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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

BUSINESS NEWS
List of abroad opportunities, specialized services, Business opportunities

RENEWABLE

GRID PARITY PV ITALY – WE ARE LOOKING FOR LAND PLOTS TO BUILD GRID PARITY PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATIONS : IBS will provide for all the bureaucratic procedure, from the submission of the documents to the issuance of the Autorizzazione Unica ( authorization ). There are already agreements with the investors ready to buy the Authorizations once they have been completed . The size of the installations starts from 5 MW and can go till 50 MW or more . The investors are also interested in buying ready to build Authorizations .

OTHERS:

ITALY : We look for photovoltaic systems already connected to the grid, both ground installations and tracking installations or bus shelters for buyers ready to buy. Requirements: power exceeding 900 Kw and no adiacency problems which may cause the suspension of incentives after GSE visit. If you are interested here the data to be supplied in a first phase: precise Name SPV of the company at the head of which stands the GSE contract; precise power of the installation; precise geographical location of the installation. Contact us
ITALY : we look for concessions in Italy both eolic and photovoltaic in order to build installations of 10 – 20 MW or more power. Contact us
POLAND : for other buyers we look for concessions within the photovoltaic field in Poland starting form 1 MW. Contact us
INSTALLATIONS AND ABROAD PROJECTS : for investors and buyers we look for installations with incentives linked to the grid in established abroad countries. Moreover interesting are the projects for building photovoltaic and eolic parks which have authorizations already to build and tariff with state body. Contact us

ABROAD CONSTRUCTION JOB ORDER
We report infrastructure / construction works to be carried out in non-EU countries. Contact us

AGRI-BUSINESS AND FOOD FARMING CHAINS
We supply turnkey food farming chains, milk-meat, tomato, chickens, greenhouses, etc.

HOUSING AND REAL ESTATE
Trade structures at income in the market. Contact us
We look for heaven earth in Milan with active rent for investor. Contact us
We seek for investors for interesting real estate development projects with a potential manager already available. Contact us.

INTERNATIONALIZATION AND OPPORTUNITIES

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Country Profile and articles about Macro-economy, Geopolitics, Cross Culture

IBS FOREIGN DESKS
- Desks of IBS foreign Network, Services and Opportunities

BECOME AN IBS PARTNER
- Consultancy offer for Service companies, Institutions, Trade Associations

EUROPE: OPPORTUNITIES, CONTRACT NOTICES, TENDERS, UE PROGRAMS TOWARD NON-MEMBERS COUNTRIES
- Bruxelles ICE Agency Newsletter and Opportunities

FAIRS, MISSIONS, INCOMING BUYERS AND TRADERS
- Missions and Fairs abroad, and Buyers and Traders Incoming in Italy

PANDORA TRADES INTERNATIONAL B2B PLATFORM
- Discover the Promotions for the Membership to the Pandora B2B Platform to directly contact Foreign Clients, Distributors, Suppliers

FINANCED TRAINING AND EQUAL FUNDING
- Financed training, Export & Internationalization, Foreign markets Check-up, through Interbranch Equal Funding

UNIVERSITY RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND TAX SAVING
- Tax Credit and Training by Decree 145 on the University funding

CONSULTANCY SUBJECTS

ABC HANDBOOK ABOUT EXPORT – IMPORT FUNDAMENTALS – EXPORT
- Table of Contents and Requirements to start an Import – Export business
- Finding a trading Partner, advantages of a Broker, Business agent, Distributors
- Trading operations abroad and participation to Fairs
- Main Documents to be used in Foreign Trade
- Customs tariff and Duties
- Methods of delivery of goods, delivery Times, Quality, Shipments, Incoterms
- Methods of Payment and Debt collection
- Essentials of electronic commerce
- Import – Export sector-specific rules for Food, Cosmetics, Jewellery, Textile

CUSTOMS CONSULTANCY
- Incoterms 2010
- Essentials of the Origin of Goods
- Preferential Origin arrangements of the European Union
- Advantages of AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) Approved Exporter Status
- Customs glossary, useful vocabulary for a correct communication with Customs
- Free Download – Customs Area

TAX CONSULTANCY
- Free Download – International Taxation Area

LEGAL ADVICE
- Essentials of International Contracts
- Ordinary Justice or Arbitration / ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution)
- Free Download – Legal Area

ADVICE ON TRADE & EXPORT FINANCING, CREDIT INSURANCE AND SACE
- Management of the operations of Documentary Credit and International Bank Guarantees
- SACE, Export Credit Agency to ensure credits and to protect Investment
- OCSE – OECD Credit Risk Map
- Free Download – Export Credit Risk from OECD

SUPPLY CHAIN CONSULTANCY
- Essentials of Logistics and Transport

BUSINESS PLAN ADVICE
- Business Model Canvas and other Strategy Tools for drawing up the Business Plan
- Essentials of Business Planning, in the Export and FDI (Foreign Direct Investment)
- Free Download – Examples of simplified Business Plan

ARTICLES ABOUT SECTOR- SPECIFIC SUBJECTS

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
- Business opportunities in Foreign Markets and Countries, through projects, Joint Ventures, Contract notices, Tenders
- Opportunities for investors in the framework of financial investment projects and in special projects

FOOD AREA
- Requested Buyers, Importers, Distributors for Food and Beverage products from UE – EXTRA UE Countries
- Download IBS TRADING Food & Beverage Catalogue
- Requested Food and Beverage products for EXPORT
- Beef Carcass Evaluation through EUROP International System
- Organic Argan oil Certified by USDA, ECOCERT and cosmetic products
- Iranian and Moroccan saffron

CERTIFICATIONS
- HALAL certification, food allowed in the Arab world according to the Islamic rite

CRISIS MANAGEMENT
- Crisis or disaster management and immediate Humanitarian actions

COMMODITIES
- Firewood
- Pallet: its role in the Export, from the packaging, to the goods and machinery storage, to the merchandise transport in the foreign international trade
- Pellets

CONSTRUCTION, BUILDING
- Bio-construction and Environmentally-friendly Building, White Home project, “custom-made houses”, antiseismic, environmentally-friendly and intelligent housing solutions
- Used earth-moving machinery, vehicles and goods from leasing-returns or auctions

HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
- Coaching as a solution for personal and professional success

SPECIALIST SERVICES FOR HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATIONS
- Summary of the Services for Hotels and Accommodation and methods of provision

THE DESK OF FOREIGN NETWORK IBS – SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES

DESK esteri IBS & Servizi

THE DESKS OF FOREIGN NETWORK IBS – SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Various DESKS report the active Services in the country and the Business Opportunities, including the sectors, and the types of companies that could get major benefits in terms of Export or Foreign Direct Investment in the territory, both for the potential of the market and for any Discounts or Funds made available by Local Authorities or by the competent Institutions .

Get Downloads below the DESK

AFRICA – ECOWAS + CEDEAO MAURITANIA ANGOLA

ECOWAS – CEDEAO: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
Congo, Rwanda, Zambia (case by case basis)
Uganda

THE AMERICAS

NORTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA AND ASSOCIATED ISLANDS
Canada
USA, Panama
Dominican Republic

SOUTH AMERICA / LATIN COUNTRIES + SPAIN
Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Spain
Chile

ASIA

Kazakhstan

FAR EAST
China , Incoming in Italy buyer and foreign operators’ from China LINK
Japan
Singapore
South Korea
ASEAN: Cambodia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

EUROPE

Albania
Benelux ( Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands )
EAST EUROPE : Bulgaria, Poland , Hungary + (Trade Missions Abroad in Bulgaria LINK )
France + ( Monte Carlo, French Riviera real estate )
Germany
Malta
Spain Canary Islands (startup and innovation)
Ukraine (case by case basis)

MENA (Middle East & North Africa )

Algeria
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine region , UAE ( United Arab Emirates ) and GCC
Israel
Libya (case by case basis)
Morocco
Tunisia

Highlight Foreign Markets

SUPPLY OF CONSULTANCY FOR PROFESSIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS, UTILITY COMPANIES, INSTITUTIONS

Associazioni di Categoria SERVIZI IBS

SUPPLY OF CONSULTANCY FOR PROFESSIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS, PROFESSIONALS, UTILITY COMPANIES, INSTITUTIONS

We want to be for you and your Corporate Customer as a reference point for the Exportation and Internationalization

EXPOSITION, MISSION E INCOMING ECONOMIC OPERATORS

- NEWS ABOUT TRADE FAIRS : fair opportunity of interest to the sector and foreign country;
- IBS IN FAIR IN YOUR PLACE : agreed number of commercial contacts,deeds of buyer, agents, , suppliers, related to an important fair through our senior advisors. ADVANTAGE: cost reduction for the company because of the centralisation;
- MISSION : information about our tasks abroad and events about incoming I Italy by economic entities, trading partners, buyers;
- FUNDS FOR MISSIONS AND FAIRS : information through the competent institutions in order to access to the funds available;
- AT THE REQUEST INCOMING, B2B MEETINGS, TASKS AND FOREIGN WORKSHOPS ORGANISED AN AD-HOC : In one of the places where IBS is most implanted there will be B2B meetings and events for a limited number of holdings.

LEARNING PROCESS FOR A PREPARATION TO THE FOREIGN MARKET AND SPECIALIST ADVICE

Thanks to Joint Inter-Professional Funds, there will be learning processes/consultancy of check-up and business preparation to export.
In addition it is possible to follow specific training programmes for the internationalised and exporting companies about, for example:
- export manager e strategic approach to the market;
- legal themes: international sales contract, international complying, relationship of agency and distribution, means of payment, non-payment and debt collection;
- international tax;
- customs, new Community Customs code, Incoterms 2010 and other issues;
- trade and export financing : documentary credits, bank guarantees, PBO (Bank Payment Obligation), LC and Stand By Letter of Credit, credit insurance, other specific issues;
- business planning.

EXPORT MANAGER IN OUTSOURCING

- Export manager in firm for 6 months – one year as Export Development Manager and Manager for development of contacts with clients, buyers, trading partners;

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

- Scouting of agents, suppliers, trading partners, economic entities abroad specialised in sectors of interest;

SHOWROOM

- For a group of holdings affected we could facilitate the creation of a community showroom and a local sales network, with resident local staff who speaks Italian;

PRODUCTIVE DECENTRALIZATION OF THE LOW-VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS

- Products or segments of production widely traded if made in Italy for their high production costs. We could assist the enterprises for a productive decentralization in EU and non-European countries;
- For example in Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Latvia, Moldavia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, Tunisia e Hungary;
- In addition to bureaucracy, our network of Italian companies abroad could support you with regard to integrated management, accounting, payroll, services of mentorship for the entrepreneur and his family, other specific request.

