Financial
Sector/ Law
New Case of Fraud in Algeria’s Private Banking
Ever
since the Khalifa Bank collapse, private sector banks in Algeria have
been under the close watch of financial and central authorities. Cases,
including those of BCIA, BIA, and Union Bank abound with the latest
one concerning Omar Dechmi, the President of the CA Bank and his son.
The two men have been arrested by order of a magistrate in Algiers for
alleged “fraud and abuse of trust and authority.” The investigating
magistrate has also ordered the judicial control of a food import company
called Magifood, also owned by Omar Dechmi, his son, and a third partner,
Ahmed Mouffok.
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Agriculture/ Trade
French Cereal Exporters to Morocco Face Formidable
Competitors
French cereal exporters
are working hard to expand sales in Morocco. Competition with suppliers
like Brazil, which exported some 400,000 tons of soft wheat in 2004,
and other sources like Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan has been a source
of worry to the French, who want to grow their share of the 900,000
tons or so Morocco imports yearly.
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Human
Affairs
Women Continue to Advance in Algeria Despite Resistance from Conservative
Religious Groups
Despite
the setback of the past decade due to terrorism and the ongoing effort
to overcome a difficult religious environment, women in Algeria have
made important strides in gaining leadership positions. Although a lot
more has to be done to reach parity with their male counterparts, in
particular as the conservative religious political parties and their
followers have been opposing changes in the status of women, it is undeniable
that women have managed to expand their power.
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Insurance
Morocco Braces for Universal Health Insurance
The first
phase of the implementation of the mandatory health insurance in Morocco,
called here Assurance Maladie Obligatoire (AMO) is effective this month
of January 2005. But the beneficiaries will begin to take advantage
of this new policy starting July 2005. This is because the state will
need six months to build the base reserve fund with the contribution
of the beneficiaries and their employers. The first applications for
AMO benefits will be taken starting July 2005.
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Careers
Despite their Small Population, Engineers Rule the
Public Administration in Morocco
Moroccan
schools produce just about 2,500 engineers per year. To cover the current
needs of the companies, the education system there needs to produce
twice as many. Morocco
is also behind its North African neighbors where 3,500 engineering degrees
are distributed each year in Tunisia and as many as 20,000 in Egypt.
But despite
their shortage, engineers rule the administration. Senior officials,
secretary generals in ministries, governors and other key bureaucrats
in the sphere of government are mostly men with engineering degrees.
Most graduated from French schools and have more power than their peers
who earned their degrees in Moroccan schools.
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