Saudi Arabia, Egypt Sign MoU to Promote Exports, Automobile Industry

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly chairs talks between the Egyptian side, headed by Minister of Industry Ahmed Samir, and his Saudi counterpart, Bandar al-Khorayef (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly chairs talks between the Egyptian side, headed by Minister of Industry Ahmed Samir, and his Saudi counterpart, Bandar al-Khorayef (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia, Egypt Sign MoU to Promote Exports, Automobile Industry

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly chairs talks between the Egyptian side, headed by Minister of Industry Ahmed Samir, and his Saudi counterpart, Bandar al-Khorayef (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly chairs talks between the Egyptian side, headed by Minister of Industry Ahmed Samir, and his Saudi counterpart, Bandar al-Khorayef (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed on Sunday two memorandums of understanding (MoU) in developing non-oil exports and developing their automobile industries.

The Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry, Ahmed Samir, and Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar al-Khorayef, witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Egyptian Export Development Authority and its Saudi counterpart.

The statement added that the two sides also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Valeo Egypt company and the Saudi National Industrial Development Center in developing the automotive industry.

Khorayef started an official visit to Egypt on Saturday as part of Saudi Arabia's keenness to enhance the role of the mining and industrial sectors.

Later, the Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly received the Saudi Minister of Industry.

They discussed ways to enhance industry cooperation and integration between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Madbouly noted the enormous potential and human resources that the two countries possess, adding that Egypt is a huge market and a gateway to the continent of Africa.

He stressed the importance of having an agreement between the two countries that enables the private sector to achieve integration and partnership in the supply and production chains.

During the meeting, Minister Samir noted that Egyptian officials held meetings with their Saudi counterparts. They agreed on a set of joint work issues in industry, namely the industrial integration between the two countries.

The Egyptian minister said that cooperation in specific sectors would improve in the next stage, including the food and drug security industries and promoting exports to African markets.

For his part, the Saudi Minister explained that the national industry strategy aims to create a competitive and sustainable industrial economy.

Saudi Arabia is looking forward to integration with Egypt in the industries identified by the strategy to achieve food and drug security and cooperation for optimal utilization and creation of added value in the petrochemical and mining industries and the automotive industry.

Khorayef said the visit to Egypt would include a tour of several industrial sites and meetings with the private sector.

 



US Job Growth Surges in September, Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.1%

A woman enters a store next to a sign advertising job openings at Times Square in New York City, New York, US, August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
A woman enters a store next to a sign advertising job openings at Times Square in New York City, New York, US, August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
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US Job Growth Surges in September, Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.1%

A woman enters a store next to a sign advertising job openings at Times Square in New York City, New York, US, August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
A woman enters a store next to a sign advertising job openings at Times Square in New York City, New York, US, August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo

US job growth accelerated in September and the unemployment slipped to 4.1%, further reducing the need for the Federal Reserve to maintain large interest rate cuts at its remaining two meetings this year.
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 254,000 jobs last month after rising by an upwardly revised 159,000 in August, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its closely watched employment report on Friday.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls rising by 140,000 positions after advancing by a previously reported 142,000 in August.
The initial payrolls count for August has typically been revised higher over the past decade. Estimates for September's job gains ranged from 70,000 to 220,000.
The US labor market slowdown is being driven by tepid hiring against the backdrop of increased labor supply stemming mostly from a rise in immigration. Layoffs have remained low, which is underpinning the economy through solid consumer spending.
Average hourly earnings rose 0.4% after gaining 0.5% in August. Wages increased 4% year-on-year after climbing 3.9% in August.
The US unemployment rate dropped from 4.2% in August. It has jumped from 3.4% in April 2023, in part boosted by the 16-24 age cohort and rise in temporary layoffs during the annual automobile plant shutdowns in July.
The US Federal Reserve's policy setting committee kicked off its policy easing cycle with an unusually large half-percentage-point rate cut last month and Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized growing concerns over the health of the labor market.
While the labor market has taken a step back, annual benchmark revisions to national accounts data last week showed the economy in a much better shape than previously estimated, with upgrades to growth, income, savings and corporate profits.
This improved economic backdrop was acknowledged by Powell this week when he pushed back against investors' expectations for another half-percentage-point rate cut in November, saying “this is not a committee that feels like it is in a hurry to cut rates quickly.”
The Fed hiked rates by 525 basis points in 2022 and 2023, and delivered its first rate cut since 2020 last month. Its policy rate is currently set in the 4.75%-5.00% band.
Early on Friday, financial markets saw a roughly 71.5% chance of a quarter-point rate reduction in November, CME's FedWatch tool showed. The odds of a 50 basis points cut were around 28.5%.