SCOUTING OF INVESTORS, ASSISTANCE DURING THE ANALYSIS OF ASSESSING FEASIBILITY AND BUSINESS PLAN

- We are in contact with market investors who participate in projects with a long-term efficiency;
- We could assist the enterprises who want to make a planning idea a business and viability plan to present to the investors.

BUSINESS NETWORKS

- Assistance on the establishment of “business networks” to strengthen in order to enter in the foreign market with the tax benefits available under the Italian legislation;

IBS DESK – SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES

IBS FOREIGN DESK

contact IBS by mail

ALGERIA COUNTRY PROFILE: ALGERIA’S MARKETS POTENTIAL

ALGERIA COUNTRY PROFILE: ALGERIA’S MARKETS POTENTIAL

Algeria

TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DESK IN ALGERIA CLIK ON THE IMAGE BELOW

DESK ESTERI IBS LINK

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

With an increasingly liberalized economy, Algeria is beginning to attract more and more foreign investors, through Foreign direct investments, which are beginning to expand in new areas, much different from the traditional ones: hydrocarbons, telecommunications, tourism, Industry, Construction (building, civil works and hydraulic), water and environment, agriculture and food farming, renewable energy.

Algeria has already carried out several projects and there are a lot of them that are under way; despite the situation Algeria keeps on attracting an increasing number of foreign direct investments, because they are getting better and better. The final payment of the investment projects of 2014, analysed by the Agenzia Nazionale per lo Sviluppo degli Investimenti (National Agency for the Development of the Investments) shows a dramatic and dynamic development of investments, as well as a market that is beginning to draw attention on itself.

There have been 9904 investment projects in 2014, a number that has increased with time, for an amount of 2.192 million DA (Algerian dinar), about 20 billion euros. In 2013, there were 8.895 projects for a counter value of 1.716 million DA, which created almost 151.000 job vacancies.

The development of the indicators shows a progressive and constant development of the investments on a national level, and more and more appealing markets. The opportunities development and the market shares to gain, the different partners, the effective efforts to promote business, the assessment of the potential make Algeria a highly appealing country for the foreign business community and network.

Since 2001, 2014 has been the best year in terms of investments, date of application of the disposition that regulates the development of the investments, number of projects, capital invested and potential in creating jobs. This kind of investments development is also found in the region of the plateaux and in the South: in fact, 2.166 of the projects that have been presented have developed in those two regions.

The projects of investment are mostly concentrated in the provinces, with a high concentration of economic activities; 6.514 projects have been realized in the northern regions last year, for an amount of 1.286 billion DA: they should create 109.275 job vacancies. The incentives and the specific support dedicated to the investments in the Highlands and in the South have led to a crescent interest in both regions, as the development plans produced by ANDI about them. The measures taken about these regions must continue and get stronger, in order to contribute to medium and long term development, in line with the stated objectives for the regional balance for the country’s economic and social development.

The measures taken through various reforms, all aimed to improve the entrepreneurial context, is starting to earn the investors’ trust, as demonstrate the more than 1.000 billion DA reinvested in this field. This trust has been confirmed also by some other investments, especially the “entrepreneurial start-ups”, whose number has reached 5.650 projects, almost 57% of what was declared.
As regards the dimensions of the companies, small and medium enterprises that tend to move towards industry, especially industrial processing chains, have carried on most of the projects that have started in 2014.

The industrial sectors are food production sector, chemical and plastic industry, wood and paper industry, textile and leather industry and finally glass industry.
The government provides with big funding for the great projects in the water, energy and telecommunication management.

These results get registered, following the governmental effort to improve Algerian economy in many ways, such as: developing business and entrepreneurship, supporting manufacturing activities helping them recovering through several incentives, especially in the land managing sector, simplifying access to loans and incentives for investments as well as reducing bureaucracy and reforming the public sector.

DEMOGRAPHICS OF ALGERIA

Algeria has a surface area of about 2.4 million square kilometres, and it is a country with great geographic and climatic biodiversity: there is a vast coastline, high plains, semiarid plateaux and it includes a huge portion of the Sahara, characterized by hot and dry climate. Such an extremely varied environment corresponds with the different exploitation of the soil and the population density.
The coastline represents the 4% of the land area; in addition, two thirds of the population live there. On the contrary, the High Plains region represent 9% of the land area, and about a fourth of the population lives there.

- 38.7 million inhabitants 1st Jan 2014 estimate
- 39.5 million inhabitants 1st Jan 2015 estimate
- 963.000 live-born children, child mortality: 168.000, 388.000 marriages in 2013.

FOREIGN TRADE STATISTICS

Algeria’s foreign trade statistics for 2014, drawn by the databases of the Customs Information System, have highlighted a development of the trade balance in the following way:
- Imports have increased by 0.6 % by comparison with 2013. Their distribution highlighted that the capital goods have increased by 17.13% and foodstuff by 14.87 % in 2013; on the contrary, non-food consumer goods have decreased by 8.23% and production machinery by 0.35%;
- Goods related to the operation of the manufacturing facilities are mainly built with building materials (bars, steel tubes, wood, etc.) and oils intended for the food-processing industry;
- As regards the division of the various economic areas in 2014, foreign trade mostly takes place with traditional partners. OECD countries have the largest share: 65.03% of imports and 81.01% of exports in Algeria. 14.47% of Algerian imports comes from non-EU OECD countries, and 16.65% of exports are addressed to these countries. Most of the trade takes part with the USA (4.9% of imports and 7.45% of exports) and Turkey (3.64% of imports and 4.61% of exports). Trade between Algeria and other countries is still low.

NEW POLITICS FOR PER LA REDUCTION OF IMPORTS

In order to reduce the number of imports, the Algerian government has issued a law that forbids using imported constructing materials, which are manufactured locally; this measure is also aimed at increasing the integration in the construction industry, and promoting local manufacturers. This law has already begun to bear fruit on the territory. It will increase the percentage of constructing materials “Made in Algeria” in the construction industry, from the actual 70% up to 85%.

This regulation, signed in December 2014, forbids the supervisors of the several projects partially or fully financed by the State resorting to imported goods if the same product is manufactured locally and of the same quality.

In order to achieve it, the Department has entrust the directors of the promotion centres and of the property management offices (OPGI) with improve the implementation of this regulation; they hold the majority of the public housing projects, which represent 75% of the five-year programme for 2010-2014.

Actually, people in charge for the public sector will have to use Algerian products when signing contracts involving Algerian products’ manufacturing. They will also have to join invoices with production contracts with companies that manufacture in Algeria various construction material.

Finally, it must be pointed out that this regulation has a double aim. On one hand, the mail goal is to reduce imports costs of all construction materials, to which the bill refers. On the other, it is about “consuming national products”. About that, all specialists agree on the fact that Algerian products are of very good quality, similar to imported goods from China or Europe.

ECONOMIC ACCOUNTS

Algeria’s GDP was 17.731 million dinars (about 221 billion dollars) in 2014; in 2013, it was 16.570 billion dinars (196 billion dollars). Algeria’s economy has increased by 4.1% in 2014, by contrast with the past year and by 2.8% in 2013 compared to 2012. On the contrary, the growth of GDP concerning non-oil related goods has decreased: it went from 5.1% in 2014 to 7.1% in 2013.

ECONOMIC FIELDS DEVELOPMENT

INDUSTRIAL SECTOR:

The industrial sector has a weak positive growth rate, even if the deep decrease has stopped, growth rates of this sector are still very irregular from one hand and insufficient on the other hand. Indeed the this sector represents a small part of the GDP (lass than 5%). In order to reach 10% this sector should achieve a double digit growth.
In 2013, the industrial added value was 765.400.000.000 billion dinars and 728,6 billion in 2012. ( a nominal increase of 5%). In volume, in 2012 the industrial growth was 4.1% and 5.1% in 2013. It had a clear decrease explained by a decrease in energy supply sector, ISMMEE and chemical industry.

Sectors that have increased growth in 2013:

- Energy supply sector, with an increase of 4.3% in 2013 and 10.2% in 2012;
- Steal and iron industry (ISMME) 5.5% increase in 2013 and 7.4% in 2012;
- Chemical, plastic and rubber with an increase of 5% in 2013 and 5.8% in 2012;
- Food industry sector increased of 7% in 2013 and 5.6% in 2012.

BTPH, CONSTRUCTION SECTOR AND CIVIL ENGENEERING BUILDINGS:

BTPH growth (Algerian state-owned society working in construction sector) is expected to reach 6.9%. This is a remarkable performance but slightly lower than 2012, because of a decrease in public.
Except for oil and public works sectors which had a weak increase in 2013 (+1% in 2013 and 0.4% in 2012), BTPH including oil and public works , had a 6.6% increase in 2013 and 8.2% in 2012.

The Brute Formation of FBCF fixed investments (it is a group that measures gross fixed investments and it is composed of a “physical” component such as constructions, machineries, means of transport and a “non-physical” component such as software and licenses), in 2013 it was the most dynamic component of the demand. Indeed, after that in 2011 growth rate was 2.9%, investments have positively increased of 7.2%, achieving an higher cadence than 2010. In 2013, this recovery trend of investments was confirmed, indeed gross fixed investments had a 8.6 % growth rate. This acceleration in gross fixed investments is due to a 13.8% increase of industrial equipment volumes imports and to an increase in state capital expenditures, as follows:

- Infrastructures and administration +13.7%
- Agriculture and Hydraulics + 6,2%
- Manufacturing services +8.8%
- Education +1.2%

B.T.P.H SECTOR IN ALGERIA

The wealth made with oil allowed the country to recover from foreign debt and to start large scale campaigns to boost is economy. The BTPH economy is taking a great advantage of this recovery.
Algerian government has lunched for the period 2004-2008 , complementar support for growth plans (PCCS) and special projects for Highlands and south.
Almost 70% of imports in this context should be used to develop basic infrastructures, houses and public infrastructures such as universities, schools, sport and cultural centres, hospitals etc…
The housing became a basic need for Algerian people because of population growth rate. The industry abandoned in the eighties and nineties, during the black decade that froze every business, and cause an important delay in the lodging conclusion. The President willingness and the interest in this sector have created a surprisingly real estate development. Moreover, it is famous the sentence according to which “When the construction industry works, everything works”.

As other developing countries, Algeria population and urbanisation have remarkably increased, this has increased the demand for lodgings, basic local services and tools essential for community life.

For lodgings, the President program has laid foundations in order to ensure an intense construction of buildings in the future. In order to diversify lodgings availability to support real estate development, credit development and access to housing. Everything is supported by State finances.

Construction companies are competing and every company tries to face challenges with its resources and leadership.
Private and state-owned companies such as ENPI, ALDA, e OPGI, tend to develop a partnership policy with strong Spanish, Turkish, Chinese, French; Portuguese and Italian companies.
For information, prices decided by the government to create a social housing is fixed between 42.000 and 54.000 DA per square meter (1 Euro= 105 DA).

