Cairo Stock Market – Cairo Egypt

CAAS Expresses Serious Concern Over HR 2278 Targeting Arab Media

Join Us for an Exciting Discussion: Monday, March 22, 2010, National Press Club — Holeman Lounge, 12:00 Noon

‘Yes We Can: Stop the Media Ban’

WASHINGTON, March 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The U.S. Congress is currently debating a bill oddly designed to suffocate freedom of expression throughout the Arab World. The bill, H.R. 2278, passed the House with three dissenting votes, and is aimed at certain satellite television outlets and 19 Arab countries, with a global audience of over 300 million viewers. One of the two affected satellite carriers is owned and operated by the Government of Egypt.

While the bill remarkably originated outside the halls of Congress, its sponsors deceptively maintain that the intention is not to suppress freedom of expression. Its broad language, however, is an infringement on the First Amendment guarantee. Consequently, this bill and its sponsors are setting an alarming precedent to erode the fundamental right of free speech.

The sponsors rush to pass into law a repressive measure is disturbing and may lead to legitimizing further acts of containing a vibrant freedom of expression. We urge our colleagues in the various outlets of U.S. media to expose this exclusive narrative and affirm everyone’s inherent right to free speech.

CNN’s resident journalist, Fareed Zakaria, eloquently argued on his show broadcast on Sunday, February 21, 2010, saying “…freedom of speech… competition of ideas… and the exporting of these ideas have historically been the cornerstone” of U.S. foreign policy. Those values are under profound attack.

The Center for American and Arab Studies — Think Tank Monitor (CAAS), a Washington-based organization, is sponsoring a symposium to discuss the bill’s threat to the freedom of the press. The event is scheduled for Monday, March 22, 2010, at the National Press Club — Holman Lounge, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. The list of invited speakers features academic, legal and media experts. Among them are: Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General; Seymour Hersh, the legendary investigative journalist; Amy Goodman, host, Democracynow.org; Clothilde Le Coz, Reporters Without Borders; Prof. Seif Dana, Sociology Asst. Prof. at University of Wisconsin — Parkside; Amb. Hussein Hassouna, International Lawyer and Amb. of the Arab League; Waddah Khanfar, Director General, Al Jazeera Satellite Channel; and others.

Light Lunch is included to registered guests. To register, please RSVP by email to:

thinktankmonitor@gmail.com.

www.thinktanksmonitor.com

Reportlinker Adds Cement – A Global Market Perspective
NEW YORK, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ — Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Cement – A Global Market Perspective

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0164594/Cement—A-Global-Market-Perspective.html

Recent years have seen cement industry grow dynamically with most of the actions taking place in emerging economies. Despite the ongoing financial crisis the global economy is facing, the need for housing and continued government investments in infrastructure development by emerging economies is offsetting downturn in mature markets. Though, at present, demand is growing, but at a decelerated pace, the phase is momentary. Long-term projections indicate healthy demand growths, as world economy stabilizes and construction activity picks up across global markets into the next decade.

These and other market data and trends are presented in “Cement: A Global Market Perspective” by BizAcumen, Inc. Our reports are designed to be most comprehensive in geographic coverage and vertical market analyses.

