a $300 million investment project for a shopping complex cum hotel in Damascus,” Tourism Minister Sadallah Agha Al Kala said.
He said the country has recorded a 13 per cent growth in tourism arrivals during the last six months of 2003, compared with the same period in 2002.

Local firms win BFH contracts
Manama: Sharjah-based Al Hamad Contracting Company (HCC), which  has won the first phase of the $1.3 billion Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH) has signed agreements with local companies for material supplies.
As per the agreements,  Bahrain Aluminium Extrusion Company (Balexco), will supply the aluminium requirements and BRC Weldmesh Gulf will supply reinforced steel for BFH’s first phase development.
UAE-based Al Hamad is carrying out the first phase development entailing the construction of the Financial Centre at a cost of $250 million. It involves the construction of the Financial Mall, the Dual Towers –each of which are 50 storeys high – and the Harbour house covering an area of approximately 58,000 sq m.

Steel touches all-time high
Dubai: Steel prices are expected to touch a eight-and-a-half-year-high this month following a bull run in the market.
Panic reigns in the market as shortages and other cost increases are pushing prices up dramatically for hot rolled coil, according a report by http://www.mesteel.com/, a dedicated steel portal.
It said some mills are putting customers on allocation. Suppliers are cancelling or renegotiating orders and at the same time freights are going up continuously.
China continues to drive the market. Although there is growing reluctance to pay the higher prices, there is little sign of the Asian steel boom abating. Buyers have recently been paying in excess of $450 per tonne for imported slab, and $340 per tonne for scrap, the report said.
Compared to January 2003, crude steel production in the Middle East went up this January with Turkey reaching 1,657,000 tonnes  (6.6 per cent), and for Egypt 400,000 tonnes (9.4 per cent). Algerian production fell by 22 per cent to 74,000 tonnes and Libyan production fell by 25 per cent to 70,000 tonnes.
Production in January, in Iran with 643,000 tonnes, Qatar with 90,000 tonnes and Saudi Arabia with 345,000 tonnes crude was similar to the production figures a year ago.

Egypt announces new projects
Beni Suef: New water and wastewater projects which will benefit 150,000 urban and rural residents of Beni Suef governorate in Egypt have been announced recently.
The construction of a sewer system and two “slow sand filter” water treatment plants is funded with $5.3 million from the US and EGP9.2 million from the Egyptian government, raising total US funding for water and wastewater infrastructure work in the Beni Suef governorate to $50 million.
The new projects include:

• Sewer system construction in El Azhary in Beni Suef City (Zone 7). Construction of a pump station and force main will benefit 52,000 residents and installation of a collection system will benefit 26,000 residents;
• A slow sand filter water treatment plant in Mimoon that will provide five million litres of clean water per day, benefiting 50,000 residents.
• A slow sand filter water treatment plant in Sumasta with five million litres daily capacity, benefiting 50,000 residents.

Cabinet to ensure sand availability
Manama: Bahrain's Cabinet is to take urgent steps to ensure there is enough sand available for home-building projects, it was announced.
The Cabinet, which was reviewing a proposal on the issue from the ministerial committee for public utilities, will discuss the topic again at its next session.
Members also discussed recommendations of the ministerial committee for public utilities about a proposal from parliament to build more schools in the Northern Governorate.

L&T eyes Middle East market
Doha: Larsen & Toubro (L&T), a major Indian engineering and construction company, is aiming to enter the mid-size projects market in the Middle East.
The company is working to scale up to the $400 million projects range and it sees the GCC as an important part of this business growth, a report in Gulf News quoting K Venkataramanan, president (operations), L&T said.
Currently, the company undertakes projects in the $200 million range and is primarily engaged in the oil and gas, infrastructure and power sectors.
Among the major projects the company has handled in the region are the $165 million power plant at Salalah, Oman, and a $25 million sulphur plant for the Abu Dhabi Refining Company (Takreer). The company also secured a $30 million engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract from Gasco in Abu Dhabi for the BuHasa compression upgrade.
“We have a big ongoing $100 million offshore platform project for Qatar Petroleum,” he said.

Office Exhibition 2004 in May
Dubai: The third Office Exhibition 2004 opens alongside the Hotel Show from May 17to 19  in the East Hall at the Airport Expo in Dubai.
The event is an ideal platform for suppliers and buyers from the GCC and beyond to come together under one roof and display the latest in office furnishings, according to dmg world media, the organiser.
Bernard Walsh, managing director  of dmg world media Dubai, said: “Project increase per year is phenomenal in the region and the surrounding areas. Work alone in the UAE and Saudi Arabia is further testimony to how much potential the office construction and interiors sector actually offers.”

Roadex focuses on innovation
Dubai: The expenditure on construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and tunnels in Abu Dhabi alone is $1 billion per year, while total expenditure on the construction sector exceeds $5 billion annually, a major conference was told.
Speaking at Roadex 2004, a top official said: “The UAE’s road and bridge network utilises world standards and will witness a great growth in the upcoming years.”
Organisers said 120 research papers from 22 countries were discussed at the event that saw the participation of 500 candidates in 37 sessions. The objective behind the conference was to gather expertise and innovative ideas from all over the world, the organisers said.

Starck decade at Milan Fair
Milan: An Axor and Duravit presentation: “10 years of the Starck bathroom” is set to be staged this month (April 14 to 19) at the Milan Furniture Fair.
Two leaders in the market: Axor (designer brassware by Hansgrohe) and Duravit (ceramic sanitaryware, bathroom furniture, bath tubs and wellbeing products) will feature the latest products at the show.  The line-up features products designed by Philippe Starck, who was one of the first designers to successfully realise his own global vision of the bathroom using products with great expressive power.
The Triennale museum in Milan, which has a long tradition of exclusive exhibitions, joins the Milan Furniture Fair as the primary venue for the event.

ME Pool to focus on latest tech
Abu Dhabi: Middle East Pool and Spa Exhibition, ME Pool 2004 to be held at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre will focus on state-of-the-art technologies and know-how in pool construction with all other related materials and products, says a spokesman for the organiser. 
The Expo to be held from April 19 to 22, will bring together the leading names in the pool industry, he says.