Headlines Morocco

IMF Upbeat Over Morocco’s Economic Growth Prospects

Morocco’s macroeconomic situation continues to improve. After declining to 2.4 pc in 2014, growth is expected to reach 4.7 pc in 2015 thanks to a good agricultural season and improvements in construction activity, said the International monetary fund (IMF). However, non-agricultural growth remains sluggish, including in sectors related to tourism, which are affected by geopolitical […]

Egypt Energy Headlines

Egypt seeks to get $1.5bn loans before 2016

Egypt is seeking to get $1.5 billion loans from the World Bank and the African Development Bank as fears increase that the Egyptian pound would be devalued if the dwindling foreign currency reserves go below $15 billion. The country has been struggling since 2011 to stabilize its economy and finances shaken by the protests that […]

Finance Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia: Lagarde acknowledges Tunisia’s resilience

International Monetary Fund Director General Christine Lagarde voiced the international financial institution’s determination to support Tunisia in a “widened partnership” and renewed her confidence in Tunisia’s ability to face its challenges. Lagarde who arrived in Tunisia on Tuesday for a two-day working visit, her second to the North African country since she took office, made […]

Egypt Finance Headlines

Egypt wavering over depreciation or depleting reserves

“Is it better to deplete the reserves or is it better to depreciate the pound?” The question was raised by Egyptian Investment Minister Ashraf Salman during a conference on Sunday, after the Central Bank announced earlier in the day that the net international reserves have fallen to $18.1billion. According to the Investment Minister, “at this […]

Features International

UN plans to raise $1.6 billion for Zimbabwe by 2020

The United Nations plans to raise $1.6 billion from donors in favour of Zimbabwe between 2016 and 2020, to improve agriculture, food security, health and governance in Zimbabwe between 2016-2020, its resident coordinator in Zimbabwe, Bishow Palajuli, said on Friday 29th May. Bishow Palajuli, the UN’s resident coordinator in Zimbabwe said the global agency had […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia: IMF extends loan arrangement

A press release from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that Tunisia’s Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for a loan around $1.75 billion has been extended to the end of year in order to give time to the authorities of the North African country to “implement the policy measures needed to deliver on forward-looking commitments—notably on […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

EU’s €100m to ease Tunisia’s financial constraints

Tunisia will soon be receiving the first tranche of the €300 million Macro Financial Assistance (MFA) program that the European Union allocated to the country in May 2014 to help it overcome its financial crisis. The amount is a loan that supports the Stand-by Agreement that was approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in […]

Business Energy Features

Egypt signs $6.8billion petrochemical projects with Kuwaiti companies

Cairo announced that it has reached preliminary deals worth $6.8 billion with Kuwaiti companies for the establishment of petrochemical projects. The initial agreements signed on Sunday involved several companies including Egypt Kuwait Holding Company, Kuwait Gateway Holdings and Boubyan Petrochemical Co. Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab represented the government during the signing of Memorandums of Understanding with […]

Egypt Features Headlines

Egypt starting to produce a turnaround, IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that the Egyptian economy is on the right path in recovering from the shambles of the protests that started in 2011. The implemented structural and monetary reforms are boosting the economy and IMF projected that growth could reach 3,8% in 2014-2015 and rise to up to 5% over […]

Features Headlines Tunisia

Tunisia: Nida Tounes versus three opposition parties

The political events that unfolded in Tunisia this week show that the mandate of the next government will be full of challenges and tough decisions. The Prime Minister-designate Habib Essid was forced to postpone the presentation of his cabinet to the parliament for approval because of uncertainty on whether he will be able to get […]