Business
ENI-Saipem Hit by Corruption Scandal on Algeria Business
The North Africa Journal | Italian oil and gas industry contractor Saipem is embroiled in a corruption scandal in its Algeria operation that forced the resignation of its veteran CEO Pietro Franco Tali. The company’s engineering and construction Chief, Pietro Varone was suspended pending the ongoing investigation. Energy giant ENI, which owns 40% of Saipem announced the resignation of its own CFO Alessandro Bernini.
[Industries and Markets] Tunisia’s Real Estate Market: Between Fear of Proximity to Libya and Spanish Competition
The North Africa Journal | The real estate market in Tunisia is displaying mixed signals. Pockets of growth in the housing market continue to drive prices up, but these houses were designed for foreign investors and wealthy Tunisians. In contrast, the average Tunisian is priced out of these desirable real estate sites as their incomes do not meet the continuously rising prices in regions that have been insulated from the political crisis facing the country for the past two years. ...
[Economy and Trade] Competing for Africa: Is China’s Africa’s Economic Campaign Unstoppable?
The North Africa Journal | By Arezki Daoud | China's Africa's economic policy remains a major topic among Analysts and watchers. But while the China offensive on the African continent seems unstoppable, a number of issue are facing Chinese companies as they deal with African decisions makers. Cultural differences, lack of transparency and corrupt practices have forced some Chinese companies to be on the defensive. And as the relationships between Africa and China grow stronger, Chinese executives and the officials that oversee them should think harder about the way they do business there. ...
[Industries and Markets] Counterfeit Goods Invade North Africa, Industry Poorly Coordinated
The North Africa Journal | North African customs are facing a deluge of counterfeit products entering their markets. In Algeria, the customs office reports that the amount of counterfeit products they seized rose by a stunning 84.5% in 2011, compared to 2010. The DGD is either overwhelmed by such inflow of illegal products or does not have enough incentives to launch a full crackdown. In neighboring Morocco, the situation is no better, so much so that multinational corporations that own well-known consumer brands have began cracking down on the counterfeit market themselves....
[Energy and Mining] Despite Security Concerns, Oil Companies Position Themselves for Leadership in Libya
The North Africa Journal | By Arezki Daoud | In all our discussions with corporate executives, we end up with two critical conclusions regarding their exposure to the region and beyond. First, doing business in North Africa is important to them and their companies given the oil and gas sector, and the vast amounts of money governments there have to spend on economic buildup and reconstruction. Ignoring the region is not the smart option, and they know it. Secondly, however, the risk factor in the region is a permanent one, requiring higher operational cost and perpetual reassessment of postures and exit strategies....
[Economy and Trade] Debt Crisis in the Moroccan Subsidy System: Undesirable Gift for Islamist PM
The North Africa Journal | By Arezki Daoud | There is a bumpy road ahead for the new government leader in Rabat. As he enters his offices, both excited and energized by a fresh electoral victory with the prospect of governing a nation, Prime Minister Benkirane has to deal with the country’s accounting books, and what he sees does not please him. The ledger looks dangerous and could force him to chose between making unpopular decisions or maintain a financially unsustainable status quo. ...
[Economy and Trade] Betting on the Wrong Horse: China and Russia Struggling to Deal with the New Libya
The North Africa Journal | By Arezki Daoud | It is becoming increasingly evident that China and Russia have bet on the wrong horse when they sided with Muamar Gaddafi as other UN members sought to condemn him over the killings of his own people. On the short term at least, and in the foreseeable future, Chinese companies that have done business in Libya during the Gaddafi era are being scrutinized by the Libyan interim authorities, while the Russians find the Libyans evasive and unwilling to cooperate at the moment....
[Economy and Trade] Debt Crisis in the Moroccan Subsidy System: Undesirable Gift for Islamist PM
There is a bumpy road ahead for the new government leader in Rabat. As he enters his offices, energized by a fresh electoral victory with the prospect of governing a nation, Prime Minister Entrance has to deal with the country’s finances, and what he sees does not please him....
[Corporate Affairs] SNC-Lavalin: Collateral Damage of Dealing with Dictatorships
The North Africa Journal | Damage control and reputational risk are two things the Canadian engineering giant SNC-Lavalin is currently experiencing firsthand. As the company celebrates one hundred years of business, it is facing unprecedented scrutiny related to its dealings with the Gaddafi family of Libya. Key senior executives have already lost their jobs as the company is going through damage control, and construction contracts in other parts of the world are being questioned. ...
[Corporate Affairs] Algeria to Nationalize Orascom Algeria’s Mobile Phone Unit
The North Africa Journal | The Algerian government is slated to take over a majority stake in the mobile phone operator Djezzy. Previously owned by the Egyptian Orascom, then sold to Russia’s Vimpelcom, the company is likely to be 51% under the control of the State of Algeria after a long battle pitting Orascom CEO Naguib Sawiris against Algeria. The news of the takeover was announced by the Algerian postal and technology minister on Saturday, January 8, 2012....
