SINO-SOVIET BLOC ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN UNDERDEVELOPED AREAS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP92B01090R000700010041-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2005
• Sequence Number: 41
• Publication Date: September 2, 1957
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2005/08/22: CIA-RDP92 01090R 0001004
SPY
SECRET
BIWEEKLY REPORT
SINO - SOVIET BLOC
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
IN UNDERDEVELOPED AREAS
EIC-WGR-1 /41
2 September 1957
PREPARED BY THE WORKING GROUP
ON SINO-SOVIET BLOC ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
IN UNDERDEVELOPED AREAS
ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
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SECRET
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SECRET
THIS MATERIAL CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECT-
ING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES
WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE LAWS,
TITLE 18, USC, SECTIONS 793 AND 794, THE TRANSMIS-
SION, OR REVELATION OF WHICH IN ANY MANNER TO
AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW.
These biweekly reports on "Sino-Soviet Bloc Economic Ac-
tivities in Underdeveloped Areas" are prepared and issued
by a Working Group of the Economic Intelligence Commit-
tee, including representatives of the Departments of State,
the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, Commerce, and Agricul-
ture; the International Cooperation Administration; the
Office of the Secretary of Defense; and the Central Intelli-
gence Agency. Their purpose is to provide up-to-date fac-
tual information on significant developments in the eco-
nomic relations of Sino-Soviet Bloc countries with under-
developed countries of the Free World. The EIC-R-14 series
of reports, under the same title, provide periodic summaries
and analytical interpretations of these developments.
Printed and Disseminated by the
Central Intelligence Agency
SECRET
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S-E-C-R-E-T
Summary of Events
16 - 29 August 1957
Syria and Egypt were the principal focal points of Soviet Bloc eco-
nomic. activity in the underdeveloped countries of the Free World during
the period 16 - 29 August 1957. A Syrian mission is now in Moscow
allegedly to work out details concerning the appointment of Soviet experts
who will be assigned to survey development projects in Syria. The
Egyptian government apparently has decided to take over the concession
for oil prospecting in Egypt's western desert when the Sahara Petroleum
Company (a Western firm) leaves the area. It is probable that the newly
organized Egyptian firm, the General Petroleum Company (which is ex-
pected to obtain some Soviet financial and technical backing), will be
granted the concession.
In South Asia, Bloc economic activities include Soviet surveys for a
physical and chemical laboratory to be constructed shortly in Kabul and
a Czechoslovak agreement with Ceylon to provide equipment worth
US $65, 000 to aid in the nationalization of the Ceylonese bus transporta-
tion system. A trade agreement was also concluded between North Korea
and India.
The USSR on 21 August offered to buy surplus cotton from Sudan, ap-
parently on a barter basis. In view of the drastic decline in. Sudanese
cotton exports to the Free World during the current season, acceptance
of the offer seems possible.
Further Bloc economic activity in the Middle East and Africa in-
cludes the arrival of a Soviet trade mission at the opening of the trade
fair in Izmir, Turkey; an agreement between the USSR and Iran pro-
viding for a joint survey of hydroelectric and irrigation projects on
the Araks and Atrek Rivers; a trade agreement between Bulgaria and
Tunisia; and a sizable contract signed by Poland and Portugal.
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CONTENTS
1. South Asia . . . . . . . . . . .
Page
A. Expected Afghan Contract for Soviet-Constructed
Laboratory . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1
B. Czechoslovak Agreement to Aid Ceylon's Bus
Transport Services . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
C. Indian Signing of Trade Agreement with North
Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
11. Middle East and Africa . . . .
A. Soviet-Syrian Economic Agreement . . . . . . 2
B. Egypt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1. Soviet Bloc Activities in the Egyptian
Petroleum Industry . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Egyptian Cotton and the Sino-Soviet Bloc 4
C. Soviet Offer to Buy Surplus Cotton from Sudan 6
D. Soviet-Iranian Border-River Development
Agreement . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 6
E. Arrival of Soviet Trade Mission in Turkey . . 7
F. Signing of Bulgarian-Tunisian Trade Agreement 8
G. Polish Contract to Supply Freight Cars
to Mozambique Railroads . . . . . . . . . . 8
III. Latin America (Argentine Attempts to Use Bloc
Trade Balances) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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