Business

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) — There is no plan for a formal meeting between Malaysian and Indian officials to discuss issues regarding palm oil during the World Economic Forum’s summit in Davos, Switzerland next week, says Datuk Darell Leiking.

However, the International Trade and Industry Minister did not discount the possibility of an encounter with officials from India during the event which may lead up to a discussion on matters concerning bilateral interests. 

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan 20 (NNN-SPA) – Saudi Arabia announced, on Sunday, a year-on-year increase of 54 percent, in foreign direct investment in 2019.

In a report, by the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority, a total of 1,131 new international companies, set up operations in the kingdom in 2019.

The report revealed that, some 150 investor deals were signed by the authorities, across high-priority sectors, under the Vision 2030 in 2019, from tourism to value-added manufacturing.

TRIPOLI, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Forces loyal to Libyan military commander, Khalifa Haftar, blocked oil exports from the war-ravaged country’s main ports, on the eve of an international summit, aimed at bringing peace to the North African country.

DOHA, Jan 20 (NNN-QNA) – Qatar signed an agreement with France’s Total and Japan’s Marubeni, to build a solar power plant, with a capacity of 800 megawatts, according to Qatar’s energy minister, on Sunday.

“The cost of the project is about 1.7 trillion Qatari riyals (467 million U.S. dollars),” Saad al-Kaabi, who is also chief executive of Qatar Petroleum (QP), told a news conference, in the Qatari capital, Doha.

19 Jan 2019; MEMO: The EastMed pipeline project will fail to be a feasible plan in terms of its cost and construction process, according to Italy’s foreign minister, Anadolu Agency reports.

“It is obvious that the EastMed pipeline project, proposed by Greece, will not be an option in the medium and long-term compared to other projects, when its cost and the construction process are taken into consideration,” Luigi Di Maio told Anadolu Agency.

19 Jan 2019; MEMO: Money transfers by expatriate workers in Kuwait on an annual basis in 2019, remained the same as in 2018.

London, Jan 18 (PTI) The UK government has confirmed the official plans to mark Brexit Day on January 31, which will include a giant clock count down the significant moment as part of a light display at 10 Downing Street.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will address the nation just before the UK officially leaves the European Union (EU) at 11 pm (local time)

Ahead of that address, he will chair a special Cabinet meeting in the north of England as a message of unity for all parts of the United Kingdom, including Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China will negotiate with American companies and increase imports of U.S. goods and products according to market principles, an official with its state planner said on Sunday.

The United States has high quality supply in the fields of energy, manufactured goods, agricultural products, medical care and financial services, said Meng Wei, spokesperson for China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), at a press conference on Sunday.

18 Jan 2019; MEMO: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has warned that the Middle East cannot afford a direct military conflict – specifically between Saudi Arabia and Iran – and that such a situation “would be disastrous for Pakistan.”

In an interview with the German newspaper Deutsche Welle yesterday, Khan stressed the neutrality of Pakistan between the two regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, both of which Pakistan has historically had friendly diplomatic, military, and economic relations with.

MEXICO CITY, Jan 18 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Mexico is considering a lottery to get rid of the nation’s presidential jet, after a year of failed attempts to sell the aircraft.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said this week that Mexico is flying back the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which has been stored in a California hangar since December 2018, just after he took office, to resume sale efforts.