Moreover, according to the prime minister “Government will not move backwards on promises made for social housings, despite a decrease of oil price”. However, he wanted to underline that there is the possibility to develop a list of construction materials temporary prohibited to import.

The recent increase in population in Algeria during these years, has increased the demand for building areas in the main Algerian cities such as Algeri, Orano, Costantina and Annaba. For this reason the government has continually modified services needed for the creation of new urban systems according to national needs.

KIND OF HOUSING UNITS

1.034.566 are were foreseen by the PCSC but they arrived at 1.228.597 for South and Central Highlands programs. Almost 39% is intended for rural buildings to encourage people to grow their own land. The distribution of 1.228.597 housing units of PCSC is divided in:

- Social housing for rent (23%);
- Social active buildings (23,2%);
- Rural housings (38,7%);
- House for sale (10,5%);
- Other housing kind (4,6%).

Only a small number of housing units have been built in the period 2010-2014. After a five-year plan, in 2014 started a building project to build 418.752, public housing for rent (164.749), rural housing (196.140), social housing for rent (16.081 ), social housing (17.893) leasing housing ALDA (20.600) and housing offered by “CNEP-bank” (3289 units).

These projects have cost billion dinar(around 7 billion dollars) with 1.738 billion DA of funds udes between 2010-2014. High expense rates underline that housing programmes are important projects.

The real estate sector lunched a project for the period 2015-19 to build 1.6 million of houses, in order to solve housing by 2019,improving the business environment for workmen who cooperate with employers organisations.

Moreover the Ministry of housing, urban planning and municipality, announced in January 2015 the creation of a five-year project 2015-2019, a new solution for “self-built” housings. This solution gives to citizens the opportunity to build their own house after having purchased a plot of land and the financial assistance of the State, whether projects respect the urban plan.

Allotments will be allowed in wilays, Southern Highlands and than North wilays. According to data of the Ministry of housing, there are 1098 available areas for allotments, in 425 towns of Highlands and South. The overall are is 6.699 hectares, this allows the distribution of 295/394 allotments.

Moreover, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, is trying to adopt corrective measures for construction sectors to lure private investors of this sector; this aims to increase production dimensions. Several building regulations have been revised.

It is a law that includes to avoid bureaucracy in every sector, especially housing, to decrease administrative procedures, for example construction permissions. These subsidies will include reliefs to obtain plot of lands, but also regulations that take into account construction techniques such as PVC and aluminium.

In conclusion, this is the perfect situation to boost this sector, that aims to increase the national production to satisfy real estate market needs. Administrators, business men and industrialists have to contribute to boost the sector, in order to build 120.000 units per year, using modern techniques of construction in building sites that follow international standards.

INFORMATION FOR BUILDING PROJECTS

Only 22% of national companies working in the building sector pushed for build 100.000, have positively answered for this projects, according to Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning.
The new list drafted by the Ministry in 2014 includes 83 companies with 23 more companies selected after several complaints, the final amount is 106. Public promoters, such as ENPI, OPGI e ALDA can use this list to select a company and enter in “over the counter” market, capable of make easier procedures to start housing buildings projects.
Moreover, the strengthen of construction material sector in Algeria, including the creation of 8 new cement plants and plants for steel production in Bellara (Jijel), will be an important asset to support more than 35.000 building entrepreneurs.

L’ENTREPRISE NATIONALE DE PROMOTION IMMOBILIÈRE (ENPI)

The national body for real estate promotion “ENPI-SPA” ha been established after the re-organisation of the housing promotion of family-owned businesses “EPLF”.
Its main goal is build new Public Housing Promotion “LPP”.
More than 32.000 units will be built thanks to the project Public Housing Promotion (LPP) created in 2014.

Works for this projects are developed in 39 wilayas and ranges from 5 and 30%, and the building cadence has increased in 2015. Currently, the companies working in this projects have been selected in the Ministry list (70%), public works (7%), joint ventures (7%), private Algerian companies (20,5%).
The biggest problems for the realisation of these projects are: it is difficult to find plots of lands, especially in Algeri, where have been built 15.906 buildings LPP.

The promotional project (LPP), launched in 2013 has been given to citizens with an income between 108.000 e 216.000 DA.

HOUSING PROJECT (LSP + PL + LPP), BRIEF OVERVIEW ON ENPI

NATIONAL AGENCY FOR IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING (AADL)

The AADL, which falls under the supervision of the Ministry of Housing, has the purpose of providing a public service mission and it has a legal entity and financial autonomy. Its goal is to implement, across the whole national territory, the national plan regarding the rental and sale of housing, the promotion, the supervision, the territory and the market property development, the dismantling of the existing slums to transform them into habitable structures with better conditions, the restructuration and restoring of ancient buildings, the urban restoring and the creation of new cities.

This plan also deals with the development of innovative construction methods through its action program, as well as the elaboration and the diffusion of a more extensive information, and the management of the markets and the estate and construction actors (developers, citizens, financial institutions, local authorities, materials manufacturers, advisers, manufacturing companies, property managers, associations…).

The agency also carries out the work given by the Ministry, such as the dossier on the development of new cities like Boughezoul, 270 km from Algiers, Ali Boumendjel in the Costantine wilaya (province) and Sidi Abdellah in the Tipasa province. By way of information, the dwellings intended to be rented out, namely the F4-type, represent 60% of the total, while the F3 residences represent 40%. Regarding the size of the dwellings for sale and for rent, they go from 75 square meters to 90 square meters for F3 and F4 types.

AADL plans to achieve 230000 residential units, including 106373 that have been built but not completed yet, while 124000 are still under construction. We present you how the AADL dwellings have been distributed and the PVC products which will be used for the construction.

Allocation of the housing AADL plan per wilaya (province):

The wilayas and the works that have not been started yet are : Djelfa, M’Sila, Adrar Bordj Bou Arreridj, El-Oued El-Tarf, Illizi, Medea, Ouargla, Oum-El-Bouaghi, Souk Ahras, Tamanrasset, Tébessa, Tiaret ,Tindouf, Tissemsilt.

The OPGI

The country offers different helping solutions (financed by the National housing fund CNL) to buy real estates in Algeria. The Ministry of housing launched the AADL (rental or selling) housing and LLP, but the most known and promotional schemes are the Housing Assisted (LSP) and the rental housing (social housing). The OPGI plan is a very important element which is under the direction of the Ministry of housing throughout the national territory; we hereby present you a list of contracts established with enterprises in the fiscal year 2014.

Le Projet des Villes des HAUTS PLATEAUX:

The goal in the high plains is creating the adequate conditions and measures to develop the cities which can have a knock-on effect in the area covered and as a consequence increase the growth. The goals by 2025 concern the ongoing urban restoring related to the high plains and they require a restoration of the urban system and a well-structured hierarchical system.

In the high plains there are 3 new plans to build cities, as set out below:

 Boughezoul in Medea province: at the heart of high plains region, within the national strategy of territorial development;
 The new city of Aricha, in the Tlemcen province, which is 80 km south of Tlmecen city. It is the only urban project in a territory of more than 20.000 km2 from the western bypass which leads to the high plains, which has been prepared for 150.000 inhabitants by 2025;
 The new city of Inedghassen in the Batna wilaya, which is 30 km north of Batna city and will aim, through its realization, at decreasing the high concentration of population in the other cities.

Other main construction projects:

 International conference center: the conference center is located in the Club des Pins in Algiers, it will be managed by the Chinese company CSCEC and built on an area of 270000 square meters at a cost of 50 billion dinars;
 Marriot hotel: the private group Red-Med aims at bringing to 6 the number of three-star hotels with an investment of 50 billion dollars; the first hotel will be built in ADRAR, the other one near the industrial and port areas;
 MEDINA Algiers: DAHLI Society HILTON hotel project predicts an investment of 2.5 billion Euros, a business that will expand upon an area of 100 hectares near SAFEX in Algiers;
 The Great Mosque of Algiers: it will cost 1.2 billion Euros and it will cover an area of 275000 square meters on the seafront opposite the SAFEX and the MEDINA project in Algiers. The CSCEC has to compete with a Chinese company.

The poles for the development of competitiveness in the High plains area in Algeria

To illustrate the importance of the High plains area in the national policy concerning the establishment of development and competitiveness poles, those which have been planned are set out below:

 Electronic pole: Sétif and Bordj Bou Arréridj wilayas;
 Mechanic and oil pole: TIARET wilaya;
 BTHP pole: M’Sila wilaya , Batna, Djelfa, Nâama, El Bayadh;
 New division energy: Djelfa, Boughezoul, Nâama, El Bayadh;
 Audio and visual industrial division: M’Sila, Bou Saâda, Tébessa, Khenchela;
 High-end tourism pole: Aures Nemmemachas, Saharan atlas Ksour;
 Food and industries pole: Djelfa wilaya and Oum El Bouaghi;
 Local meat and farming pole: Saida wilaya , Tiaret, M’Sila, Djelfa, El Bayadh;

PUBLIC INDUSTRY SECTORS

Only 67% of more than 6800 public infrastructure projects set out in the framework of the 2010-2014 five -year plan have been implemented. 3812 of the 10188 investment projects set out at the beginning of the five-year period, have been delivered and 3008 projects are still ongoing, while the remaining has not been implemented yet. These projects are related to 26 sectors including the education and higher education which received the lion’s share among the projects presented.

The result was the establishment of 2784 installations in high schools, primary schools with their helping structures (boarding structures, gyms, etc.) in 6630 projects set out in the education sector, while 1613 installations are currently under construction against 2233 infrastructures waiting to be constructed.
With regard to higher education, 390 installations have been delivered. The initial plan called for 1016 installations, including the 325 projects currently ongoing, against 301 projects which have not been started yet.

Efforts on the construction of public structures led to a strong increase of the financial investments which overcame 773 billion dinars. The Ministry of housing sets out to provide installations for 1138 projects and other 1285 development projects in all sectors by 2015-2016. The situation of the sectorial projects of public structures is relevant only for projects whose specialization in the works is guaranteed by delegation of Ministry of Housing and Urban Development decentralized structures. Wilayas (provinces) are usually responsible for residences and the DLEP public services depend on the UCR urban planning and construction managements.

HEALTHCARE SECTOR AND HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURES

For the National Agency for Healthcare Equipment and Management of Health infrastructures (AREES) a budget of 400 billion dinars will be allocated to the construction of 5 new UHCs (university hospital centers) in Algiers, Tizi-Ouzou, Tlemecen, Constantine and Ouargla. Similarly, the agency stated that the construction works of the new hospitals would start soon, they will cover an area of 5 million square meters and will be completed within 48 months of the beginning of work.

