Egypt to Join the New Development Bank within Weeks

Negotiations between Egypt's delegation and the New Development Bank (NDB) (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Negotiations between Egypt's delegation and the New Development Bank (NDB) (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egypt to Join the New Development Bank within Weeks

Negotiations between Egypt's delegation and the New Development Bank (NDB) (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Negotiations between Egypt's delegation and the New Development Bank (NDB) (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egypt is moving forward with the procedures of officially joining the New Development Bank (NDB), which was established by the BRICS countries to enhance cooperation in infrastructure and sustainable development.

The Egyptian parliament is scheduled to officially discuss the final procedures for Cairo to join the Bank in the coming weeks.

BRICS is a prominent global economic bloc that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Algeria recently announced its desire to join the coalition.

Egyptian Finance Minister Mohamed Maait affirmed his country's keenness to enhance cooperation with international development partners, especially in light of the unprecedented development movement in Cairo.

Maait hoped this would lay the foundations of comprehensive and sustainable development, provide investment and development opportunities, improve citizens' living standards, meet their development needs, and improve the quality of public services.

During his meeting with the NDB President, Marcos Troyjo, the minister added that Egypt looks forward to building a solid partnership with the Bank, which has enormous financing capabilities, international expertise, and advanced infrastructure to help Egypt meet its financing needs and maximize its efforts to develop infrastructure.

Maait explained in a press statement by the Ministry of Finance that the NDB is a new platform for Egypt to enhance cooperation with BRICS countries and other emerging and developing economies' infrastructure and sustainable development.

He pointed out that the New Development Bank's strategy is in line with Egypt's vision for sustainable development, asserting that Cairo looks forward to strengthening cooperation between the two sides to achieve green and sustainable economic growth.

For his part, Troyjo said that the New Development Bank is proud of establishing a solid relationship with Egypt, especially in light of the promising opportunities explored together during the UN Climate Summit (COP27).

NDB aspires to jointly advance on key sustainable development issues across emerging economies, including climate action, said Troyjo.

Russia established the BRICS on September 20, 2006, when the group's first ministerial meeting was held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

During the BRICS summit in Brazil in 2014, the official agreed to establish a development bank and adopt a treaty to set up an emergency reserve for the group, which now owns a total of $200 billion.

BRICS established the Bank to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging market economies and developing countries.

The initial authorized capital of the Bank is $100 billion divided into 1 million shares having a par value of $100,000 each. It is open for subscription for UN members.

The New Development Bank has begun to expand its membership in 2021, accepting Bangladesh, the UAE, Uruguay, and Egypt.



Tel Aviv Shares Hit Record Highs after US Strikes Iran Nuclear Sites

A Tel Aviv Stock Exchange sign is seen at the bourse in Tel Aviv, Israel November 4, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo
A Tel Aviv Stock Exchange sign is seen at the bourse in Tel Aviv, Israel November 4, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo
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Tel Aviv Shares Hit Record Highs after US Strikes Iran Nuclear Sites

A Tel Aviv Stock Exchange sign is seen at the bourse in Tel Aviv, Israel November 4, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo
A Tel Aviv Stock Exchange sign is seen at the bourse in Tel Aviv, Israel November 4, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo

Israeli stocks hit record highs on Sunday after the US attacked Iran's nuclear sites in strikes investors believe would likely prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons anytime soon.

The broad Tel Aviv 125 index closed 1.8% higher, extending gains to nearly 8% the past week, while the blue-chip TA-35 gained 1.5%.

On the heels of Israeli strikes in Iran, shares rose during all five sessions last week, gaining some 6%, as Israel hit Iranian nuclear and military targets prior to Saturday's surprise US attacks, Reuters reported.

"The destruction of Iran's key nuclear facilities by the US military is, of course, a positive development ... in terms of improving the regional security environment and reducing Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities," said Mizrahi Tefahot chief markets economist Ronen Menachem. "It's a game-changer."

Israel began its punishing attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders on June 13, which have been met with retaliatory Iranian strikes against Israel.

US President Donald Trump said he had "obliterated" Iran's main nuclear sites in strikes overnight with massive bunker busting bombs, joining an Israeli assault in a significant new escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

Tehran vowed to defend itself, and responded with a volley of missiles at Israel that wounded scores of people and destroyed buildings in Tel Aviv on Sunday.

In addition to gains in shares, government bond prices have risen, the shekel has appreciated and Israel's risk premium has edged lower.

Bond prices increased as much as 0.2% on Sunday. The shekel does not trade on Sunday but it has rallied from 3.61 per dollar on June 11 to 3.48 on Friday and is up some 1% this month.