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Why Desertec Could Succeed

There is no doubt that the development of Desertec will be a challenge for its architects, promoters and supporters. Technical difficulties will add to financing and regulatory issues never anticipated before, further magnified by cultural differences that exist between countries involved in this giant project. But despite all the difficulties of the world, the project must succeed and there is plenty of evidence and good reasons why I think it will.
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Not a Bad Year for Some After All

Moroccan companies have released their results for fiscal 2009 and while most faced a challenging environment, a few managed to do very well. These reports look at five leading companies that are publically traded and review their 2009 financial performance....
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HSBC in North Africa: Going Where the Money Is

In summer 2008, London-based HSBC, one of the world’s largest banking and financial services institutions decided to add Algeria to its list of emerging markets operations. Libya is likely next in line. The decision meant that as of August 2008, the giant bank entered the Algerian market where it launched what it called “a full-service bank.” But is it really a full-service bank with the goal of contributing to economic growth and development or is HSBC focused on international trade operations to enable the flow of money in and out of the country? ...
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Signs of Economic Recovery in Morocco

The Moroccan economy is showing some positive momentum after a difficult time reacting to global economic crisis. With demand from European consumers picking up, Morocco is beginning to tally some good news. Although there is some temptation to credit European consumers for this start of recovery, the biggest positive impact has no doubt been the excellent weather conditions that have had strong positive repercussion on farming. ...
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Where to Invest in the Moroccan Economy

Although 2009 was a difficult year for those looking to place their money in Moroccan general investment and in equities in particular, 2010 may not bring immediate relief either, but opportunities could be up for grabs....
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A Nuclear North Africa

Oil and gas remain critical sources of power and energy for North African nations. In the medium term, hydrocarbons will remain the predominant sources of energy, whether it is for the OPEC countries of Algeria and Libya or the less-oil-endowed nations of Tunisia and Morocco. But in the longer term, the nuclear option appears interesting to all as oil reserves are depleted and securing new sources of energy is a strategic priority. ...
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Top 10 Predictions for the North African Wireless and Telecom Markets in 2010

The telecommunications and wireless sectors have been bright spots in North African economies and likely to continue to grow. The success of these sectors comes from a wide consumer adoption first of basic mobile phone services, in particular voice, at very affordable prices, then expanding into new services from SMS texting to ring tones. In this paper, Julien Blin, the North Africa Journal’s technology editor and CEO of JBB Research predicts what is to come in Africa’s wireless and telecom markets this year. (copyright JBB Research: http://www.jbbresearch.com)...
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A Different North Africa on the Horizon, but Political Troubles Looming

Fast forward 10, 15 or 20 years from now and you will see a vastly different North Africa. While big media outlets are focused on the giant economies of China, Brazil, and others, mid-level economies like those of North Africa are also a place of substantial economic activity. Domestic investments, sometimes aided by the contribution of foreign investors, are fueling economic development and growth. Despite the global economic hiccup, the pace of investments committed into the infrastructure sector in North Africa has been moving at a healthy pace bringing the rest of the economy with it. And that bodes well for the region as it seeks to catch up with the rest of the world....
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HP to Expand in Libyan Market

On November 4th, 2009, US tech giant HP announced its plan to establish new sales and support subsidiaries in Angola and Libya by 2010. By doing so, HP will increase its footprint across Africa to nine subsidiaries (Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tunisia)....
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It's All About Oil and Some

After eight years in a Scottish jail, the Libyan man convicted for his role in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing has been released on compassionate grounds. Abdel Basset Al-Megrahi is said to have only a few months to live and has arrived in Libya where he was greeted by thousands of supporters. While Scottish justice minister Kenny MacAskill argues his decision was an act of compassion toward a dying man, it is a lot more complex than that....
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Algeria to Slow Imports, Seeks to Reduce Credit Risk with New Finance Law Measures

The Algerian government enacted substantial changes in the country’s finance law, a move considered by many as drastic and severe. The changes were issued as part of Algeria’s mid-term complementary finance law for 2009. ...
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North Africa to Play an Increasing Role in Mediterranean Downstream

PFC Energy: The Mediterranean oil product markets have historically been dominated by the Western European Med markets (France, Italy and Spain), both in terms of demand (47% of demand in 2008) and in terms of refining production (48% of supply in 2008). Going forward, however, Western European markets will see their weight progressively decline, due to a decline in demand and to challenges for some of its refineries....
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Gulf Keystone to Sell Algerian Permit to Focus on Kurdistan Operations

Bermuda-based oil company Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd. says it is looking to sell its interest in the Hassi Ba Hamou permit (HBH). ...
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Mediterranean School of Business Launches Executive Business Seminar in Tripoli, Libya

Tunis-based Mediterranean School of Business is offering a set of seminars this summer targeted to Libyan managers. MSB, in collaboration with the BT Server Business Management Training Center, is launching four modules, starting with Organization and Change Management, Financial Analysis for Non Financial Managers, Innovation and technology Management, and ending with Marketing and Customer Relationship. Each module will be lectured over a 3 to 4-day session. ...
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Libya’s Billions in Search of Projects

Libya is moving fast to catch up with oil-rich Gulf nations that have set up lucrative investment funds to acquire assets around the world. However, Libya’s entry into the global investment community is not new. Its first and probably most known fund, the Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company (Lafico) was already set up some 28 years ago....
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Libyan Investments Abroad on the Rise, New Focus on Africa