Moreover, 600 billion dinars will be allocated to the restructuring of 15 UHCs and will cover a 10-years period, having established that the state of the 15 existing hospitals is not meeting the international minimum requirements.

To overcome this challenge, the Ministry of Health launched a project of requalification, restructuring, improvement and repair of existing buildings, many of them being almost 100 years old and originally military camps.

WATER SECTOR AND WATER RESOURCES

The potentially available resources in Algeria are estimated to be about 18 billion cubic meters, 10 billions of which are surface resources, 2.5 billion cubic meters are underground water resources in the north and 5.5 billion cubic meters are both surface and underground water resources, in the south.

To face the challenge of guaranteeing an adequate coverage of the continually increasing water needs at national level, for both agricultural and industrial purposes because of an alarming shortage of the resource, a new national water policy has been implemented since the beginning of the 2000s. It revolves around three main axes : improving the organization and development of resources in all their forms, the economic protection of water and the reform of water governance framework.

There are currently 70 dams that are operating, 14 in construction for an overall capacity which covers 8.4 billion cubic meters of sea water, 9 desalination plants in operation and another four under construction for an overall capacity of 2.3 million cubic meters per day. Moreover, the 140 waste water treatment plants allow to recover around 800 million cubic meters of treated waste water per day.

These management infrastructures of the waters originating from both conventional dams and large transfers and underground water or unconventional from desalination sea water plants and recycling of sewage disposal, are giving concrete solutions to the problems of water shortage in Algeria. The concrete results of this proactive action by the State should be noticeable very soon. The development indicators in the water sector have increased substantially largely overcoming the millennium targets set in this sector by the United Nations.

The equal distribution of water resources between the different regions of the Algerian territory is a key factor of the policy implemented by the government. To overcome the geographical differences, a regional water infrastructure plan has been implemented in order to guarantee a better equality between the regions regarding the access to water. In the last ten years, important measures have been adopted and are now under construction for ANBT.

These aqueducts meet the targets regarding the strategy for food safety of the country and they are aimed at supporting the regions with a strong agricultural potential. Therefore, for example, with the construction of big aqueducts in the Sétif and Djelfa wilayas, the government intends to make those wilayas wheat-producing regions, which, within few years, will guarantee 20% of the country’s need in this sector.
These measures are aimed at connecting the water resources of the different regional systems in favour of the big urban centers, while the neighbouring cities will be served by smaller infrastructures.

ENERGY SECTOR

- Census of the houses to be connected for the supply of gas;
- Launch of studies to implement projects;
- Definition of the annual plans per wilaya;
- Beginning of the construction works by the companies managed by Sonelgaz in accordance with the provisions on public procurement.

Regarding the gas distribution of the public grid it has been set out:

- The connection of 1000000 users;
- State programme which predicts a quota of 211600 MDA (million dinars).

The investment prospect of SONELGAZ for the 2015-2019 period focuses on the means of production and on the conveyance and distribution of gas. A supply plan has been established to meet the national market’s needs for natural gas. This large project has the goal to meet the populations’ demand for gas, the safe supply in the country at the end and the medium and long-term support, especially, for the development of the Highlands and southern areas. This program concerns the supply, NG and LPG, for new clients.

5900 kilometers of transmission system at a high pressure will be constructed and the existing system is planned to be extended. The financing of this new plan is covered by state funds to 75%, while 25% will be covered by Sonelgaz. The gas transmission system, which will be completed by 2023, will be 11553 kilometers long, 7862 km of which have already been approved. The total amount set out for all the works related to the development of the system to transport gas for 2014-2023 period is around 382554 million dinars.

PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN WILAYAS

The developed program concerns the following 10 wilays in the SOUTH: Adrar, Laghouat, Biskra, Bechar, Tamanrasset, Ouargla, Illizi, Tindouf and Wadi EL Ghardaia, without mentioning the creation of the new city of Hassi Messaoud in the framework of this oilfield preservation. Therefore, the development which has been decided in the framework of the special program for the development of the South will cost 377 billion DA (dinars). More than 296 billion dinars are allocated to improving the life conditions of populations, including:

 More than 110 billion dinars for the realization of 60000 additional dwellings;
 Almost 20 billion DA to connect houses with natural gas and electrical energy;
 More than 80 billion dinars for water resources;
 Almost 7 billion DA allocated to higher education especially for the creation of 10000 additional teaching jobs and 7500 refugee accommodation;
 Almost 12 billion DA for national education and the creation of 14 high schools, 50 primary schools, 497 classrooms, 202 school canteens and 327 sport facilities;
 More than 3 billion dinars for vocational training, in order to create 11 training centres and 10 specialization and internship centres;
 15 billion DA for the health, in order to build new hospitals, two university hospitals, laser therapy units and 13 specialist care centres;
 Almost 6 billion dinars for youth and sport sector to create 10 gyms, 16 sport and helping centres and 31 swimming pools;
 19 billion DA for the enhancement of tools for employment promotion;
 3 billion of dinars for the culture sector in order to create of 19 libraries, 2 theatres, 1 museum and 1 music school;
 2.5 million DA for environment safeguard.

Around 74 billion DA for the economical development, including:

 More than 47 billion dinars for the development and enhancement of road network;
 More than 2 billion dinars for transport sector;
 More than 17 billion dinars for agricultural sector;
 More than 2 billion dinars for the development of industrial sector and of activities;
 More than 1 billion DA for the development of small and medium enterprises, craftsmanship and tourism;
 3 billion dinars for the improvement of bank credit interest rates for the investments in small and medium enterprises and in the agricultural sector;
 Around 20 billion DA for the improvement of management and administration methods, including justice and inspection services.

THE INVESTMENT PLAN OF 2014

During 2014 Algeria showed a sharp increase in investment projects, equal to 28% compared with the allocated contribution in 2013. According to the Ministry of Mines and Industries at least 10000 investment projects have been launched during 2014.
These investments focused on the setting up of manufacturers which produced an additional value in several sectors, including the industrial one, and the extension to others, with a cost of 2 billion DA (dinars); 1.5 billion DA of them have been used to foreigner partnership projects, equal to 62% of the total cost. 60% of these projects concern the development of productive potentials, the introduction of innovative technologies and the acquirement of knowledge and instruments for the governance and the development of enterprises on national and international markets.

These projects involved different market segments, including Agri-Food, Industries, Chemistry and Industry. These results “provide information on the steady improvement of the business climate in Algeria”, including the partnership with foreigner operators.

The industrial sector, where the investments mainly focus on transformation sectors, appears in the forefront both for the amounting of investments and in the potential for job creation, with 1845 projects and 1507 million DA in 2014, with a potential for creating 71362 jobs (42.27 of the total potential).

The same is true for investment projects concluded with foreigners, which focuses on industrial sector and this is the case of 74 projects amounting to 156 billion DA, especially in the steel, mechanical and electrical, chemical, food and construction materials sectors. Moreover, it has been noticed a significant investment volume of partnership in the regions of Haus Plateaux and in the south.

On the whole, the most affected industrial districts pointed out by ANDI (National Agency of Investment Development) are the food industries (IAA), which represent 26% of all industrial projects which have been highlighted, followed by construction materials one 22.4%, the steel, mechanical and electrical industry (ISMME) to 17.13% and chemical industry to 15.72%.

These findings show a strong effort in the industrial sector by the government for the diversification and development of the industrial activities, and show important markets to be hold in different areas of activities and industrial processing, LPN (Natural Conservation Act), extraction activities and other sectors.

MATERIALS FOR BTPH, CREATION AND REQUIRED MEANS

The local row materials production, in spite of the great stocks, it cannot meet the sharp increase in local demand, which required an increase in import, including imports of cement, steel, pipes, materials and equipment, such as: floor coverings, plumbing, electrical equipment, locks, etc … … and the production of materials, machines and equipment. The secondary market, which benefits from a stable construction sector, suffers from low quality of local production.

National construction sector

The decision of the government concerning the ban on imports of construction materials is justified by a national production modestly sufficient for the implementation of all programs. The country’s authorities said: “Importing row materials that can be produced in our country is an economic crime.”

The country’s reindustrialization project will involve the support of internal production that in different sector could and must replace the imports. Therefore, it will be important to develop the small and medium enterprise and the supply, which will receive increasing attention through the facilitation of the proceedings of the creation and support to development plan.

The strategy will focus on the removing of constraints to a sustained growth and it will be supported by the improvement of investment conditions. Therefore, ANDI will become a specialized pole that will lead the potential investors in promising projects and follow up their implementation and provide advices for the organization and management and also on the investment promotion act which will be modified in accordance with the investment liberalization and with the entrepreneurship and the public support to the business projects.

The imported products will be replaced by materials locally produced

The imports cost will be reduced replacing the wood with other products like PVC and aluminium, especially in the construction sector. The country imports from an average of 300 to 320 million dollars in wood every year. The wood industry realizes a turnover of 12 billion dinars (12 million Euros). A significant part of coniferous imports comes from the northern countries (Finland and Sweden) or from Russia. Oaks and beech trees are imported by Europe, the tropical wood comes from Africa and Asia. The demand is estimated to be 1.5 million cubic meters every year, while the local production is able to meet only 15% of the demand. This caused an excessive expenditure for the wood import, especially because of the needs regarding the projects launched by the state.

PVC and aluminium to stop using the wood

The construction sites monopolize more than 70% of wood imports. Although the government took actions to educate the constructors about the benefits of using formworks with metal stamps which offer longer depreciation periods of the wood, the manufacturers keep on using the wood, even though its high cost.

On the contrary, other materials take their part in the Algerian market, especially in the carpentry sector for the residential and promotional construction. For example, the PVC locally produced has a production capacity of 30000 tons, while the volume of import from Turkey and China are unknown. This product has advantages that reduce the long-term costs because their duration is estimated to 50 years.

Another material is the aluminium and in particular the plant located in Beni Saf (Témouchent) is managed by a consortium of companies that promote development: Moubadla (Moubadala Development Company), Dubai Aluminium (Dubal) and by an Algerian consortium made of Sonatrach and Sonelgaz. They have a production capacity of 700000 tons per year. Another foundry, with a capacity of 1.5 million tons per year, is going to be built by 2016. Therefore, the wood imports are supposed to be reduced in the future. Currently the construction deployment of all wood elements is equal to 70%, against the aluminium and PVC use which only represent around 15% each one.

ECONOMIC CENSUS OF THE COMPANY IN ALGERIA

The number of the companies included in the census of the national territory runs into 990496 unities and more than 934200 of them are limited liability companies which represent more than 94% of the total and the remaining of them (56246), equal to 6%, are management consulting centres; these are the final results recorded by National Statistics Office (NSO).