CEMENT BMR-9001

CONTENTS

1. METHODOLOGY 1

Study Reliability and Reporting Limitations 1

Disclaimers 2

Quantitative Techniques & Reporting Level 3

2. GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW 4

Introduction 4

Market Overview 5

Emerging Economies for Sustainable Growth 5

Developed Economies in Need of a Rebound 6

Portland to Stay Strong, Blended to Make Progress 7

Ready-Mix Concrete to Lead Demand 7

Production Dynamics 8

Global Cement Capacity 10

Per Capita Cement Consumption 11

Industry Structure 11

The Feisty Five 11

3. MARKET TRENDS 12

East Asia, the Middle East – The Emerging Production Base 12

Markets Up for Grabs 13

Emergence Through Consolidation and Vertical Integration 13

The Drive Towards Energy Efficiency 14

4. PRODUCT FACTS 14

Portland Cement 14

Blended Cement 15

Special / Other Cements 15

5. CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS 15

Lafarge Completes Orascom Cement Acquisition 15

Holcim Increases Stake in ACC 16

ACC Acquires Stake in Alcon 16

CPC Acquires Business Assets of IMIX 16

CPC Takes Over SSMC Holding Corp. 17

Venezuela Acquires Cemex’s Operations 17

CPC Takes Over Union Asphalt 17

Eurocement Acquires Minor Stake in Holcim 18

Lafarge Acquires Minority Interest in Meftah Cement Plant 18

Heidelberg Merges Indian Subsidiaries with Mysore Cements 18

Votorantim Cement Acquires Minority Stake in Cementos Bio Bio 19

Hilal Takes Over Gulf Readymix 19

Unicon Completes Acquisition of Kudsk & Dahl 19

Hilal Cement Acquires Kuwait German Readymix 20

Ash Grove Cement Completes Holliday Sand Acquisition 20

Alexandria Portland Acquires Titan Baton 20

Holcim to Acquire Remaining Stake in ACIL 20

Mitsubishi Acquires Robertson’s Ready Mix 21

Lafarge Acquires Memphis Cement Terminal 21

Vulcan Materials Takes Over Florida Rock Industries 21

ASEC Cement Holding Gains Majority Stake in GRD Cement 22

Rinker Materials Completes Two Acquisitions 22

Cemco Acquires Further Stake in Holcim 23

Holcim Acquires Additional Shareholding in Serbian Unit 23

Shuangma Cement to Acquire Stake in Dujiangyan Lafaji 23

CRH to Take Over 26% Stake in Yatai Cement 24

Huaxin Cement Concludes Capital Increase to Holcim 24

Holcim Spain to Acquire Tarmac Iberia 24

Dangote Cement to Acquire Sinoma’s Cement Plants 25

Votorantim Merges with Prairie 25

Holcim Vietnam and Cotec to Merge 26

Socam Announces Joint Venture with Lafarge 26

Italcementi Enters Joint Venture to Construct Cement Plant 26

Ecocem and ArcelorMittal Sign Agreement for Joint Company 27

HeidelbergCement, Italcementi Sign Licensing Agreement 27

Lafarge and C.B.M.I. Sign Agreement 27

Dalian Dongtai Signs Agreement with Xiaoyetian Cement 28

Sri Lanka to Award Cement Plant Contract to Aditya Birla Group 28

Holcim Hungaria to Construct Cement Facility 28

Lafarge to Expand Business in Syria 28

Lafarge to Expand Indian Cement Production Capacity 29

Lafarge to Commerce Operations at Indian Plant 29

Votorantim Builds New Production Line 29

SCG Cement Inaugurates New Cement Plant in Cambodia 29

Holcim Romania Commissions New Kiln Line 30

Holcim to Expand Cement Plant in Boyaca Department 30

Votorantim Cimentos to Expand Brazilian Cement Distribution

Operations 30

Indocement and SG Plan to Increase Cement Production 30

Ispat to Establish New Cement Plant 31

Star Cement Announces Cement Capacity Expansion 31

Sephaku Cement and Dangote Cement to Build Cement Plant in

South Africa 31

Cimentos de Portugal to Undertake Capacity Expansion 32

BBMG to Raise Funds Through Initial Public Offering 32

Votorantim Cement Opens New Distribution Center 32

Cemex to Sell Subsidiaries 33

Cemex Plans Select Assets Divestment 33

Pretoria Portland Divests Stake in Company 33

Grasim Divests Stake in Shree Digvijay Cement 33

Lafarge Divests Stake in Lafarge Titan to Titan 34

Italcementi to Sell Assets to Sibirskiy 34

Taiheiyo Cement Introduces Grand Premium Cement 35

CEMEX Expands Cement Portfolio with Two New Products 35

HeidelbergCement Acquires Hanson 36

Holcim Acquires St. Lawrence Cement 36

Italcementi Acquires the Entire Fuping Cement 36

Suez Cement Ups Stake in Hilal Cement 36

CRH Acquires Harbin Sanling Cement Plant in China 37

JK Cement Acquires Nihon Nirman 37

CRH Completes Cementbouw Acquisition 37

Hydra Properties Acquires Minority Stake in RAK Cement 37

Binani Cement Acquires Minority Stake in Chinese Plant 38

Cemex Acquires Rinker 38

CRH Acquires Stake in Denizli Cement and Paver Systems 38

SAIL and Jaiprakash Associates Form Joint Venture 39

OCI and Khayyat Group Announce Joint Venture 39

Binani to Establish Cement Joint Venture with Nalco 40

Lafarge Yunnan Government and Sign Cooperation Agreement 40

UNICEM to Commence Cement Production 41

Lafarge Shui On Announces New Production Line Inauguration 41

CEMEX Undertakes Expansion of Bayano Plant 41

CEMEX to Establish New Plant in Arizona 41

Votorantim to Set Up New Cement Factory 42

Cemex Divests U.S. Assets to CRH 42

Taiheiyo Cement to Liquidate Kashima Remicon Group Companies 42

Gujarat Ambuja Divests Minority Stake in Ambuja Cement 43

Ash Grove Cement Begins Construction of New Plant in Arkansas 43

Aditya Birla Group to Expand Cement Production Capacity 43

Lehigh Cement to Expand and Modernize Cement Plant 43

OCI Announces Construction of Greenfield Cement Plant 44

OCI Establishes New Cement Plant 44

HeidelbergCement Brings New Cement Plant On Stream in China 45

Votorantim Announces Brazilian Plant Expansion Program 45

CEMEX to Build Cement Manufacturing Plant in Arizona 46

HeidelbergCement to Divest Cement Companies to Damnaz Cement 46

Orient Cement Introduces Birla Excel 46

6. MAJOR PLAYERS 46

Aditya Birla Group (India) 46

Buzzi Unicem SpA (Italy) 47

CEMEX S.A.B. DE C.V. (Mexico) 47

Cimentos de Portugal SGPS SA. (Portugal) 47

CRH (Ireland) 47

HeidelbergCement AG (Germany) 48

Holcim Ltd. (Switzerland) 48

Italcementi S.P.A (Italy) 48

Lafarge North America, Inc. (US) 48

Lafarge S.A. (France) 48

Orascom Cement (Egypt) 49

Siam Cement Public Company Limited (Thailand) 49

