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| 196th.
issue - Week ended May 15, 2007
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SPECIAL REPORT:
Libya’s 2007 Power Sector
Review and Outlook
With
1.76 million square kilometers, Libya is a vast territory
the size of France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Belgium
combined. The country’s power map is divided into three
regions, based on consumption profile. The first is located
in the west of the country which comprises of the capital
city Tripoli. This region accounts for 65% of power consumption.
The second zone is located east of the country, which
includes the city of Benghazi, with 25% of total consumption,
followed by the southern region, with Sebha at its center,
utilizing 10% of the total energy consumed in the country.
[read
here]
Ivory Trafficking
on the Rise in Eastern Algeria
TThe trafficking of raw ivory is expanding in alarming rates
in Algeria, in particular in the eastern side of the country.
Between 5% and 10% of the ivory put into the world’s informal
market now transits from Algeria’s northeastern region,
which includes the provinces of Annaba, Guelma, Souk-Ahras
and El-Tarf. Using law enforcement sources, the Algerian
media speculates that the ivory crossing the Algerian territory
toward Europe originates from the Congo Basin forest, the
world’s second largest tropical forest after the Amazon.
Other North African countries top the list of transit zones,
in particular Tunisia and Libya. The Chad, further south,
is also considered an important transit region as well.
[read
here]
North
African Tourists to Tunisia Surpass European Entries in 1Q07
A
great deal has been said about Tunisia’s ability to attract
a growing number of European tourists. But the other reality
is that Tunisia has done a very good job attracting tourists
from neighboring countries, as well. A comprehensive tourism
policy that takes into account ease of entry requirements,
low vacation cost, cultural affinity, and geographical proximity
has been a winning strategy for Tunisia’s travel industry
as it relates to regional markets. [read
here]
Algeria to Get Billions
of Dollars of Real Estate Investments, Emaar of UAE Expands
in North Africa
Over
the next five years, Algeria is likely to witness a major
real estate boom essentially driven by investments coming
from Gulf-based companies. Last week’s surprise visit to Algeria
of crown prince Saud Ben Saqr Al Qassim of the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) was meant to facilitate the entry of several
UAE firms into the Algerian market. Preliminary agreements
reached between the Algerian and UAE parties call for a $33
billion investment to be committed over the next five years.
One particular group stands out, Emaar Properties, the Dubai-based
Public Joint Stock Company, which has received the Algerian
authorities approval for a $28 billion commitment in real
estate. To accompany this large project, two other companies
from the Gulf also announced a package of investments valued
at $5 billion, bringing the entire investment package to $33
billion. [read
here]
Casablanca
Stock Exchange Undergoes Major Correction
In
this past week, and after two consecutive years of growth,
the Casablanca Bourse witnessed a sharp correction that could
go one for another two weeks or more. The correction, which
was predicted by some analysts, follows months of bull market
activity. After a moderate drop of 2% on May 9, 2007, the
decline sustained momentum on the 10th. In just two sessions,
the Masi index lost 6.16% of its value to 11,948. The Madex
index also dropped by 6.35% to 9,783. For analysts, this was
the most severe downward trend witnessed in the history of
the bourse, even compared to the January 2006 correction.
[read
here]
Embryonic
Electronic Commerce in Tunisia
Electronic commerce in North Africa in general remains an
embryonic activity. Such is the case for Tunisia which has
nearly 5,000 web sites but only 250 offer visitors the ability
to purchase products and services online. The year 2006 ended
with total Internet transactions of TND 14.2 million only
or about $11 million. Although it is a sevenfold increase
from 2005, the value of Internet transactions in Tunisia is
insignificant. The bulk of the transactions generated in the
Tunisian cyberspace essentially relates to the enrollment
of nearly half million students who have selected online studying
during the academic year of 2006/2007. [read
here]
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When
Lack of Transparency Raises Questions on Government-Private Sector
Contracts in Tunisia
Ivory
Trafficking on the Rise in Eastern Algeria
CORPORATE
AFFAIRS
Cisco
Wants More Business in North Africa
POLITICS/DIPLOMACY
With
New Russian Military Hardware for Libya, Arms Race in the Southern
Mediterranean Shows Momentum
ECONOMY
AND TRADE
Start
of Implementation of Agadir Accords
Algeria
to Get Billions of Dollars of Real Estate Investments, Emaar of
UAE Expands in North Africa
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