This important action, the first of its kind in Algeria, showed that the national economy is largely dominated by solely companies to 95% (888794), while the legal entities (enterprises) represent only the 5% equal to 45456 unities. This finding shows that the Algerian economy mainly depends on micro enterprises.

The structure of legal entities in the wilaya shows a concentration of 21% capital, followed by Oran wilaya (6.8%) and Sétif 5.3% from afar. This is the result of the market survey which was aimed to the census of all economic and management institutions, whatever was the sector or legal form, not including the agricultural sector.

The same trend has been observed in solely companies, therefore, Algiers area is characterized by the presence of 9.9% economic actors, followed by Oran (5.6%) and Sétif (5.1%). On the other hand, the number of industrial realities identified is 95445, 24.8% of which operate in different sectors: 23,4% in the metal product manufacturing; 11,1% in clothing; 1.7% in wood processing; 1.3% in textile; 1.3% in repair and installation of machines and equipment.

Moreover, 84% of 934250 enterprises, equal to 781439 are located in urban areas against 16% equal to 152811 in rural areas. Regarding the urban areas, Algiers is in the forefront with more than 12%of the total, Oran is in the second place (6.6%), followed by Sétif wilaya with 4.8% according the final results of census. With regard to rural areas, Tizi Ouzou wilaya is in the forefront with 8.1% of the total and Sétif is in the second place with 6.7%. In terms of activities, 81.3% of extractive industries are located in rural areas, while the production represents 19%, according to the survey findings.

THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION ACTORS

Regarding the findings in the construction field, the census recorded 26780 enterprises, whose main activity is the construction. It should be noticed that 17% equal to 4222 Enterprises of the total 26780 have been ranked and qualified to launch the 5-year plan.

While the public actors are affected more strongly by budgetary constraints, private national measures are currently experiencing a sharp increase related to the enthusiasm developed from the prospects and growth opportunities of BTPH sector. Among the foreigner enterprises, the Chinese ones are very competitive, they indeed won the majority of the last public procurements in the construction sector. A lot of actors coming from the Middle East and from Turkey, such as Sidar, Emar, Fiducia Investimenti… and construction companies such as Arab Contractors, Atlas, etc, are benefiting from the current situation.

ROADWORKS

The Ministry of Public Work (DPW) manages a road network of around 108000 km (70% is paved road), 4800 bridges and provides 85% of goods and people transport in the country. A quarter of current network is in poor condition and half of the works need to be restructured. The main projects concern the creation of East-West highway. This is the main goal of the government (recorded project as PCCS), 1216 km long, which will connect the main northern cities of the country.

The highway project in the Highlands, which will connect Tlemecen wilaya to Tebessa, has been launched recently. After the preparation of studies related to this project of 1020 km, they will start the works of the stretch of highway regarding TIARET, which will connect the Algerian –Tunisian border, 800 km long, while those related to the stretch Algerian- Moroccan of TMLECEN will start later.

In the framework of PCSC programs and the special programs for the south and highland, there are also projects for restructuring more than 14000 km of roads and 50 bridges, building more than 3700 km of new roads and 216 bridges and realizing 3700 km of channels to reach rural cities. The Ministry of Public Works is thinking about new projects for the future, including:

UNDER DEVELOPMENT:

17 projects regarding the 1396 km of fast motorway connecting the East/West Highway identified by ARDS in the period 2005-2025:

 A.P.D. project, the highway connecting Bejaia to East-West Highway for 100 km;
 Freeway planning and development at the suburbs of the great winds park;
 Highway planning in the highlands;
 Planning of the third bypass in the south of Algiers: Bourmedes-Tipaza south 150 km long on two lanes;
 Planning of the fourth Ring Road between the wilaya of Ain Defla and Bordi Bou Arreridj on 300 km;
 The doubling planning of RN 01 for 320 km;
 The doubling planning of RN 67 for 20km;
 The expansion planning from 2 to 3 lanes of the highway connecting the second Ring Road of the new city of Bouinan for 13km.

COMPLETED PROJECTS:

 Implementation of the third ring road Bourmedes-Tipaza for 150 km on two lanes;
 Completion of the fourth Ring Road between the wilaya of Ain Defla – Bordji Bou Arreridj for 300 km on two lanes that can be extended to 3 lanes through the wilaya of Tupaza, Bilda and Bourmedes;
 Implementation of Bou Ismail Cherchell freeway, connecting to OEA for 65km;
 Implementation of the Transrhumel and Constantine viaduct;
 Development of a stretch of two-lanes highway RN 12 for 23.5 km;
 The doubling realization of RN 01 for 70 km between Bougheoul and Berrouaghia and in the province of Medea;
 The doubling realization of RN 24 for 9 km (second Tranche) in the wilaya of Algiers;
 Realization of roads in 10 tourist areas of the 7 coastal wilayas of Algiers, Tipaza, Annaba, El Tarf, Tlmecen, Oran, Aïn Témouchent, Mostaganem;
 Realization of the main highway section in the highlands for 600 Km Saida Batna;
 Completion of the freeway connecting Djen Djen harbour up to EO Highway for 100 km;
 Implementation of a two-three lane highway connecting the second ring road with the new city of Bouinan for 13 km.

HARBOUR AND COST AREAS IMPLEMENTATION – MASTER PLAN 2005 – 2025

The expected results for the construction of harbours until 2025 are as follows:
 Construction of nineteen (19) harbours addressed to people who dedicate to fishing;
 Capacity development and enhancement of twenty-one (21) harbors dedicated to fishing boats;
 Construction of sixteen (16) tourist harbours;
 Protection of twenty-seven (27) land sites for 16 km;
 Realization of thirty-six (36) beaches;
 Maintenance of 498 beaches and development of 36 accesses to the beaches.

MAIN PROJECTS OF ROAD MANAGEMENT (MTP)

The project of road and highway development (ARDS) 2005/2025 is the framework which led to the optimal structure of the current road network, aimed to meet the future road links and road transport to boost the social and economic development of Algeria until 2025.
This goal focuses on the following main areas:
 The continuing extension capacity of the network;
 The intermodal transport enhancement;
 The heritage and environment conservation;
 The road network improvement in the highlands;
 The motorway network improvement in the deep south, the development of the main links and of the border roads to open up towards a higher development of exchanges with Africa.

THE GREAT PROJECTS FOR THE RAIL NETWORK MANAGEMENT

The government puts great emphasis on the railway sector in which allocated a large investment. In 2012, the Algerian government announced that it sets out a massive investment of approximately 18 billion dollars in this sector for the modernization of railway transport infrastructures until 2015.
The current figure of 25 billion dollars is currently on the agenda of National Agency for Studies and Monitoring of railway investments implementation (ANESRIF) is the prime contractor in this sector. The main projects are as follows:

 The modernization of the Northern Moroccan railway ring road, Annaba -Algiers-Oran, border of 1200 km;
 The modernization and creation of the new railway lines starting with the northern junction;
 The electrification of the current lines, including the northern bypass;
 The electrification of the suburban network of Algiers;
 The complete electrification of the Algerian network (expected by 2020);
 The modernization of 430 km of railway lines;
 The implementation of 391 km of new lines;
 The modernization of lines and stations for 1100 km;
 The doubling and rebuilding of more than 600 km of lines;
 The high speed rail implementation;
 The two North-South lines implementation.

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

Taking into consideration the current market data and the trends for the future in different sector, it follows from the above that the BTPH market is largely developing. The public works sector plays an important role in the government action at short and long term. It shall boost the recovery with a significant number of created jobs. Road and airport plans should lead to a consumption level of bitumen of approximately 1 million tons per year for the next five years.

Moreover, the fairs which have been held in Algeria in the last years, such as BATIMATEC; FIA; SITEP, SIEE, PMI, ect… offered the opportunity for investors in order to have a better perception of Algerian market and review its industrial potential and its opportunities, which would possibly offer in terms of alliances and partnership. These fairs have proven to be important events for entrepreneurs and foreign firms at international level.

The BATIMATEC 2015 is indeed an event that aims to introduce all the potentials of the construction industry which represents both in economic terms and evident results for all those who wonder what it might mean in terms of economic recovery and entrepreneurship. It would be a sector recovery of huge dimensions to such an extent that there will not be Algerian firms enough to meet these needs. It will be a benefit for foreign groups to show their skills.

GENERAL INFORMATION OF INVESTMENTS (ANDI SOURCE)
The information on investment made to identify the level of investment in Algeria are reported below:

Distribution of the investment projects implemented in the period between 2002-2012

Algeria suddivisione progetti di investimento
Algeria progetti di investimento partenariati e investimento locale

EVOLUTION OF EXCHANGE RATE

Source: Bank of Algeria

Algeria evoluzione del tasso di cambio

The yearly average rate of the dinar has depreciated against the dollar by 2,36%. The yearly average exchange rate of the Algerian dinar against the US dollar is estimated to be at $ 79,3809 USD/DZD in 2013, 77,5519 USD / DZD in 2012. The yearly average exchange rate of dinar has depreciated against the euro by 3,21% in 2013 compared with 2012, increasing from 102,1627 EUR/DZD in 2012 to 105,4374 EUR/DZD in 2013.

CONCLUSIONS

The society is the lifeblood of all industrial development process of a country. Algerian government is currently aimed at providing the opportunities for the growth of modern and innovative enterprises, and development in international standards of excellence and competitiveness. The government focuses on stimulating the entrepreneurship, encouraging the project leaders and the innovators, operating on different levels towards this objective. The government is working methodically in order to eliminate all the development constraints for enterprises and investments.
The Algerian market is one of the most profitable in the large Eur-Afrique area. It offers good development prospects within 2030. The growth mainly derives from the national programme for housing with the aim of reducing the huge housing deficit that Algeria accumulated during the last decades and that has gradually been eliminating successfully.
BTPH, indeed, is the engine for economic growth and it is the backbone of the Algerian economy, the sectors of housing, constructions, public works and residences which keep showing a growth in comparison with other sectors.
The unprecedented involvement of the government in the country boost explains this growth. The positive tendency, therefore, will be maintained for years because, first of all, the requirements for social demand are still numerous and ever-changing.
Considering that the expressed national needs are around 250.000 unities per year, there is an urgent need of country modernization; therefore, other important construction projects are planned. The last housing programme is a significant example for ambition and size. Of course, in this field, it should be mentioned that there are no engineering, new techniques and technologies to face these challenges.
Moreover, apart from few big Algerian enterprises, the majority of the others cannot face this challenge. These big projects require the participation and the direct involvement of foreign partners, required to transfers powers and technologies. Finally, it should be mentioned that the construction industry has become the leading job provider in Algeria.
Besides the known strategic activities of the State, there are also the creation of new cities on the two motorways adjacent to the cities of Algiers and Blida. This opens new grounds to current depressed areas, which will be able to take the pressure off the big cities.
For this reason, we can add the development plan that is targeted to highlands and south Saharan areas population, especially through the building of new cities and the expansion of existing ones.
An important indicator provides information on the BTPH activity that is the sector of fair-trade. Trade show in this sector in Algeria, indeed, such as BATIMATEC, la FIA, la SITEP il SIEE, small and medium enterprises, BEST 5 ALGERIE, etc. in the last years have offered the opportunity for the investors to have a better perception of the Algerian market and to measure its industrial potential and the opportunity that the market has most likely to offer in terms of alliances and partnership. These events established themselves as key element of the profession on a global scale.
Looking closer at the achievements of the Algerian economy showed by different reports and analyses by national or foreign institutions, the constant peak of growth is evident, deriving from a considerable programme mainly in public investments and by significative efforts by the private sector.
The Algerian economy doesn’t just work on the sector of hydrocarbons, BTPH and others, but also services, such as agriculture, show their considerable dynamism. According to COFACE (http://www.coface.com/Economic-Studies-and-Country-Risks/Algeria), in Algeria the enterprises benefit from a bright and increasing economic context. This takes into consideration the internal demand force caused by the State projects and by the consumers expenditure increased sharply after the job creation which produces additional income for families.
The choice of moving to Algeria through joint ventures is a strategic step for SMEs and investment projects shareholders. 2015 begins with promising economic prospects. What can be more favourable for the entrepreneurs than a social-economic environment characterized by social party and an increase in great infrastructures projects?

INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BUSINESSTRIPS IN ALGERIA

Developing and keeping good relationships with Algerian people is possible, by understanding better their way of thinking.
- The organization for a business appointment is necessary for itself. The Algerian weekend is composed of Friday and Saturday. The office are open from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm.
- Arabic is the official language of Algeria. The national languages in Algeria are Arabic and Tamazight. French is used as technical and professional language;
- The paperwork in French is preferable only to those in English and Arabic. The use of images too close with the local costumes and traditions could cause stress, in the introduction (pig sausages, eroticism, etc.);
- To book your hotel, the capital offers a lot of great hotels. Quality hotels are completely booked in a short time during international events (conferences, trade shows and exhibitions …). It is better to book at home before leaving. International hotels provide a free shuttle service on advanced reservation. On the contrary, you should take into consideration a taxi or a car service;
- Avoid long road trips, at night, especially unescorted by Algerians. Avoid showing off an attitude of excessive luxury. The extremely friendly attitude showed by local people must not make us forget the basic precautions;
- In Algeria, the relationship dimension is very important. We have to take time to know the informal approach. It is, therefore, necessary to take into consideration this parameter to choose the programme. However, arriving on time to an appointment is a sign of respect for the person who has accorded with. Don’t let you be deceived by appearances, the way your interlocutor dresses or the small dimension of his enterprise should not be a reason of discrimination and could not reflect the real potentials.
- “Classical” clothes for men and “no provocative” for women are recommended. Don’t forget that your interlocutor is more familiar with your cultural context through media (satellite uplink, trips and internet) than you with his);
- Concentration, being available to their needs and priorities are recommended. Make sure that you have identified well your interlocutors; it is necessary that negotiators have the same level of responsibility and/or technical level;
- Algerian businessmen are often involved in different entrepreneurial activities and can show more business cards. The familiar dimension of Algerian enterprises can make these operators become good partners;
- The public and private sector have not the same way of trade functioning. The publishing procurement can be postponed or done in a short term. A sustainable partnership is often required. The support of legal advisory is essential to guarantee a rapid intervention within the required times;
- In Algeria, European product brand image is acknowledged. French are more facilitated in comparison with the other nationalities because of their cultural closeness, and quality of their products/services, know-how and technical assistance. Nevertheless, the competitors of all over the world are numerous and very competitive towards French.
- Although they are price-sensitive, Algerians are sensitive to consultancy and training support of post-sell. Your interlocutors could have a strong technical knowledge or a knowledge of small enterprise;
- In a market open recently, like Algeria one, there are business development opportunities. Your interlocutors sometimes could have as financing capacity as lack of preparation in their project;
- Credit cards have not been used yet, except in international hotels. Banks are currently installing electronic payment devices;
- Algerian post services are good enough. However, delivery time can be long. For important communications or sending money, choose the registered mail or courier services (Chronopost, UPS and DHL are available in Algeria);
- The period of Ramadan lasts one month. It is a fasting period and the restaurants are closed, except the international hotels, and all the shops close before and during the fasting period.
- Algerians prefer the personal contact. They like knowing their partners before giving confidence. A negotiation relationship will be more favourable at the end, after two or three preparatory meetings;
- Stay informed on the economic events in Algeria to make the trips more regular and keep contact; – In the framework of a partnership, Algerians give priority to an enterprise with a long-term presence on the territory. Algerian trading partner is often involved and is committed to ensure that the business relationship works. However, sometimes, there are some management slowness problems to be faced, that foreign partners have difficulty to understand and deal with them;
- The heaviness of the banking system tends to hinder and weaken the enterprises. The number of government reforms aimed at improving the financial system, is gradually improving the situation;

Vacation days and religious events:

1st January: New Eve;
8th March: International Women’s Day;
1st May: Labour Day;
5th July: Independence Day (5th July 1962);
1st November: Revolution anniversary (1954);
Dates of the religious vacations vary depending on the lunar calendar.

contact IBS by mail

Country Profile Morocco

Marocco Scheda Paese - Country Profile

GENERAL INFORMATIONS :

Country Code: (204), MA
Capital: Rabat
Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Total Area: 710.850 km²
Population: 33 million
Time Zone: UTC +0 (UTC+1 in summer)
Currency: Moroccan diraham, MAD
Languages: Moroccan Arabic and Amazigh (official), French, Spanish and English
GDP: 835 billion MAD (2012), about 75 billion EUR
GDP (per Capita): 25,681MAD (2012), about 2,300 EUR
HDI: 4.9% growth (in the last five years)
Distribution of GDP (2011): 12.7% Agriculture, 28.1% Manufacturing, 59.2% services, 1.3% Inflation rate (2012)

MOROCCO, WHY ?

In the last 10 years Morocco moved with the time and became a really attractive country for investors:
- Solid Macroeconomics Bases
- Government Development Plans to improve Manufacturing, Agriculture and Services and to support the Private Sector
- Infrastructures as Development Axis
- Stable and Safe Country
- Ideal position to serve Europe, Africa and Americas
- Competitive Labour Cost
- Free Trade Agreements
- Advantageous Contest for Business
- Direct Involvement of the Governmental Institutions
- Interesting Subsidies for Investors
- Free Zone Areas – Solid Bank System

Morocco combines four determining factors of strategic appeal and long term for investors

• Ideal position to serve Europe, Africa and Americas
• Competitive Labour Cost
• Free Trade Agreements with access to about 1 billion of users (Europe, Africa, Nord America)
• Advantageous Contest for Business

salari

Moroccan Government has set the development of the foreign investments as absolutely priority in order to serve the local market as well as Europe, Africa and Nord America:

• Direct Involvement of the Government to attract and support Foreign Investors
• Interesting ways of subsidies for investors, including co-financing the big projects (CAPEX; areas, trainings…)
• Free Zone Areas, with administrative, fiscal and social benefits
• Solid Bank System, which includes the local Businesses who are improving their presence internationally through a high presence in Africa

Free Trade Zone accordi libero scambio marocco

International Infrastructures

For about 10 years Morocco has been launching programs to improve their own infrastructures internationally. In 2007 the Tangeri Med harbour has been launched. This harbour can contain 3 million containers. The streets and the highways, as well as the railways and the airports, are going to follow a plan of innovation and extension. From an industrial and logistic point of view, the integrated platforms and free economic zones have been improved. A free economic zone will be in Casablanca and from there the Moroccan economy could be relaunched, making easier the logistic and the international exchanges in comparison to Tangeri.

HOW TO OPEN A SARL IN MOROCCO

Open a company in MOROCCO is extremely easy. Due to the easy commercial and social laws, all the folders are centralized in the INVESTORS REGIONAL CENTERS; the most common type of company in MOROCCO is the SARL and the similar SA. SARL can be for a single member (SARL AU) or for more members. Other types of company, such as LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS or JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES, are uncommon.
Joint Ventures or Economic Interest Groups are going to be build in case of investment or relevant projects. The type of company depends on the type of activity, investment and the credit line. A minimal capital for the SARL and the SALR AU doesn’t exist any more. So the investment for the begin is minimum. According to Art.46 modified from the law no. 24-10, the capital of the LLC is decided from the members during the draft of the Statute; the social capital is divided into social part with equal nominal value. The social statutes state the subdivision of the social parts.

Negative Certificate :

After having decided the sector and the type for the company, the company needs a name and the first step is to obtain a negative certificate, a document that states that there are no other companies with the same name. This document can be obtained from a regional center for the investment, connected to the Moroccan Office for Industrial and Commercial propriety.

The Statute

Regarding to the Statute, it is recommended to extend the social object of your investment as more as possible.

WHICH ADDED VALUE CAN IBS International Business Strategy GIVE IN MOROCCO ?

IBS has an operation headquarter in Morocco, Moroc Business Strategies SARL. This means that we can give you all the informations you need about this country and more specialized services listed underneath. More over, thanks to our Logistic Department, we can organize the creation of a Commercial and Distributive Network direct in this country:

• Market Research • Entrepreneurial Opportunities
• Customers and/or Suppliers Research
• Business Consultancy
• Legal Information
• Customs Consultancy
• Bureaucratic Procedures
• Business Organization and Strategy
• Business Creation and Management
• Accounting Consultancy
• Goods Transfert
• Shipping Logistics
• Assisted Marketing and Finance in Morocco
• Business Planning
• Specialist Reporting
• Information about the Bank and Financial System

Morocco Business Strategies

Maroc Business Strategies Morocco Marocco mappa 2

SUPPORT AND SERVICES FOR EXPORTING AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN MOROCCO

IMPORTS – EXPORTS
- The exportation of goods from Italy or EU countries to Morocco.
- The exportation of goods from Morocco to Italy and/or EU countries with which Morocco has signed preferential agreements on the free movement of goods and services.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
- Market research, feasibility studies of exports or FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) initiatives in Morocco.
- Search for partners, customers, suppliers, and scouting of business opportunities.
- Launch and promotion of a brand in Morocco, strategic marketing and marketing plans.
- Creation of a local office or of a showroom for the promotion of goods and services in Morocco, either in our own commercial areas or in commercial areas we manage through local partners.