[Energy and Mining] Oil and Energy Sectors Vulnerable to Corruption in North Africa
The North Africa Journal | Corruption in North Africa is a widespread and is a deeply rooted problem. So much so that the activists that are driving the revolts in the Arab world say many of ills that have been crippling economic, social and political progress originate from corruption. While corrupt acts such as paying bribery are widespread in administrations and bureaucracies, the business sector is particularly affected by corrupt practices as well. ...[Corporate Affairs] Al Baraka Banking Group Maintains Aggressive Growth Strategy in North Africa despite Uprisings
The year 2010 was not bad at all for Al Baraka Banking Group (ABG). Involved in international Islamic banking, the company is a Bahrain Joint Stock Company listed on Bahrain Bourse and NASDAQ Dubai. It maintains Standard and Poors long term and short-term credit ratings of BBB- stable and A3 respectively. ABG offers retail, corporate and investment banking and treasury services in accordance with the principles of the Islamic Sharia law. The authorized capital of ABG is US$1.5 billion, while total equity amounts to about US$1.8 billion....[Energy and Mining] Despite Revolt and New Politics, it’s Business as Usual for Energy Sector in Egypt
Having been affected in early 2011 by what they call “Force Majeure,” oil companies remain very active on the Egyptian exploration front. With violence erupting in January, most major companies had to scale back their expectations, only to resume normal activities after the departure of Hosni Mubarak....[Economy and Trade] Tunisia: Painful Recovery for the Business Sector
As if the Jasmine Revolution was not enough in itself, the Tunisian economy is also suffering from a massive drop in trade with its troubled eastern neighbor of Libya. Government data suggests that during the recent disturbances, Tunisia lost in all between 5 to 8 billion dinars as a consequence of the inevitable crisis. ...
[Economy and Trade] Challenges Cripple the Tunisian Business Sector, Expect Recession
Despite the promises of democracy, the Jasmine Revolution has had the expected debilitating impact on the conduct of business and the Tunisian economy at a large. The multi-billion dollar support packages promised by the likes of the G8, the World Bank, the EU and individual nations are not for trivial purposes. They are about keeping a country from moving into chaos and economic bankruptcy as entire industries and almost all companies are struggling to survive...
[Corporate Affairs] Orascom vs. Algeria
[The North Africa Journal] In a lingering conflict that underscores lack of transparency and weak business rules, the case of Orascom Telecom Algerie (OTA), which has raised a great deal of concerns in foreign investor circles, has not been settled yet. It underscores that the rules of engagement when doing business in Algeria are still unclear and that many leaders of foreign companies remain dangerously ignorant of operating conditions and the business environement in the North Africa country. ...
[Corporate Affairs] Business as Usual for Corporate Morocco
There is noticeable decrease in tourism activity across North Africa and Morocco is witnessing a small impact there. Yet, for the broad economy, the Arab revolutions have not fully afftected Morocco. This is largely due to the fact that Morocco is focused on its own economic growth, while remaining solidly tied to the EU. With limited economic relations with the affected countries, it is no surprise that it's business as usual for many Moroccan firms. Below are some reports that analyze the performance of key companies, ending with a full review of the Casablanca Stock Exchange....
[Economy and Trade] Global Investors Reassessing their MENA Posture: Investments in the Region Likely to Drop Considerably
[By Arezki Daoud | daoud@north-africa.com | 508-981-6937 | Twitter: @northafrica] Ever since former President Ben Ali was toppled by the Tunisian people, risk management and assessment executives in global corporations have been working around the clock to figure out what posture to take. The subsequent events that followed in form of a domino effect, starting with the deterioration of the Egyptian market, then the acceleration of risk in Libya as that country exploded forced corporations to halt operations, evacuate foreign staffs out of the danger zones, and reevaluate where they stood. ...
[Energy and Mining] Growing Concerns Over Transparency of Oil Sales by Libyan Rebels
[The North Africa Journal] Reports that opposition forces in Libya will begin exporting crude oil from areas under their control raise concerns about the transparency of oil revenues, Human Rights Watch said today. Libya’s people have a right to information about a major national resource, Human Rights Watch said. The New York-based organization called on the self-appointed opposition authority, the Interim Transitional National Council, to respect internationally accepted standards of transparency for all sales of crude oil and gas that it arranges. In contrast, oil and gas transactions by the Gaddafi government have been opaque and lacked accountability for many years....
[Economy and Trade] The Irrelevance of Japan in Africa
Japan is one of the latest economic powers to make it loud and clear that it wants to compete for influence in the Middle East and Africa . But can its leaders build strong economic ties that would compete with those of China? Today’s situation suggests that the Japanese climb will be steep and difficult. Just in Africa alone, the Japanese economic presence is about one third of that of China and further dropping given the fast expansion of China there. ...
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