St. Lawrence Cement Group (Canada) 49

Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co. Ltd. (Japan) 49

Taiheiyo Cement Corporation (Japan) 50

Votorantim Cimentos Ltda. (Brazil) 50

7. GLOBAL MARKET ANALYTICS 50

8. THE UNITED STATES 55

Industry Overview 55

Market Overview 56

Market Outlook 57

Residential Construction the Worst Hit 57

Non-residential and Non-building Construction Suffers 58

Construction Starts Slow Cement Demand 58

The Price Factor 59

Capacity Expansions to Sustain Long-term Growth 59

A Key Import Market 59

Cement Trade 60

Escalating Energy Costs Worries Cement Makers 63

Cement Industry Concerns 63

Leading Cement Makers 64

9. CANADA 65

Industry Overview 65

Market Overview 66

Exports and Imports 66

Canadian Exports Face Threat from Emerging Asian Markets 67

10. JAPAN 68

Market Overview 68

Industry Overview 69

Trade 69

11. EUROPE 71

a. France 75

b. Germany 77

c. Italy 80

d. The United Kingdom 82

e. Spain 83

f. Russia 85

g. Turkey 90

h. Rest of Europe 92

12.ASIA-PACIFIC 94

a. China 97

b. India 105

c. South Korea 119

d. Rest of Asia-Pacific 120

13. LATIN AMERICA 125

Mexican Cement Consumption Increases 125

Brazil to Up Cement Capacity 125

Peru Cement Industry Set to Expand 126

14. MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA 127

Market Overview 127

Iran Cement Market 127

Saudi Arabia Cement Market 128

Saudi Arabia: Expansive Capacity Expansions 129

UAE Cement Market 130

UAE to Double Cement Capacity by 2011 130

UAE Cement Imports 132

GCC Heading Towards Surplus Capacity 132

GCC Pricing Scenario 132

Competitive Scenario 133

Dubai Cement Market 134

Iraq Cement Market 135

Egypt: An Emerging Cement Market 135

South Africa Cement Market 135

Residential Construction Drives Cement Demand 136

EXHIBITS

Table 1: Global Leading Consumers of Cement by Country: 2008E

(in ‘000 Tonnes)

Table 2: Worldwide Cement Production by Region: 2008E (in ‘000

Tonnes)

Table 3: Percentage Breakdown of Global Cement Production by

Region – 2008E

Table 4: Worldwide Leading Producers of Cement by Country:

2008E (in ‘000 Tonnes)

Table 5: Percentage Breakdown of Leading Global Cement

Producers by Country – 2008E

Table 6: Worldwide Cement Production Capacity (in Million

Tonnes): 2007-2012F

Table 7: Per Capita Cement Consumption (in Kgs): 2007

Table 8: Percentage Breakdown of Leading Cement Manufacturers

in the World – 2008E

Table 9: Global Cement Market by Region for the Period

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 10: Percentage Breakdown of Global Cement Market by

Region for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 11: Global Portland Cement Market by Region for the

Period 2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 12: Percentage Breakdown of Global Portland Cement

Market by Region for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 13: Global Blended Cement Market by Region for the

Period 2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 14: Percentage Breakdown of Global Blended Cement Market

by Region for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 15: Global Special / Other Cement Market by Region for

the Period 2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 16: Percentage Breakdown of Global Special / Other

Cement Market by Region for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 17: Global Cement Demand in Residential Sector by Select

Geographic Markets for the Period 2007-2015 (Demand in

Thousand Tonnes)

Table 18: Global Cement Demand in Non-Residential Sector by

Select Geographic Markets for the Period 2007-2015 (Demand in

Thousand Tonnes)

Table 19: Global Cement Demand in Non-Building Sector by

Select Geographic Markets for the Period 2007-2015 (Demand in

Thousand Tonnes)

Table 20: US Construction Starts (in US$ Billion): 2009E

Table 21: US Cement Trade Statistics (in ‘000 Metric Tons):

2008E

Table 22: US Hydraulic Cement Imports by Ten Leading Countries

of Origin: Jan-Sep 2008

Table 23: US White Cement Imports by Leading Countries of

Origin: Jan-Sep 2008

Table 24: US Cement Imports by Ten Leading Countries of Origin

(in US$ ‘000): 2007

Table 25: US Cement Exports by Ten Leading Countries of

Destination (in US$ ‘000): 2007

Table 26: Cement Market by Product Segment in the US:

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 27: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in the US for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 28: Cement Market by End-Use Sector in the US: 2007-2015

(Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 29: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by End-Use

Sector in the US for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 30: Canadian Cement Exports by Leading Countries of

Destination: 2006 (in US$ million)

Table 31: Canadian Cement Imports by Leading Countries of

Origin (in US$ ‘000): 2006

Table 32: Cement Market by Product Segment in Canada:

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 33: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in Canada for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 34: Japanese Cement Exports by Country of Destination

(in ‘000 Tonnes): 2007

Table 35: Cement Market by Product Segment in Japan: 2007-2015

(Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 36: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in Japan for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 37: European Cement Production by Leading Cement

Producing Countries (in ‘000 Tonnes): 2007

Table 38: Per Capita Cement Consumption: 2007 (In Kgs)

Table 39: Cement Market by Region in Europe: 2007-2015 (Demand

in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 40: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Region in

Europe for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 41: Cement Market by Product Segment in Europe:

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 42: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in Europe for the Years 2009 & 2012.