SPECIALISED CONSULTANCY AND SUPPORT
- Customs, fiscal, legal and accounting support services for export and FDI activities.
- Processing of bureaucratic procedures to create a local office or to make an FDI.
- Business planning.
- Search for tenders and assistance in the presentation of a project and obtaining financing.
- Search for state incentives or funds via the EU’s European Neighbourhood Policy agreements, grants, assistance for facilitated financing for Morocco.
- Industry specialists headhunting.
- Assistance with banking or finance operations where it is important to have the support of a local bank in Morocco.
- Search for private financiers.

BUSINESS ORGANISATION
- Business strategy.
- Outsourced sales management in Morocco.
- Human resource organisation, Human resource policies, payroll, labour law.

SUPPLY CHAIN
- Processing of the transfer of goods, logistics, and shipping.
- Creation of a direct MBS sales and distribution network in the country.
- Support to logistics operators who are willing to create a logistics hub for the distribution of goods in Morocco.

PRODUCTS IN MOROCCO TO IMPORT INTO ITALY OR INTO THE EU

- Red algae, green algae, sea cucumbers, tuna, sardines, mackerel.
- Craft products (e.g. leather, terracotta, other).
- Phosphates and their derivatives.
- USDA and ECOCERT certified organic argan oil.
- Pellets.
- Agricultural products (Moroccan olive oil, olives, tomatoes for the agricultural-food industry, pine nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, saffron threads).

GOODS AND SERVICES TO INTRODUCE INTO MOROCCO

Morocco is a country whose economic, financial, banking and political systems are stable; it is the natural gateway to the African continent, the MENA countries (Middle East, North Africa) and Sub-Saharan Africa. For several years, Morocco has seen a constant increase in the GDP and GDP per capita and the middle class now includes parts of population who were once below the poverty threshold. The GDP growth forecasts for the following years are positive and not less than 5% per year, for at least the next 5-6 years. Therefore, the country is considered extremely interesting by the EU, the USA and Asian countries.
The European Union has a preferential free-trade agreement with Morocco which is currently in force, resulting in the removal of customs duties and barriers to entry for the EU member states. Morocco has signed similar agreements with the United States and, obviously, with African countries. Thus, the country is also an interesting international logistics hub for the United States and for Asian countries.
Incentives and state financing are provided for businesses which are interested in Morocco; further funding is provided as a result of EU neighbourhood policies or agreements with Development banks. Below you can find a list of some sectors where the number of business opportunities is higher.

CLOTHING, FURNISHINGS AND HOME INTERIORS

abbigliamento e arredamento in marocco

CLOTHING
- Designer clothes, popular brands.
FURNISHINGS AND HOME ACCESSORIES
- Quality products (e.g. quality doors, window and door frames).
LUXURY GOODS
- Leather goods, jewellery, ceramic products, and craft products.

ASSOCIATED ARCHITECTS

architetti italiani associati in marocco per opere costruzioni e appalti pubblici

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN MOROCCO
- Assistance with the validation of the Italian degree in Architecture or equivalent qualifications in Morocco.
-Enrolment in the national register of architects.
- Support in the start-up stage of business and with the profession at an associated architects’ firm.
- Scouting for professional opportunities: tenders, opportunities in the private construction sector.
Once the file is closed, it will be possible to carry out most of the professional activities from Italy thanks to the Assistance we and the local partners give.

CAR INDUSTRY

ricambi auto e consumabili auto marocco

CONSUMABLE MATERIALS
- Consumables and spare parts for cars.

CALL CENTRES

call center in marocco inbound o outbound

CALL CENTRES SERVICES
- Call centres outsourcing, both inbound and outbound, for Italian businesses by qualified and trained personnel who have excellent telephone conversation and negotiation skills, as well as a perfect command of Italian.

CONSTRUCTION & ENERGY

construction ed energia in marocco

CONSTRUCTION, PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION AND TENDERS, REAL ESTATE
- Construction, designing and execution of building works in the civil field and in the public works field in the context of international tenders. At present, in Morocco, there are a significant number of active construction sites everywhere, both in the private and the public sector. The works in the former have the objective of gradually reducing the pockets of poverty, whereas in the latter the government aims to modernise the country and its international connections to foster foreign trade and the strategic role of the country in the development of the African continent.
- For the private investors who wish to invest in real estate, interesting opportunities can be found in the areas of Agadir, Essaouira, Fes, Marrakesh, Tangier.
ENERGY
- Renewable energy and energy saving: PV panels, accumulators and photovoltaic systems, solar panels, wind turbines and biomass heating systems.
- Morocco has set the ambitious goal of producing a 42% of green energy (i.e. energy produced from renewable sources) by 2020. At the moment, the country primarily uses coal and oil, but depends heavily on imports for over 90% of its requirements.
- Therefore, also thanks to the great interest shown by the highest authorities and political officers on the matter, Morocco aims to radically change its energy mix by increasing its renewable energy production capacity by 4000 MWh.
GAS FOR DOMESTIC USE
- Gas for domestic use: the distribution of gas for domestic use is a significant issue in Morocco. Indeed, most consumers use gas cylinders both at home and in other industries (restaurant, hospitality).

FOOD AND BEVERAGES

food and beverage da esportare in marocco

MINERAL WATER
- Good quality water with a low amount of nitrate and dry residue.
- Good quality wines for high-end restaurants, made in Italy, Spain and South America.
FOODS
- Non-perishable foods, canned foods.
- Halal certified meat (this certification guarantees that the food is prepared in accordance with the Islamic law).
FOOD SUPPLEMENTS
- Different types of food supplements.

TRAINING

corsi

CONTINUOUS EDUCATION
- Training for managers in the areas of Human Resources, Logistics, Management Control.
TRAINING AND HACCP CERTIFICATION
- For the catering industry and for hi-end hospitality services: training and subsequent auditing by an Italian Certification Authority in order to eliminate all non-conformance and danger for consumers or guests of contracting viruses or bacteria because of methods or procedures of handling of foods and beverages which do not comply with HACCP requirements nor with the Italian UNI 10854 regulations.

PLUMBING

idraulica e rubinetteria di qualita marocco

TAPS AND FITTINGS
- Quality taps, fittings and accessories.

HOSPITALS AND PRIVATE CLINICS

cliniche private consumabili ospedalieri in marocco

In the hospital sector, considering the transformation which the healthcare system is undergoing, passing from a 100% public system to a mixed system open to private investment and management of hospital units, there is a high demand for hospital consumables, medical equipment, analytical and medical devices (including hi-tech items). Here are some examples:
HOSPITAL CONSUMABLES
- Cytology and preparation: microbiology kits, powders, reagents, stains, histopathology kits.
- Disposables and gloves: cassettes for biopsies and embedding, Lab markers, biopsy sponges, disposable gloves.
- Reagents and products for histology.
- Vaginal and nasal specula.
- Disposable latex pressure infusion bags.
- Products for sutures and dressings.
- Microscope cover slides and cover slips.
- Needles and needle holders.
- Disinfection and sterilisation products.
MEDICAL GARMENTS AND PROTECTION
- Bags.
- Operating room shoes, shoes for medical and paramedical personnel.
- Scrub top and trousers.
- Disposable sterile surgical gowns.
- Safety glasses and medical face shields.
EQUIPMENT AND DEVICES
- Diagnostic products and devices.
- Medical equipment for general and specialised surgery.
- Digital devices, hardware components, and hospital information systems, cameras, monitors, printers.
HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL FURNISHINGS
- Stainless steel medical furniture, operating room accessories, operating room tables, and medical trolleys.

HD TV PRODUCTIONS

produzione televisiva HD spot corsi operatori audio video in marocco

TV PRODUCTIONS, TV COMMERCIALS, TRAINING
- Training services via highly qualified personnel specialised in audio and video production for TV networks.
- Courses for audio and video operators, sound and microphone technicians, film editors, stage electricians.
- TV commercial production, mobile control rooms.
All of the above-mentioned services are offered by an Italian company which operates in the audio and video production industry.

SECURITY

antipirateria navale protezione cantieri scorta armata

PROTECTION AND CONTROL OF THE TERRITORY
- Advanced technologies supplied by an Italian company which operates in the military sector. This company also provides embedded systems and turnkey platforms for the telecommunication and military industries.
PERSONNEL AND GOODS’ SECURITY
- Naval anti-piracy services by highly trained personnel who have had important roles in the coordination of military operations in hostile zones.
- Protection of construction sites, buildings and production plants which are located in hot spots or areas subject to popular uprisings or with an ongoing civil war.
- Armed escort for entrepreneurs, managers, politicians, VIPs.

IBS_MOROCCO_logo_rgb_outline

MAROC BUSINESS STRATEGIES

E-MAIL ibs(a)doingbusinessibs.it
LINK TO MOROCCO PROFILE PAGE
LINK TO MICRO CREDIT AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
LINK TO TOURISM AND MICRO CREDIT IN MOROCCO

MOROCCO AND NORTH AFRICA: NEW TARGETS FOR MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISES?

MOROCCO AND NORTH AFRICA NUOVI OBIETTIVI PER LE MULTINAZIONALI

MOROCCO AND NORTH AFRICA: NEW TARGETS FOR MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISES?

Author: Diego Caballero Vélez
21/12/2014
d.caballerovelez(a)gmail.com

The Arab Spring of 2010 that started at Tahir Square in Cairo and is spread around the entire Arab world represents a cultural, social and economic impact for the countries of Middle East and North Africa.
With the Arab Spring, the speculation about the economic situation of the North Africa countries grows because of the series of social protests producing radical changes in the governments.

The economic outlook changes producing a major fear in international enterprises for investing in this region, but currently, is it still being a not very good region to export?

First of all, we must make differences between the different Arab countries of the region. Meanwhile Algeria and Libya are economies based on one only sector: hydrocarbon exportation; Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia base their economies on diverse sectors: manufacturing exports, agricultural products, foreign investment, tourism, etc.

We can see in Libya and Algeria a surplus in the economy, unlike the others with important economic deficit because their economies are based on more irregular sectors. In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood are reluctant to external debt and interact with external funding organizations so they are opting for alternative measures such as increasing income tax and recuperate lands given to private companies, that is to say, they use a populist politics because of the political situation of the country applied to economic politics, growing the speculation between multinationals that are interested in export there.

In Tunisia, are getting down to business to facilitate the entry of international investment so are negotiating a plan with the World Bank to simplify the way of doing business in the country. Finally, Morocco is the most reliable country for doing business because the Moroccan government pretends to consolidate his growing economy with consistent economic politics.

