Africa Business Features Finance Headlines International Morocco

CFC, CISI Sign MoU to Train Skilled Professionals in Financial Services Industry

Casablanca Finance City (CFC) and Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) have signed on Monday a Memorandum of Understanding on the training of skilled professionals in financial services industry that will promote professionalism and professional standards in this industry in Morocco and throughout the region. The MoU also heralds the launch of two new […]

Business Features Finance

World Bank and North Africa: 2013 in Review

In fiscal year 2013, the World Bank (WB) has supported 16 projects worth 2.1 billion USD, out of which 1.8 billion USD came from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and 249 million USD from the International Development Agency (IDA). 56.4 million USD were committed separately for the West Bank and Gaza. On […]

Business Emerging Markets Features

How to Attract FDI to Maghreb: Casablanca Financial City a la ‘Shenzhen’

When in January 2013 the chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, attended the 5th international conference of finance ministers and central banks governors of the Maghreb countries, she talked about the necessity of boosting growth and employment within the region, while also reminding the distinguished audience that political issues still constitute a […]

Business Energy Features

Libya: Protesters defy government agreement

Shortly after Prime Minister Ali Zeidan announced on Wednesday that the Al-Harriga terminal which has a production capacity of 110,000 barrels will resume production and exportation after reaching an agreement with the protesters. Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) published on its website that it has lifted the force majeure on the oil terminal on Thursday. […]

Business Energy Features

Turkey and Iraq to discuss Kurd oil deals

Iraq’s Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari will be on a working visit to neighboring Turkey as both countries continue to reinforce their bilateral relations. Ahead of his arrival on Friday, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said that they are implementing projects worth billions of dollars in Iraq and willing to continue abiding by its rules. During […]

Business Features Finance

The Fed Up, the ECB Down: Time to Endow the ECB with a Level Playing Field

After years of loose monetary policy, with 0.5 percent interest rate and three consecutive waves of quantitative easing (QE), including buying US$ 85 billion per month of Treasury bonds (T-bonds), Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Fed’s board of governors, announced in May the Fed’s intention to commence tapering its asset purchase program. The Fed’s […]

Business Emerging Markets Features

Time is right for business in Tunisia

Despite Tunisia’s political turbulences and incertitude, some experts believe that it is the right moment to venture into the North African country and seize the opportunity that it offers. Oualid Hamdi believes that the negative ratings of major credit ratings agencies and the standoff between the government and the secular opposition parties should not deter […]

Business Features Finance

Tunisia introduces austerity measures

The government has revealed that it will introduce austerity measures to curb its budget deficit. Finance Minister Elyes Fakhfakh’s announcement could further stir up the heightened political crisis to new levels. The decision will imply the reduction of public expenditure and the freezing of public salaries. The move is not expected to be welcomed by […]

Business Features Finance

Libya to use its financial reserves before November

Finance Minister Alkilani Abdelkarim al-Jazi has warned that the blockage of oil ports should come to an end as soon as possible because the finances of the state have begun to feel the effects. Oil is Libya’s major revenue and the siege on ports and oilfields especially in the east have almost brought production to […]