THE
NORTH AFRICA JOURNAL
160th. Issue
Week Ended October 19, 2004
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Despite a 4.4% Economic Growth in 1H04, Morocco
Braces for a Tough 2005
The resumption of economic growth in 2003 appears to continue in 2004. For the first half of 2004, the Moroccan economy grew at the rate of 4.4% year on year, according to the economic think tank Centre Marocain de Conjoncture or CMC. Growth appears to be widespread among key sectors of the economy, driven by improved business confidence. continue here
Trade and Investment
European Firms Make Inroads in Libya
A few days only after the visit of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to Libya, and some $650 million worth of business contracts were won by German companies. The visit of Schröder to Tripoli coincided with the strengthening of Wintershall’s position in Libya. This largest German producer of crude oil and natural gas beefed up its production capacity in Libya with the opening of a new facility there. Wintershall is owned by the German company BASF.
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Law/Civil Rights
Assessing Morocco’s New Family Law Nine Months After its Enactment
Nearly nine months since its promulgation, and the implementation of the Moudawana appears rather sketchy. Experts, however, warn that assessing the implementation of this package of social and civil rights rules after only nine months since its promulgation may not be the right thing to do. But it has also been a year now since the young Moroccan King laid out his vision on the necessary social changes in his October 10, 2003 speech, and an assessment is indeed in order.
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Agriculture
Companies Rush to Get a Share of the Newly Opened Red Meat Import Business in Algeria
Since the Algerian government lifted its ban on fresh meat import a couple of weeks ago, there have been scores of businesses applying for the import authorization that will enable them to enter a very lucrative market. In a market where meat represents an important component of the family meal and where domestic production cannot keep up with demand, import is the only alternative for the time being, until Algeria is able to establish the proper policies to boost domestic output. And so for now, obtaining an import license is a gold mine.
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Relations
Algeria-France Establish Joint High Council on Education and Research, Open New Business School
Announced one year ago, the joint Franco-Algerian high council on education and research was officially established this week following a signing ceremony led by an Algerian scientific research ministry delegate, Ms. Souad Ben Djabellah and a French senior cooperation official Xavier Darcos.The agreement calls for further contribution of France and its academic and research community to Algeria’s educational curriculum and research initiatives at the higher-education level.
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Corporate/ Travel Market
CMKD Spends MAD 300 Million to Renovate Farah Hotel Chain Amid Sluggish Business Travel Market
The Morocco-Kuwaiti business group CMKD is seeking to gain more share of the hospitality market focusing on business travelers. The company is investing MAD 300 million to renovate five hotels owned by its Farah chain, with the hotels located in Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Khouribga, and Safi. The most important hotels for the chain are the Casablanca and Rabat sites, in which 62% of their customers are business travelers. In Casablanca, the company claims it has 27% share of the business travel market among the hotels with the same category classification.
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