Table 43: Cement Market by Product Segment in France:

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 44: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in France for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 45: Cement Market by End-Use Sector in France: 2007-2015

(Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 46: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by End-Use

Sector in France for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 47: German Cement Imports by Leading Country of Origin

(in ‘000 Tonnes) – 2007

Table 48: Cement Market by Product Segment in Germany:

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 49: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in Germany for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 50: Cement Market by End-Use Sector in Germany:

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 51: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by End-Use

Sector in Germany for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 52: Cement Market by Product Segment in Italy: 2007-2015

(Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 53: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in Italy for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 54: Cement Market by End-UseSector in Italy: 2007-2015

(Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 55: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by End-Use

Sector in Italy for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 56: Cement Market by Product Segment in the UK:

2007-2015 (Demandin Thousand Tonnes)

Table 57: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in the UK for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 58: Cement Market by Product Segment in Spain: 2007-2015

(Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 59: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in Spain for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 60: Russian Cement Production Capacity Concentration -

2011E

Table 61: Russian Cement Imports (in ‘000 tonnes): 2008E

Table 62: Cement Market by Product Segment in Russia:

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 63: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in Russia for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 64: Turkish Cement Exports by Country of Destination (in

‘000 tonnes): 2007

Table 65: Cement Market by Product Segment in Turkey:

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 66: Cement Market by Product Segment in Rest of Europe:

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 67: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in Rest of Europe for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 68: Cement Market by Geographic Region in Asia-Pacific:

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 69: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Geographic

Region in Asia-Pacific for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 70: Portland Cement Market by Geographic Region in

Asia-Pacific: 2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 71: Percentage Breakdown of Portland Cement Market by

Geographic Region in Asia-Pacific for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 72: Blended Cement Market by Geographic Region in

Asia-Pacific: 2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 73: Percentage Breakdown of Blended Cement Market by

Geographic Region in Asia-Pacific for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 74: Special / Other Cement Market by Geographic Region

in Asia-Pacific: 2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 75: Percentage Breakdown of Special / Other Cement

Market by Geographic Region in Asia-Pacific for the Years 2009

& 2012

Table 76: Chinese Cement Production Statistics (in ‘000

Tonnes): 2006 to 2008E

Table 77: Market Shares of Leading Companies in the Chinese

Cement Market – 2007

Table 78: China’s Cement Exports (in ‘000 Tonnes): 2007

Table 79: Cement Market by Product Segment in China: 2007-2015

(Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 80: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in China for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 81: Cement Market by End-Use Sector in China: 2007-2015

(Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 82: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by End-Use

Sector in China for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 83: Cement Market by User Category in China:2007-2015

(Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 84: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by User

Category in China for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 85: Capacity Additions by Select Cement Makers (in

million tonnes): FY2008

Table 86: Market Shares of Leading Companies in the Indian

Cement Market – 2007

Table 87: Indian Cement Production Capacity Concentration:

FY2007

Table 88: Cement Market by Product Segment in India: 2007-2015

(Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 89: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in India for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 90: Cement Market by End-Use Sector in India: 2007-2015

(Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 91: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by End-Use

Sector in India for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 92: Cement Market by User Category in India: 2007-2015

(Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 93: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by User

Category in India for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 94: Cement Market by Product Segment in South Korea:

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 95: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in South Korea for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 96: Market Shares of Leading Companies in the Indonesian

Cement Market – 2008 (H1)

Table 97: Cement Production Capacity (in ‘000 tonnes) by

Company: 2007

Table 98: Cement Market by Product Segment in Rest of

Asia-Pacific: 2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 99: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in Rest of Asia-Pacific for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 100: Cement Market by Product Segment in Latin America:

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 101: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in Latin America for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 102: Saudi Arabian Proposed New Capacity Additions (in

‘000 tonnes per annum)

Table 103: UAE Cement Capacity Expansions (in ‘000 tonnes):

2011P

Table 104: Percentage Breakdown of UAE Cement Imports by

Leading Country of Origin – 2007

Table 105: Percentage Breakdown of Leading Companies in Saudi

Arabian Cement Market by Volume of Cement Production and

Sales – 2007

Table 106: Cement Market by Geographic Region in Middle East &

Africa: 2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 107: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Geographic

Region in Middle East & Africa for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 108: Cement Market by Product Segment in Middle East &

Africa: 2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 109: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by Product

Segment in Middle East & Africa for the Years 2009 & 2012

Table 110: Cement Market by End-Use Sector in South Africa:

2007-2015 (Demand in Thousand Tonnes)

Table 111: Percentage Breakdown of Cement Market by End-Use

Sector in South Africa for the Years 2009 & 2012

COMPANIES PROFILED

To order this report:

Building Material Industry: Cement – A Global Market Perspective

More Market Research Report

CAIR Applauds Release of Acquitted Fla. Muslim

Judge says government failed to prove deportation case

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is applauding today’s release of Youssef Megahed, the Florida Muslim who was acquitted of terror charges but later held for deportation based on the same allegations. (Megahed is being processed for release later today.)

