Industries/Markets
Government
Sponsored Programs to Boost Computer Sales in Algeria and
Tunisia
Algeria
and Tunisia are seeking to reduce the digital divide by pushing
for increased computer use by their populations. But while
the governments in these countries have drafted plans to boost
PC penetration in households, the impact of such programs
are not likely to push the North African society into the
global digital world in the foreseeable future. Not only the
various required infrastructures remain below international
standards, including low teledensity and high computer prices,
but governments continue to contain civil liberties, without
which this sector is not likely to expand in a sustained fashion.
The following report reviews what Algeria and Tunisia are
currently doing. [read
here]
Industries/Markets
Rabat
to Phase Out Urban Transport Unit, Plans for a New Commuter
Scheme
The
urban transportation service of Rabat has been in trouble
for some time and has been the cause of problems to both the
local authorities and commuters alike. The state-controlled
company known as RATR is witnessing its own death, as private
operators that compete against it operate illegaly since the
concession contract that bound them to the city expired more
than seven years. In addition, the company is also competing
with locally-based administrations and organizations that
use their own fleets of buses to transport their employees.
An estimated 450 buses are operated by local administrations
for their own needs, thus reducing the importance of the city's
bus company. [read
here]
Profiles
Cevital's
Expansion Plans
Algerian
private industrial group Cevital is to launch a food distribution
chain nationwide. The chain will reach 135 stores. The group,
which is owned and managed by Isaad Rebrab, has a rather aggressive
expansion plan in line with the expected strong economic growth
Algeria will witness in the next few years. The company's
investment plan will spread among several industries, from
agriculture, to steel, to petrochemicals and mass distribution.
[read
here]
Industries/Markets
Aeronautic
Outsourcing in Morocco Faces Tough Competition
The
aeronautic and aerospace outsourcing battle is raging around
the world. For the Moroccan subcontractors, it is not only
about getting new contracts and expanding business opportunities,
but it is increasingly about defending their current position,
in particular against Tunisia and the countries of Eastern
Europe, such Romania. [read
here]
Energy/Mining
Canadian
Cygam Acquires Participation in Tunisian Oil Project, Tunisia
to Expand Exploration Acreage
Calgary-based
Cygam Energy, a company whose geographical targets are Italy
and Tunisia, says it has signed a Farmin and Participation
Agreement with Storm Ventures International Inc. ("Storm"
or the "Operator") to acquire an interest in the Sud Remada
Block, onshore Tunisia. Meanwhile, responding to declining
output, the Tunisian government has a new plan is to expand
the explorable surface to foreign companies to about 140,000
square kilometers. [read
here]
