Women likely winners in new QIZ deal.

The article reports on the growing enthusiasm among Egyptians for Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZs). On December 21, 2004, Egypt signed a historic trade agreement with the United States that established QIZs as a first step towards a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. Many of these new QIZ-based factory workers are women, empowered through higher earnings. Concurrent with their operation, Jordan's annual exports to the U.S. rose from a paltry $2 million in 1994 to almost $1 billion in 2004, a commendable achievement.