The OCP group and its Belgium-based partner Prayon signed last week an exclusive licensing agreement relating to Prayon’s water soluble mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) fertilizer technology, globally recognized for the quality of its industrial processes in the water soluble fertilizer sector. OCP will exploit the technology in a water soluble MAP fertilizer production plant, which will […]
Features
Egypt: boosting the economy
Egypt might be taking a new approach towards small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the economic sector after a report was submitted to the National Bank of Egypt (NBE). The report which was overseen by the deputy head of the small and medium-sized enterprises division, Saad Mohyeldeen, has proposed 10 suggestions. The most significant among […]
France, Morocco, Portugal, Spain Sign Agreement to Fight Terrorism, Illegal Immigration, Drug Trafficking
A security meeting that gathered last week in Rabat the interior ministers of France, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain agreed to enhance cooperation between the four countries’ police and security departments and consequently improve struggle against terrorism, illegal immigration and drug trafficking. The four countries also agreed to upgrade their intelligence exchange cooperation mainly in matters […]
Housing Industry: Algeria, Italy to Set up Joint Ventures
Algerian and Italian companies will set up joint ventures in the housing industry sector as demand continues to grow in the North African country. According to the CEO of INDJAB holding company, Hafid Fassouli, four Algerian-Italian joint ventures specialized in construction and housing will be created soon, in a bid to upgrade Algeria’s construction capacity. […]
Tunisia: Emergency plans to save mausoleums
Following the repeated attacks of shrines by unidentified individuals, the Tunisian government has decided to adopt emergency measures to protect Sufi Muslim mausoleums, considered as religious and cultural treasures. The latest such attack took place last Thursday when two Sufi mausoleums were torched. Many believe that ultra-conservative Salafist Muslims are behind such acts. The government […]
Libya: BP reviews exploratory drilling
British petroleum is not hiding its fears about the risks in the North African region after it revealed that it was having second thoughts about its activities in Libya. The spokesperson of the British company said that drillings in Libya were scheduled for the end of the second quarter this year but the company is […]
UAE: Women Make New Step in Politics
“Today, Emirati women are a model for Gulf or Arab women” said Dr Amal Al Qubaisi while making her first speech as the Federal National Council Speaker. As Deputy Speaker, Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, took the FNC Speaker’s chair, last week in Abu Dhabi, making history as it was the first time ever that a […]
Intervening in Mali – Securing the Sahel?
Last December, the U.N. Security Council passed a cautious resolution that outlined steps to be taken before an international military intervention into Mali to deal with the deteriorating security situation in the country. But in a surprise move on 11 January, French President Francois Hollande authorized airstrikes in Mali to stop a sudden southward push […]
Morocco : the Benkirane-Chabat Showdown
Relations between the Head of the Government, Abdelilah Benkirane, and the leader of the Istiqlal Party, the backbone of the governmental coalition, Hamid Chabat, are growing more strained by the day. Chabat’s harsh criticism of the government’s performance and his repeated calls for a cabinet reshuffle are the main bone of contention between the two […]
Korea-EU FTA One Year On: Lessons for North Africa
The free trade agreement between Korea and EU came into force on 1 July 2011. Under the FTA, the EU agreed to eliminate or phase out tariffs on 96% of goods, and Korea for 99% of goods, within three years. Within five years, 98.7% of imports would be tariff-free. Beside tariff reduction, the FTA facilitates […]