Earlier today, Miami-Dade County Immigration Judge Kenneth S. Hurewitz ruled that the government had not proven its case to deport Megahed on the terror charges rejected by the jury. Judge Hurewitz also agreed to release Megahed on bail pending the government’s appeal of his decision.

SEE: Government Agrees to Bail for Megahed After Judge Rules It Couldn’t Prove Terrorism Case

http://tinyurl.com/megahed.

“It is time our government accepts the judgment of both the earlier jury and now an immigration judge and leaves Youssef Megahed in peace to mark the upcoming fast of Ramadan with his family,” said Ramzy Kilic, executive director of CAIR’s Tampa, Fla., office.

Kilic noted that an immigration judge is held to even a lower standard of evidence than a jury in a criminal case, so Judge Hurewitz reviewed evidence against Megahed that the federal jury did not see. Even with this additional evidence, the judge ruled against the government.

Megahed was arrested in South Carolina in August of 2007 following a traffic stop by local police. He was charged with transporting explosive materials and a destructive device, but was acquitted of those charges in April of this year. Days later, Megahed was arrested by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the same charges he faced in federal court.

Megahed, 23, is a permanent resident whose family moved to America from Egypt when he was 11.

SEE: Youssef Megahed Speaks Out from Prison (Democracy Now)

http://tinyurl.com/o64w9o

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations

A MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA: Peace in the Middle-East Inseparably Linked to Peace for the Coptic Christians of Egypt

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Coalition of Coptic Organizations issued the following letter to President Obama:

Dear President Obama,

Your speech to the Islamic World from Cairo on June 4, 2009 was historic. You were the first American President to identify and to address the plight of Egypt’s Coptic Christians by name. Now you have the chance to translate your words into actions.

On August 18, 2009, President Mubarak will visit you in the White House to discuss plans for peace in the Middle East. We wish you success as we fully understand world peace is impossible without peace in the Middle East. However, we want to remind you of a woefully neglected issue that is critical to peace in the region.

The Copts of Egypt total around 12 million representing approximately 15% of Egypt’s population of 80 million. Yet, they have been neglected and marginalized and most commonly are targeted for systematic discrimination and persecution.

* 15% of Egypt’s population is represented by less than 1/4 % of its parliamentary elected officials. Mr. Mubarak has done nothing to rectify the shameful imbalance.
* During the Mubarak Era, Copts have suffered over 200 major terrorist attacks on their persons, homes, businesses and churches. Most often, perpetrators are not arrested, and those arrested are seldom convicted. The attacks are on the increase with over 20 occurring within the last 3 months alone.
* A government policy limits hiring and promoting Copts to high ranking jobs. Many influential positions are completely out of reach for Christians.
* An antiquated law from the Ottoman Empire governs church constructions and refurbishing. Building a new church requires Presidential Decree and repairing existing ones requires permits from regional governors.

President Obama,

Please remind Mr. Mubarak that while it is nice to help others, charity begins at home. The Coptic citizens of his nation are badly in need of his intervention to address their plight. Without solving the Coptic issue there will be no real peace in the Middle East.

Coptic organizations will hold a peaceful protest in front of the main gate of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue between Madison and 15th street on Tuesday, August 18th from 10:00am- 4:00pm.

SOURCE Coalition of Coptic Organizations

Middle East and North Africa Businesswomen’s Network Elects Officers, Prepares for Growth

Self-sustaining NGO will expand women’s economic empowerment in the region

WASHINGTON, June 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — An idea conceived by businesswomen at a 2005 meeting in Tunis to establish formal linkages across the MENA region has taken a major step forward on its way to formalizing these relationships. Officially launched in Abu Dhabi in 2006 as a loose-knit network, the MENA Businesswomen’s Network (MENA BWN) recently elected its first group of officers who, along with its Board of Directors, will lead the Network through the startup phase as an independent non-profit, non-governmental organization.

The new leadership was announced at the June 16-18 semi-annual MENA BWN Leadership Meeting in Doha, Qatar. Afnan Al Zayani, member of the Bahrain Businesswomen Society (BBS) and president of Al Zayani Commercial Services, was elected President; Amel Bouchamaoui, vice president of Chambre Nationale des Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises (CNFCE) and head of Maille Fil, a textile company based in Tunisia, will serve as Vice President; and Lana Dajani, member of Business and Professional Women – Amman and HR manager at Arabtech Jardaneh Engineers and Architects, will be Treasurer. Members of the MENA BWN are businesswomen’s organizations from 11 Network “Hub” countries in the Gulf, the Levant and North Africa, each acting as one voting representative on the Board of Directors.

For almost three years, with support from the US-Middle East Partnership Initiative, members of the Network have conducted programs reaching over 10,000 businesspeople and professionals, helping them to develop business skills, build and strengthen their own networks, participate in forums with high profile U.S. and regional experts and “give back” to their communities through mentoring and advocacy programs.

