Egyptian-Chinese fiber optic cable factory inaugurated in Cairo -- The first Egyptian-Chinese fiber optic cable factory was inaugurated in northeastern Cairo Governorate on Mar. 6. Located in the industrial Badr city, the factory was managed by HitekNofal Hengtong Optix, the first Egyptian-Chinese joint venture specialized in manufacturing fiber optic cables and accessories. Featuring the state-of-the-art technologies, the 33,000-square-meter fully-automated plant aims to meet the Egyptian market's demand for fiber optic cables in 2018, said Randa Tawfiq, HitekNofal marketing manager. The project, with investment of 30 million dollars, plans to export the product to the African markets by the middle of 2019 with the increase of the factory productive capacity, Tawfiq said.
Portugal, Spain launch border railroad project --Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa was joined by his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rajoy in the Portuguese town ofElvas on Mar. 5, for the launch of a public tender to build a new train line from the Portuguese interior to the Spanish border. The project to build a 100-km stretch of track from the town of Evora, south-east of Lisbon, to Elvas, near the Spanish border, has a budget of 509 million euros (628 million U.S. dollars), around half of which will be paid by the European Union (EU). Construction is scheduled to commence in March 2019 with work to be completed by early 2022. The tender was launched with an event at theElvasContemporaryArt Museum. Besides the Portuguese and Spanish premiers, the European Commission's head of transport Violeta Bulc was also present. Bulc saidPortugal had received 680 million euros of EU transport finance in recent years, whileSpain had received 800 million.
Lao gov't promotes investment in potential projects -- The Lao government has compiled a list of potential development projects to attract domestic and foreign investment, local state-run daily Vientiane Times reported on Mar. 5. According to the list, local and foreign investors are invited with 27 projects in six provinces out of the country's 18 provinces or cities. The Lao government will provide tax breaks and non-tax incentives as part of efforts to attract private investment in these projects, said the daily. Projects or activities invited "have been studied and formulated by concerned sectors and local authorities based on their importance for national economy and having natural resource potentials; these projects and activities have been officially approved by the government or provincial authorities, but require capital for their development," said a notice posted on the website of Lao ministry for planning and investment since the end of February.
Beijing to build new homes, renovate decrepit houses for 23,550 households --Beijing plans to renovate existing houses or build new apartments for 23,550 households identified as living in decrepit housing across the capital this year, according to a document issued by the municipal government. Some 236 housing redevelopment projects covering a total land area of 13,430 hectares will be undertaken in the city this year, it added. Some 15,300 households, or 65 percent of the total beneficiaries, reside in the six downtown districts. The housing redevelopment project aims to improve the living standards and quality of life of the residents. Redevelopment of decrepit housing has remained a priority for the government in recent years. Last year,China rebuilt 6 million apartments for residents, according to official data.
Water canal reconstruction project kicks off in N. Afghanistan -- Work on reconstruction of a water canal with the length of eight km and 750 hectare-land irrigation capacity, was started inAfghanistan'snorthern province of Takhar on Mar. 7, a local official said. Authorities in Takhar provincial capital Taloqan said that local government in cooperation with a German-backed non-governmental organization the Afghan-German Cooperation Office, started the reconstruction of Gorgan Canal project totaling 92.87 million afs (1,386,000 U.S. dollars) in the Bangi district of the province, Fazullah Mujaddedi, the provincial governor told media reporters during the inauguration ceremony. The canal irrigation capacity has increased from 500 hectare to 750 hectares of land and will provide stable water flow and create jobs for the area residents, said the governor.
A single purchase
