West Germany yesterday signed an extensive agreement providing technical assistance to the United Arab Republic and underwriting private industrial loans to the UAR up to $83,300,000. The agreement was signed by West German Economics Minister Abdel Kaissony.
Under the new agreement, West Germany promised to consider favorably a number of UAR requests for technical assistance, including: Establishment of a technical education center in Syria; enlargement of Port Said and Suez harbors; construction of a new port in Syria; extension of the Damascus airfield; establishment of a standardization institute in Cairo; creation of a training center for mechanics and technicians in Egypt; creation of an institute for oil exploration in Egypt; and supply of shipping experts and metallurgical research workers to the UAR.
(Commenting on the announcement, the London Daily Express said the “Arabs are fortunate. A lot more fortunate than the British people, for when Britain asked for a German contribution of 40,000,000 in sterling towards the support of costs, she was told that Germany could not afford it.”)
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