“It is a pleasure to work with these accomplished women and an honor to serve them as we work toward our shared goals of promoting women’s entrepreneurship and increasing the number and value of women’s businesses,” said Afnan Al Zayani, incoming president. “At the same time, we are focused on ensuring that our work has greater benefit to our communities and neighbors by making them better places to live and work in,” she added.

The MENA BWN is currently funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative of the U.S. Department of State with program management and operational support coming from Vital Voices Global Partnership. Since its inception, the intent has been that the MENA BWN would become an autonomous and self-sustaining NGO and the election of officers and subsequent planning and development continues to move it in that direction.

Vital Voices trains and empowers women leaders around the world and the MENA BWN is a major initiative in its economic advancement efforts. “This is a remarkable group of women who are successful in their own businesses, active in their communities and who clearly see that the opportunity for greater collaboration locally, regionally and globally will bring great benefit to all. They believe deeply in the power of this Network,” said Mary MacPherson, director of the MENA BWN for Vital Voices. “What seems very unique is the extent of collaboration and focus on really doing business across this vast and diverse geography. It is inspiring and you can literally feel the energy driving them forward,” she commented.

The MENA Businesswomen’s Network continues to grow and thrive as Network Hubs expand their membership and new Hub countries join. The continued collaboration of businesswomen in the Middle East and North Africa will expand economic opportunities for all women in the region, allowing for more jobs created, economic growth, and increased prosperity.

MENA Businesswomen’s Network

The MENA Businesswomen’s Network is a partnership of local businesswomen’s organizations across the Middle East and North Africa, Vital Voices Global Partnership and the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) of the U.S. Department of State. The goal of the partnership is to build a regional network of businesswomen to expand the number of women in business, to increase the value of their businesses, to advance the role of women in society, and to promote a regional culture of women’s entrepreneurship.

The eleven Founding Members of the Network are: Association des Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises du Maroc (AFEM), Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society, Business Women Forum – Palestine, Dubai Business Women’s Council, Kuwait Economic Society, Lebanese League for Women in Business, Business & Professional Women Association – Amman, Chambre Nationale des Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises (CNFCE), Qatari Business Women Forum, Association for Women’s Total Advancement and Development (AWTAD – Egypt), and the Association des Algeriennes Managers et Entrepreneurs (AME). www.menabwn.org

About Vital Voices Global Partnership

Vital Voices Global Partnership is the preeminent non-governmental organization (NGO) that identifies, trains, and empowers emerging women leaders and social entrepreneurs around the globe, enabling them to create a better world for us all. An international staff and team of over 1,000 partners, pro bono experts and leaders, including senior government, corporate and NGO executives, have trained and mentored more than 7,000 emerging women leaders from over 127 countries in Asia, Africa, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East since 1997. They have equipped these women with management, business development, marketing, and communications skills to expand their enterprises, help to provide for their families, and create jobs in their communities. These women have returned home to train and mentor more than 200,000 additional women and girls in their communities. www.vitalvoices.org

About MEPI

The MENA BWN is funded through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).MEPI supports efforts to expand political participation, strengthen civil society and the rule of law, empower women and youth, create educational opportunities, and foster economic reform throughout the Middle East and North Africa. In support of these goals, MEPI works with non-governmental organizations, the private sector, academic institutions and governments. More information about MEPI can be found at www.mepi.state.gov.

SOURCE Vital Voices Global Partnership

Actis to Invest US$244 Million in Egypt’s Commercial International Bank to Become Largest Single Shareholder

CAIRO, July 8 /PRNewswire/ — Actis, an emerging markets private equity specialist, is pleased to announce today that it has executed an agreement to invest US$244 million to acquire shares in Commercial International Bank, the leading bank in Egypt. Actis is acquiring 50% of the stake held by the consortium led by Ripplewood Holdings. The transaction makes Actis the largest single investor in CIB.

Commenting on the transaction, Actis Senior Partner Paul Fletcher said, “Actis is committed to the financial services sector as one of our core investment strategies within emerging markets where Egypt stands out for its excellent growth potential. Within Egypt, CIB is the market leading bank, perfectly positioned to achieve significant growth by extending its services into the retail banking sector. We hold the management team in high regard and are delighted that CIB has become an anchor investment for our Actis Emerging Markets 3 fund. CIB is committed to a high standard of governance and corporate ethics that sits perfectly with Actis’s own stringent investment practices.”

CIB is well-placed to build on its 35-year track record in commercial banking and its powerful brand to expand further into the retail sector. The country’s 76 million inhabitants and its burgeoning middle class of consumers are creating a strong demand for modern personal finance and savings products.

Timothy C. Collins, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ripplewood, commented, “We are extremely proud of our relationship with CIB and with its board, management and employees. We have long believed that CIB and the Egyptian banking sector have not been fully appreciated by investors in mature markets and therefore offers an exceptional investment opportunity. The investment by Actis, a recognized leader in emerging markets investing with a successful track record in financial institutions, supports this view. This transaction allows CIB to add a new partner who shares our strategic vision and brings complementary strengths to the Bank.”

