Maghreb Business
Features
2009-11-10 With deaths from car accidents soaring in Algeria, authorities are looking to curb the crashes caused by faulty spare parts by banning imports from anywhere but the most reliable sources.Continue...
2009-11-04 Morocco has earned the recognition of the Union of Arab Women Investors for its support for businesswomen.Continue...
2009-10-28 In the wake of last week's housing protests in the capital, the Algerian government has announced it will extend large low-interest loans to less-affluent people.Continue...
2009-10-27 Former Algerian prison inmates will receive small loans to ease their re-integration into society and lower their chance of becoming repeat offenders.Continue...
2009-10-26 The Algerian Start-Up Initiative will nurture up-and-coming firms in the new information and communications technology arena, according to government ministers.Continue...
News Briefs
Morocco to build nuclear plant in 2020
2009-11-19 Moroccan will launch construction of a 100MW nuclear energy plant in 2020, Energy Minister Amina Benkhadra told parliament on Wednesday (November 18th). Also in 2020, Morocco's new $9 billion solar power project is expected to produce 2,000 MW, the minister added.
OPEC production level change unlikely, Libyan petrol chief says
2009-11-19 The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) should agree at its upcoming Angola meeting to maintain current production levels, Reuters quoted the head of Libya National Oil Corporation (NOC) chief Shokri Ghanem as saying on Wednesday (November 18th). "Prices are not high enough to take an action and not low enough to take an action. So unless in the next month something startling takes place, which I don't expect it will, no decision is the best decision," Ghanem said.
Morocco PM presses world leaders to boost agriculture spending
2009-11-18 Strengthening a country's agricultural sector should be a core element of national economic policy, Morocco Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi told international leaders at the World Food Security Summit in Rome on Tuesday (November 17th). Speaking on behalf of King Mohammed VI, El Fassi urged the 60-plus heads of state and government officials to spur investment in agriculture in order to meet food challenges, MAP reported.
Casablanca conference targets Arab intellectual property piracy
2009-11-16 A week-end conference in Casablanca tackled intellectual property rights and the piracy of creative arts in the Arab world, MAP reported on Sunday (November 15th). Participants from Saudi Arabia, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon and other countries agreed to unite efforts to combat the piracy of literary and artistic property. The event was organised by the Moroccan Musicians' Union and the General Union of Arab Artists.
Tunisie Telecom launches first Tunisian submarine cable to Italy
2009-11-15 Tunisie Telecom (TUNTEL) on Friday (November 13th) inaugurated the country's first submarine fibre optic cable, TAP reported. Dubbed "Hannibal", the cable spans 180km between Kélibia and Italy's Mazara del Vallo. The 16 million-dinar project aims to satisfy present domestic communications needs while also adapting to future internet data transfer requirements.
Morocco, Turkey boost economic co-operation
2009-11-13 Morocco aims to strengthen bilateral trade Turkey by leveraging what Trade Minister Ahmed Chami calls the nations' "close historical, cultural and religious relations", MAP reported on Thursday (November 12th), following Chami's meeting in Rabat with Turkish counterpart Nihat Ergun. For his part, Ergun said he hopes to see Moroccan and Turkish entrepreneurs establish a mutually beneficial partnership. A large Turkish business delegation accompanied Ergun to Morocco to learn more about trade and investment opportunities, ANSA noted.
Morocco, German to sign development accord next year
2009-11-13 Morocco and Germany will sign an economic co-operation and development agreement in 2010, MAP quoted the German embassy in Rabat as saying in a statement on Thursday (November 12th). The announcement followed two days of talks this week in Rabat between Moroccan and German officials.
New trace system helps Maghreb farmers
2009-11-13 A new project to help farmers in Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco improve food security, traceability and European exports will be unveiled at the International Show of Agriculture, Machinery and Fishing (SIAMAP) next Wednesday (November 18th) in Tunis, TAP reported. The Maghreb Farmers Union, which proposed the traceability process, will host a stand at the event to show fellow agricultural producers how MAG-TRACE works.
French firms eye Libyan electricity market
2009-11-12 Nine of France's biggest electricity companies presented proposals to Libyan energy officials in Tripoli on Tuesday (November 10th), ANSA reported. Products aimed at the transfer and distribution network in the country include clean energy solutions and electrical substations.
Mauritania hosts European Union, West Africa fisheries conference
2009-11-11 A conference on EU-West Africa fisheries agreements opened in Nouakchott on Tuesday (November 10th), PANA reported. The 3-day meeting is attended by some fifty professionals in the fisheries sector from Sub-Regional Commission on Fisheries member nations Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Discussions will focus on European fishing policy reform, partnership agreements, artisanal fisheries and other issues.
