Business Emerging Markets

North Africa Will No Longer Benefit from Europe Preferential Trade System in 2014

The EU has issued lately its revised import preference scheme – known as the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) – for developing countries most in need which will take effect from 1 January 2014. The new list of beneficiaries from GSP does not include North African countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco & Tunisia. With […]

Headlines Morocco

Morocco: Managing the Zakat

Known for being a right of the poor, Zakat is a compulsory donation that has to be given by any Muslim from whatever income was earned during the year. This sum which corresponds to 2.5 % of the Muslim’s assets must be worth at least 85g of gold. From a religious point of view many […]

Business Energy

Vienna Hosts North Africa Oil and Gas Summit

Vienna plays host November 6 through 8 to the seventh annual North Africa oil and gas summit that will provide attendees with the opportunity to share insights on the region’s recent development prospects and a concrete understanding of the available blocks, evolving fiscal and legal frameworks and contractual terms from strategy leaders in the region. […]

Business Energy

Chariot Oil Company Enhances its Offshore Exploration in Morocco

Chariot Oil & Gas Limited, an independent Africa focused oil and gas exploration company, has reinforced its petroleum partnership with Morocco through its recent acquisition two more blocks off the coast of the North African Kingdom. Under the exploration deal sealed with Morocco’s national oil company (Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines), Chariot gets […]

Features Headlines Morocco

Mohammed VI Gulf Tour: An Arab Union in the Making?

Moroccan King Mohammed VI wrapped his eight-day tour of the Gulf Arab countries that took the sovereign to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan. Overall, it is a combination of economic interests and broader geo-political considerations that accounts for much of the Moroccan diplomatic offensive. In the economic sphere, the Moroccan […]

Business Emerging Markets

Over $ 26 Mln Boost for Private Equity Sector in Morocco & Tunisia

The private equity sector in Morocco and Tunisia has received a $ 26.1 million grant from the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) to support the development of the private equity market in two North African countries, rocked by the Arab Spring. The financial assistance will also serve to rev up equity funding for […]

Features Lifestyle Technology

Facebook: North Africa Hosts about 2.2% of one billion global users

After its crucial role in the uprisings in the Arab world, internet and facebook occupy a growing ground in MENA region. Tunisia’s Jasmine revolution, which forced President Ben Ali to step down, proved that internet and facebook were the fastest way to communicate and spread news (videos, photos, tweetts articles and even political comments.) A […]

Columns Features Opinions

Ways Ahead for the Maghreb Regional Integration: Lessons Learned from ASEAN

Despite the fact that the Maghreb countries constitute one region that is culturally, geographically and historically integrated, they have largely failed to achieve ‘functional integration’ particularly at the political and economic cooperation level. The “non-Maghreb” is a term coined by some experts referring to the enduring phenomenon of the Maghreb countries’ failure to boost their […]