Hisham Ezz Al-Arab, Chairman of CIB, commented, “Over the past three years, in partnership with Ripplewood, we have made significant progress in strengthening our systems, processes and managerial expertise. We are now ready to take the business to the next level and we welcome Actis as an active partner and board member. With its 60-year legacy of investing in emerging markets, its deep experience in scaling financial institutions in other high growth markets, particularly in retail, and its network of emerging markets contacts, we believe Actis will be an extremely valuable partner as we accelerate our growth in consumer banking.”

Actis seeks to identify attractive opportunities in Egypt by using its local base on the ground, together with its specialist global Financial Services team to find the best overall environments for investment. Egypt has a resilient, growing economy and a strong regulatory banking environment. By enforcing rigorously conservative policies, Egyptian banks have performed strongly, despite the turmoil in global banking markets, making Egypt one of the most attractive banking environments in the world.

Notes to Editors:

Actis will acquire 27,301,122 Global Depositary Receipts at a price of US$8.9326 each (equivalent to EGP 50 per ordinary share). The GDRs represent 27,301,122 ordinary shares being 9.33% of the issued share capital of CIB. Actis will buy 50% of a stake held by a syndicate of investors led by Ripplewood Holdings LLC.

About Actis

Actis is a leading private equity investor in emerging markets with a growing portfolio of investments in Asia, Africa and Latin America, with US$4.8billion funds under management. Actis has over 100 investment professionals on the ground in 9 offices worldwide.

In Africa, Actis is a longstanding, experienced private equity investor with a 60 year legacy of investing throughout the continent and today has almost US$2.0 billion funds under management in 12 African countries. It has 30 investment professionals dedicated to Africa in five offices in Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya and London.

Actis announced the closure of its global emerging markets fund, Actis Emerging Markets 3 (AEM3) on 1 December 2008 with commitments totalling US$2.9 billion. In 2009, Actis was awarded African Private Equity Firm of the Year 2008 by Private Equity International magazine for the second consecutive year.

About CIB

Headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, the Commercial International Bank was established in 1975 as a joint venture between the National Bank of Egypt and the Chase Manhattan Bank under its original name ‘Chase National Bank of Egypt’. Following Chase’s divestment of its equity stake in 1987, the Bank changed its name to Commercial International Bank (Egypt) S.A.E.

CIB is the number one private sector bank in the country, with total assets of EGP 62 billion (USD 11 billion).

It is the highest-rated Egyptian bank by S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, capped only by the sovereign ceiling for Egypt set at BB+. CIB has an extensive retail banking network in Egypt with 155 well-located branches and 492 ATMs.

CIB takes tremendous pride in the quality and integrity of its employees, its strong corporate culture and values, and its leading position in the Egyptian banking sector. The bank remains committed to providing its customers the best financial products and services, which will enable CIB to maximize shareholder value.

SOURCE Actis

President Obama’s Letter to King Mohammed VI Commends ‘Commitment’ to Peace, Tolerance, & Justice, as Moroccans Commemorate Decade of Progress & Leadership

Ten years into reign, Moroccan leader continues to turn reform-minded visions into realities of social, economic, and political progress

WASHINGTON, July 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — This week Morocco marks a decade of leadership and reforms under King Mohammed VI, as U.S. President Barack Obama saluted the King’s commitment to shared “principles of justice and progress, tolerance and dignity,” and his efforts to promote “dialogue between religions and cultures” in a letter released earlier this month. Responding to King Mohammed VI’s offer in an earlier letter to the U.S. President to help improve relations between the U.S. and Muslim world, President Obama replied: “I am confident that we can work together to put in place the basis for fruitful negotiations favoring peace” in the Middle East and elsewhere in the region. The exchange between leaders comes as Morocco commemorates the 10th anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s accession to the throne in July 1999 following the death of his father, King Hassan II.

In his letter, Pres. Obama emphasized the King’s “commitment to strengthening the foundations for dialogue and mutual respect between nations,” a key principle the U.S. president expressed in his recent speech to the Muslim world in Cairo, where he noted Morocco was the first nation to recognize U.S. independence in 1777. Obama highlighted Morocco’s historic role in the Middle East peace process and the need to resolve regional disputes such as the Western Sahara conflict. Obama reiterated his shared commitment to “achieving a mutually acceptable solution” in W. Sahara, following Morocco’s 2007 compromise proposal providing self-determination through autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. Resolution to that 34-year-old dispute would end suffering for thousands of refugees in Tindouf, Algeria and pave the way for greater economic integration and political cooperation among Maghreb countries.

“President Obama and King Mohammed VI share principles on international peace, progress, and prosperity that are rooted in the extraordinary, longtime partnership between the U.S. and Morocco,” said Edward M. Gabriel, former U.S. ambassador to Morocco, during a recent interview on Viewpoints, a live televised interview program on Middle East and world issues hosted by Dr. James Zogby. As Ambassador to Morocco when King Mohammed VI came to power, Gabriel had a unique perspective on the then-largely unknown 35-year-old leader — which he shared early in the new king’s tenure in a 1999 speech to the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC.