Most of the coverage about Libya the past few years has been about foreign investors pouring money into the promising oil and gas sector of the newly reopened North African nation.Very little has been said about Libya’s rechanneling of its oil revenues into foreign markets. ...
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Slowing Headwinds in Tunisian Real Estate Sector, Opportunities Elsewhere in the Maghreb

Despite statements from industry officials that everything is moving on track, the Tunisian real estate sector is showing signs of considerable slowdown. ...
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Spain to Lead a New European Economic Offensive in North Africa

Owing to booming oil revenues and aggressive sovereign wealth funds, rich Gulf countries have been leading the way as foreign investors in North Africa since 2003, as well as in the southern Mediterranean zone, displacing western investors....
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Debit and Payment Cards on the Rise in North Africa

The use of debit cards remains in its infancy in North Africa, with various levels of penetration from one country to another. ...
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Royal Air Maroc Seeks to Divest from Senegal Airline

Moroccan airline carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) is looking to divest from Air Senegal International....
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Government Reshuffle in Algeria: Changes in Continuity

For many, the change in leadership in Algeria's oil bureaucracy was long overdue. Political pundits have been expecting the sacking of energy minister Chekib Khelil since early 2009 when Abdelaziz Bouteflika renewed his mandate for President for a third term. For others, while expecting Khelil to get somewhat hit by the political tsunami generated by the corruption scandal that has rocked oil giant Sonatrach, they saw him as "the only international statesman Algeria had" due to his dense connections with Western decision makers in governments and businesses. This scandal, which has cost the job of the then Sonatrach CEO, Mohamed Meziane, and forced a substantial reshuffle of the company's executive management, ultimately brought down the powerful minister himself. At the end though, not too many were surprised as changes were expected a while ago. Some observers note that while the sacking of Khelil is analyzed as a bad outcome for the powerful Minister, his exit could indeed be interpreted as a blessing in disguise. Khelil's timely exit means that he will likely remain unaccountable for his questionable contribution in managing Algeria's assets and finances, amid scandals affecting the energy sector.
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The King is Gone, Long Live the King!

For the Libyan leader Muamar Kaddafi there was a sense of déjà-vu again. His campaign to get a second term as head of the African Union collapsed, showing that like in his previous call to unify the Arabs, his latest African venture was also doomed to fail.
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What a Start!

The year 2009 was such a dismal year that many people questioned how worst it can get. In asking this question, there was an assumption that things are going to get better as we enter 2010. Three months into the new year and we are already seeing signs of stress everywhere, and North Africa is not spared from this movement.
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Head of Algerian Police Killed by Officer, New Chief Appointed

Long-serving Algerian national police chief, Ali Tounsi was shot dead on February 25, 2010 by a senior police officer.
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General Larbi Belkheir Dies

The End of an Era: Algerian army General Larbi Belkheir, a figure that has been largely insignificant in today’s Algerian politics, died on January 25, 2010 at the age of 72. Belkheir has been a central figure in the Algerian ruling system in the past, though his activities and exact role are shrouded in mystery.
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The Big Jelly Ball of Global Insecurity: Terrorism is now a Permanent Fixture

The recent attempt by a young Nigerian man to down a US airliner brought back the topic of terrorism on the front pages of newspapers around the world. While the attempt failed given the fast reaction of passengers, as well as the poor execution of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the alleged terrorist, the impact has been important; the visibility of Al-Qaeda and global terrorism has increased considerably as a result. Although no one was harmed, Al-Qaeda managed a good media coup whether it directly planned it or not. The would-be terrorist has also prompted a lot of attention on Yemen, its poverty, mismanagement and potential to become a new haven for international terrorism in a manner similar to Afghanistan or even Somalia.
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The U.S. Counterproductive Diplomacy. Tightened Flight Checks Do Nothing to Lessen Terror Threat

Scrambling to respond to new security threats following the attempt terror attack on a Detroit-bound airliner, the American government responded with an overnight measure aimed at calming fear but does little in ways of strengthening security. Furthermore, this populist measure is extremely counterproductive form a diplomatic standpoint, further alienating the people targeted by the new rules, and therefore potentially leading to further resentment in parts of the world where the new US administration has been seeking to reconnect.
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The Moroccan Monarchy Launches Plan ‘B’ to Counter Multi-Front Turbulence

The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI has ordered a reshuffle of the executive branch with focus on security, justice and economic development. The reshuffle is substantial in that it involves very critical posts but is also a culmination of many years of unfulfilled social, political and economic promises.
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Deja-Vu in Tripoli

There was a clear reminder this week that Libya remains a country full of pitfalls for foreigners (western or non). In an all too common scene, witnessed so many times during the drawn out trial and appeal of the Bulgarian nurses throughout most of the past decade, a Libyan court has postponed the trial of two Swiss businessmen, who have been detained in Libya since July 2008.
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Update: Moroccan King Replaces Key Ministers in New Government Cabinet

The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI has ordered a reshuffle of the executive branch with focus on security, justice and economic development.
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Featured author
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Arezki Daoud

Arezki Daoud is a leading analyst on North African affairs. He has been editor of The North Africa Journal since 1996. The publication reaches over 50,000 decision makers worldwide. Having lived and worked in North Africa, Mr. Daoud's analytical expertise on the region spans from the energy and industrial sectors to security and political affairs. Arezki is familiar with the speech circuit and briefing the business and government communities on the countries of the Maghreb region and is widely quoted in the press.
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