THE
NORTH AFRICA JOURNAL
157th. Issue
Released September 6, 2004
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Independent Opinion at Eve of Elections in Tunisia
An
Interview with Ms. Neila Charchour
The Tunisian people will be called to chose their president and a new assembly next month. Although such event elsewhere in the world would have created lot of excitement, it is not the case in Tunisia because the political system there has long been source of frustration for independent political activists, human rights advocates and the independent media. Politics is the domain of a few in Tunis, where opposition is not tolerated, despite the existence of a few inefficient political parties and a rubber-stamp assembly.
While politics and the decision-making process are highly centralized and controlled by the regime, there is a new generation of activists who is pushing for meaningful and peaceful changes and is calling for an overhaul in the way politics is conducted. From human rights activists to magistrates, and from journalists to aspiring politicians, their message is clear: Tunisia’s progress in the political landscape should be in line with the country’s important economic achievements.
Among the new voices worth following is that of Ms. Neila Charchour. Born in 1955, Ms. Charchour is no stranger to Tunisian politics. Her father is the late Mahmoud Charchour, a former Tunisian diplomat and a key figure in the politburo of the ruling RCD party. Mahmoud Charchour graduated from the famous Zeitouna University and authored “Islam et Democratie,” with ideas that adhered to former president Bourguiba’s views on modernization, and which shaped today’s Tunisia’s social and ideological landscape Neila Charchour received a great deal of teachings from her late father and also earned a university degree in architecture. Mother of three, Ms. Charchour has been seeking to establish a political party in her country, which she calls Mediterranean Liberal Party or PLM. Ms. Charchour has not received approval yet.
With this interview, the North Africa Journal seeks to widen the political debate as the Tunisians face critical choices for their future. Ms. Charchour’s views are not necessarily those of The North Africa Journal. continue here
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT:
Comparing Maghreb Countries’ Business Environments
New Zealand, the United States and Singapore are the top-3 countries that have adopted the most investor-friendly regulations. Although these are among the most developed economies in the world, countries do not need to be part of the list of the most advanced nations to adopt an environment that makes the conduct of business easy. The best example is that Botswana is among the top 20 for the best business environment. In the Maghreb, the three main countries have various environments, with Tunisia outranking its neighbors on most factors. The process of starting a business in the Maghreb varies from country to country. According to a World Bank report, Morocco has the most simplified and streamlined process in the region and Algeria is the most rigid of the thee Maghreb countries. Libya was no included in the report.
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TELECOM/MARKETS:
GSM Market Heats Up in Algeria, Prices Down
Competition in the Algerian GSM mobile phone market is heating up. Although technical issues remain and demand exceeds supply, prices have begUn to fall, in particular since the recent entry of a third operator. The Algerian mobile phone market underwent important development in the past years while the fixed telephony sector remains far behind. Major changes occurred in 2000 with the promulgation of law 2000-03 relative to the sector of post and telecommunications, which created the framework within which the telephony market was to evolve. The law, which established the rules of competition and removed the state of monopoly, and which has long been the domain of the PTT (state postal and telecom agency), created a post and telecom regulatory agency called Autorité de Régulation de la Poste et des Télécommunications (ARPT).
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AGRICULTURE:
Redistribution of State Farmland to Private Investors is Source of Fear Among Moroccan Farmers
The Moroccan government has identified 205 projects through which the land managed by the defunct state-owned agricultural companies Sodea and Sogeta will be redistributed and transformed into productive operations. Sodea and Sogeta went bankrupt with combined debt exceeding MAD 2.38 billion. Creditors, representing a group of banks, agreed to forgive half of the debt. A large portion of the money was recovered through the sale of land and property owned by the pair in urban and suburban areas. Some 1,500 hectares of land were transferred to the housing ministry for MAD 322 million and another 1,322 hectares were sold to CDG for MAD 760 million. So far, nearly 3,500 workers of the two organizations were granted voluntary departure.
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MARKET/CONSUMER AFFAIRS:
Survey Profiles Tunisian Consumers
A survey conducted by the Quantitative Economy Institute of Tunisia and commissioned by the commerce ministry provides additional insights on the Tunisian consumer. The survey shows that 39% of the respondents organize their shopping on the monthly basis. All of these respondents are monthly wage earners. The overwhelming majority of the households questioned (90%) makes most of the purchases in local grocery and specialty stores and 89% pay in cash and avoid credit cards. However, one third of the households say their purchase frequency is based on their day-to-day needs as they do not have a particular schedule. But 28% say they have a weekly schedule and some 39% use large supermarkets.
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ELECTRICITY/ENERGY:
Algerian Electricity Firm Eyeing the European Market
Neal, the Algerian renewable energy company established under a joint venture agreement between oil company Sonatrach and utility firm Sonelgaz launched this week a tender for the construction of a hybrid solar-gas based power plant.
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BUSINESS TRENDS:
Booming Call Center Business in Morocco
While the debate in France about call center relocations is raging, the sector is booming in Morocco. Help wanted advertisements can be seen in the Moroccan press and the number of adds is growing rapidly. Call center jobs, which include customer service reps, technical advisors, and telemarketers are attracting thousands of university graduates to the 68 call centers that are operational in Morocco today.
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LAW:
Central Bank of Morocco Proposes New Anti Money Laundering Laws
The Moroccan central bank, Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM) has endured sustained criticism for the past two years for failing to implement measures that would prevent money laundering and make a dent on the financing of terrorism. In this area, Morocco appears to be behind the curve, as its neighbors Algeria and Tunisia have already passed new legislation to line up their laws with international norms.
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