“The newly enthroned King Mohammed VI is determined to implement the wide-ranging economic and political reforms initiated by his late father King Hassan II. I know King Mohamed VI to be a man of tremendous intellect and seriousness. He possesses a great understanding of the needs of his people.”

Ten years later, King Mohammed VI is widely acknowledged to have established Morocco a positive model for the region. He has initiated a wide range of social, political, and economic reforms, embracing a consensus-building approach to move his nation forward on the most daunting issues, including:

* Establishing a truth and reconciliation commission which investigated alleged past human rights abuses and provided compensation to victims;
* Elevating women’s role in society and guaranteeing women’s equality of rights through reform of the Family Law, or moudawana;
* Promoting democracy, decentralization, and making the electoral system more transparent, all of which were evident in the successful June local elections that brought more than 7 million Moroccans to the polls; and,
* Strengthening and modernizing Morocco’s economy, and becoming one of the few countries to have a free trade agreement with the United States.

“Under King Mohammed VI’s enlightened leadership, the two centuries-old relationship between the U.S. and Morocco is at an unprecedented level,” said Gabriel. “U.S. support for Morocco’s model of reforms and its efforts to reach a peaceful compromise in the W. Sahara are long-standing and unchanged. I’m confident the successes of the last decade are an indicator of tremendous progress we’ll see for Morocco and the region in years to come.”

The Moroccan American Center for Policy (MACP) is a non-profit organization whose principal mission is to inform opinion makers, government officials and interested publics in the United States about political and social developments in Morocco and the role being played by the Kingdom of Morocco in broader strategic developments in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. For more, please visit www.moroccanamericanpolicy.org

This material is distributed by the Moroccan American Center for Policy on behalf of the Government of Morocco. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC.

SOURCE Moroccan American Center for Policy

Obama’s Visit to Africa: Time for a New Partnership Founded on Transparency and Shared Responsibility

LOS ANGELES, CA UNITED STATES

WASHINGTON, July 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — On the eve of his historic trip to Ghana, international humanitarian agency Oxfam called on President Obama to commit to a new partnership for African development built on new resources and new measures to increase transparency and accountability.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080221/DC14723LOGO)

“Much like the Cairo speech, we are hoping the Accra speech will signal a new era of engagement, respect and partnership with Africa,” said Raymond C. Offenheiser, President of Oxfam America. “This historic visit, so early in his presidency and on the heels of important commitments at the G8 in Italy, signals the importance President Obama places on African development.”

Millions of Africans live in extreme poverty, and are now hit hard by the global economic and climate crisis. Sub-Saharan Africa alone is expecting losses of up to $245 billion this year as a result of the global slump, which is almost seven times the amount it receives in global aid. In Ghana, a resource-rich country, the life expectancy is a mere 58 years and 70% of people in the poor northern regions live on less than $1 a day. Despite the economic crisis, Africa continues to attract large investments to extract the riches that lie below ground, producing billions in government revenues. By 2015, oil revenues in African oil-exporting countries will exceed the amount needed to meet key social development goals by $35 billion annually – but investing this money wisely is not a sure thing.

“Africa is rich in natural resources like gold, diamonds and oil, but, too often, these resources have contributed to corruption, conflict, and human rights abuses,” said Offenheiser. “But important progress can be made to turn this around. President Obama can help by supporting increased transparency and the disclosure of payments from US and other companies to African governments to help ensure responsible use of billions of dollars of government revenues per year.”

Oxfam praised Ghana’s recent commitment to transparency in the country’s nascent oil sector and urged President Obama to encourage the government to follow through on these commitments and encourage other African governments to follow the positive steps the Ghanaian government has taken to date.

Oxfam also noted that key reforms are needed to make the US foreign aid system as effective as possible in reducing poverty and creating prosperous communities throughout the developing world. The US currently lacks a coherent assistance strategy for many of the countries it is trying to help. Oxfam is calling on the US to keep recipient country governments and their public informed on the nature and amount of American aid, help the recipient country to manage its own development, and ultimately, let each recipient country lead its own development agenda.

“American generosity is undermined by a reactive approach that prioritizes relief efforts – like food aid – that saves lives, but doesn’t address underlying causes of poverty and hunger,” said Offenheiser. “If the US wants to use its aid consistently help the poor in countries such as Ghana, it needs a global development strategy to guide the US government’s efforts to fight poverty.”

Climate change is already impacting the lives and livelihoods of millions of poor people in Africa, as a recent Oxfam report details. Tackling these impacts is essential to addressing food security and broader development objectives. President Obama must commit to help bring about a comprehensive global climate strategy that will help poor communities cope with the impacts of global warming, from failed crops to dwindling reserves of clean water and displacement caused by extreme weather events.

“Global hunger and poverty is a human tragedy exacerbated by faltering investments in agricultural production and the growing impacts of climate change,” said Offenheiser. “We are pleased to see President Obama follow through on his commitments to reassert US leadership and address the challenges facing the billion people around the world without enough food.”

Note: The President, First Lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Sasha and Malia, are scheduled to arrive in Accra, Ghana late Friday evening and deliver a major address to the Ghanaian Parliament on Saturday.

SOURCE Oxfam America