Regarding to foreign direct investment we could talk about the big beneficiary: Morocco. Foreign investment has increased significantly in the Maghreb country thanks to an increased social stability, economic liberalization and purchase of public enterprises by foreign investors. Morocco has also established free trade agreements with third parties as USA, Turkey and the Arab free trade zone. The most important sectors
in which foreign enterprises invest are telecommunications, industry, finance and insurance, mining and petrochemical. But the obstacles are still a lot, because the difficulty access to the country such as the cost of financing and the high required bank guarantee (226 %), makes that many multinationals think twice before fixing his eyes on this country.

In conclusion, investing in these countries always involve know risks. North Africa sees little by little signs of international investment recovery after the decline suffered in 2011 due to social riots. In my opinion, the key of investment would be being aware about the movements that occur in the region to take advantage of the opportunities that are appearing.

SOURCES
- www.Africainfomarket.com Situación de la Inversion Directa en Marruecos, 2007 July
- ESCRIBANO, G. La Reconfiguración de las Políticas Económicas en el Norte de África, Real Instituto Elcano http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/rielcano/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_es/zonas_es/mediterraneo+y+mundo+arabe/ari48-2012

TUNISIA COUNTRY PROFILE

TUNISIA COUNTRY PROFILE

Tunisia Scheda Paese
LINK TUNISIA GOVERNMENT
LINK TUNISIA ARAB SPRING

GENERAL INFORMATION

- Official name: Tunisia;
- Tunisia surface: 163.610 km2;
- Population: 10.480.934 million of which 17.7% is labour force;
- GDP: 45.407 million $
- GDP per capita: 4.213 $
- GPD forecasted growth: more than 3.3% ;
- Capital: Tunisi around 2 million citizens;
- Other cities: Hammamet, Susa, Tabarka, sea cities with a high flow of tourists, industrial Sfax, Qayrawan (Kairouan), religious capital, Tozeur, Gabéz, Biserta, last city before the desert, Douz (also known as “The desert door”);
- Government: Unitary semi-presidential republic;
- Main religions: Muslim, Catholic minority, Jewish;
- Languages: Arab, French (around 63% of the population speak it);
- Currency: Tunisian dinar

TUNISIA POLITICAL FRAMEWORK

CHANGES AND POSITIVE ASPECTS

- Political changes and the Revolution have been made in order to ensure stable conditions ;
- Economic and policy reforms;
- The economic opening-up supports foreign investments ;
- Important strategic position due to its geographic position as an access to Africa and “zero problems with neighbours”
- Actions in order to intensify and diversify foreign relations;

PROBLEMS AND NEGATIVE ASPECT

- The democracy is “in progress”;
- Risk of terrorist attacks.

MACROECONOMIC FRAMEWORK AND TUNISIA OUTLOOK

LEGAL ASPECTS

The economic dynamism of Tunisia has developed important production plants, very productive, especially in the service sector. Currently trade and tourism sectors are the main puller of a fragile economy.
Other important sectors are agriculture and the transformation of agricultural products, local craftsmanship, and mineral extraction (oil,lead, silver, zinc and mercury).
Other important aspects :
- Sing up of the FTA (Free Trade Agreement) in 1995.
- Inflation around 6%;
- The relation between foreign trade volume and GDP is around 49,5%; Tunisia integration in the international trade system is excellent.
It is important to underline that Tunisia economy rely a lot on foreign trades. According to world report on Davos competitiveness, Tunisia ranks among first places for its competitiveness( 40th in 133 countries for and 35th for infrastructure quality); the report Index of Economic Freedom, ranks Tunisia 95th on 179 countries and 12th on 17 Middle-East and North Africa countries, with a “mostly unfree” Index of Economic Freedom.
Moreover Tunisia has started to liberalise foreign trade since 1990, becoming member of G.A.T.T. Currently, foreign trades are based on the law n.94-41 of 07/03/1994.

TUNISIA has also signed many bilateral trade agreements that contribute to consolidate the position and the subscription of the international framework, in particular:

• Bilateral agreement that creates a free trade zone in Tunisia;
• Agadir fee trade agreement between Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia
Signed and subscribed in 2004;
• Bilateral agreements with Libya Iraq and agreement with Gulf countries to create a free trade zone.
TUNISIA is a CIRDI member and supported in May 2012 the OECD declaration for international investments and multinational companies.

STRENGHTS

- Balanced country and commercially attractive;
- Structural reforms implementation;
- Basic economic indicators are solid;
- Strategic geographic position;
- Access to many markets and diversification through different bilateral agreements with African countries;
- Growing domestic market and young population;
- Tourism sector has a continuous growing.

WEAKNESSES

- Young democracy;
- Dependence increased by foreign capital flows and investors trust;
- Tunisia depends on foreign energy supply;
- Deficit of current accounts;
- Corruption.

GROWING SECTORS

- Clothes/textile;
- Iron and steel sector;
- Car sector;
- Banks;
- Costruction of big infrastructures;
- Air and sea transport
- Environment and Ecology;
- Renewable energies and sources;
- Personnel training;
- Tourism;
- Craftsmanship;
- Agriculture.

REAL ESTATES AND CONSTRUCTIONS

The construction industry is one of the most important sectors in Tunisia.There are around 20.000 companies with a turnover of 3.000 million € per year.

That is 10% of Tunisia turnover and around 7% of its GDP, for this reason the construction sector is the fourth most important sector of Tunisia economy ( after textile, clothes, agri-food and agricultural sectors). However cements is the most exported good.

FINANCIAL SECTOR

Since 1995, after the have signed up the Association Agreement with EU (in effect since 1998), the Tunisia opening to the foreign trade has progressively increased in order to prepare the country to the definitive access at the free trade zone with the European Union which has been completed, for industrial products, in 2008. Tunisia has created a series of important structural reforms in order to improve the competitiveness of its economy, to support private investments, to rely more on its business and to modernise its financial and bank systems.

From several years the Italian cooperation has contributed to supports the balance of payments; a 95 million € credit program that has started in 2012. Despite important reform progresses in order to rebalance development banks and policies against laundering, Tunisia financial system does not completely answers to investors expectations, because there isn’t competition nor innovation.
Tunisia Central Bank has started a decreased the regulation system giving to credit companies a higher flexibility in the classification of risky loans. In this way, it has given considerable amount of money to te financial system.

This politics has created a re-financing dependence between many companies and the Central Bank. Risky credits, represented around 13% of the loan portfolio of the banking system.
The banking system is divided, with more than 20 credit companies that represent 100% of the GDP, with a 11 million people population.
In Tunisia the government controls around 40% of the sector, this has negative effects on productivity, overall efficiency and the creation of innovative structures.
A risk for the Tunisian economy is the increase of the deficit, due not only to the increase of interests on public debt, which is constantly increasing, but in particular to “peace” policies of temporary governments that have indulged the increase of minimum wage, created thousands of new jobs in the public sector, post-crisis compensation costs, and supported retail prices for commodities.

In 2013 the value of Tunisian dinar have decreased of 12%. It was due to unbalances between demand and offer (weaken because of the crisis of the biggest export companies) and the demand of foreign currency (increased by higher imports). The crucial variable for the development of Tunisian economy in short and medium period is the recovery of social and political balance and adequate security conditions. Because of the continuous Tunisian export market fragility, this recovery will have to be based on the main components of the domestic demand (families consumption and investments).

Consumption is subjected to a negative influence both from uncertain salary prospects and from the decreased availability of finances from banks. Tunisia is committed to take important actions to improve the banking system. The main problems are assets quality weakness and limited levels of capitalisations, especially for public banks. The public bank consolidation strategy wants to create an Asset Management Company (AMC) that has to absorb non-performing loans of the sector. The AMC will be on effect for nine years but is not certain whether it will work on NPL or just those linked to tourism sector.

ENERGY

After a series of bilateral agreements (also with the EU) Tunisia can be considerer an excellent access to the North Africa area; in Tunisi there is the Mediterranean Centre of Renewable Energies (MEDREC) IMET, which is a perfect context fro contacts and information on renewable energy sector in the wide Maghreb area.
Indeed the Maghreb region has an high potential for renewable energy development, especially for solar and wind-power energy. It is foreseen that the use of these energies will strongly increase in the near future.

Renewable energy projects, currently in the framework of bilateral agreements between IMET and Tunisia, will be part of the MEDREP. Future projects will focus on the electricity distribution to rural isolated populations, thorough a small scale electricity network. It is important to pursue an increased and accelerated integration of renewable energies in the national electricity network, with the goal of reaching a balance on the network, between demand and offer.

The idea is indemnify the global approach of the introduction of renewable energies (in particular solar and geothermic energies) in the construction sector according to the norms in force for energy efficiency: MEDA results programs for the integration of solar technologies in the sector. Moreover, focus on the sea water desalination, in order to increase potable water stocks and the availability of water resources for irrigation. Increase the use of pumps that work with solar, wind-power, biomasses energies in the farming sector.

Another area of interest is the diffusion of refrigeration systems for food storage, renewable energy systems, in farms and fish shops; the goal is promoting in urban areas the use of solar system at home, the installation of small wind-turbines or energy technologies that work with biogas and biomasses;

PHARMACEUTICAL AND SANITARY SECTORS

The progressive improvement of socio-economic conditions, even if slowly and with limits in the real access for the entire population to fundamental services, and an increased attention to health topic, are important factors for healthcare , sanitary and pharmaceutical markets in which work the main multinational companies of this sector. The current Tunisian government is improving healthcare establishments, extending, among the other things, also services opening hours. Industrial Tunisian pharmaceutical production regards around fifty companies with 50.000 employees. The production is focused on therapeutic and preventive drugs 45% are generic drugs.

Tunisian drugs production covers 50% of the domestic real needs. Added to the Tunisian national production, Tunisia has to import drugs from France (44% of imports), Germany, Switzerland and Italy (6%) for a total amount of 550 million TND (270 million €), with an average rate growth of 10% per year. 98% of imported drugs have a therapeutic purpose. Tunisia export are around 15 million €, 60% is exported to North Africa, in part in Europe (France, Belgium; Switzerland) and only a few to other African countries. Recent evolution, concern the development of a cooperation agreement between the Tunisian government and the British company”Hygiene Worldwide” in order to supply to the healthcare national service a liquid with bacterial properties “Genie” which doesn’t contain alcohol in order to respect Koran rules.

SERVICES

Currently the main branch of service sector are the telecommunication and IT (Information technology) that in the last years have been supported by the government, in order to make Tunisia a regional hub, capable of linking the African continent, Middle-East, Europe thanks to its strategic position in the Mediterranean Basin. Currently trade is the second sector, followed by tourism that despite the decrease after the 2011 revolution , is an important sector for Tunisia future. Bank and finance sectors liberalisation and privatisation processes are an obstacle to the attraction of new foreign capitals and to improve the access to the credit by companies, despite past improvements.

TEXTILE SECTOR

Textile and clothes are 35% of the overall Tunisian production and attracts investors for 15% of the overall manufacturing sector. Around 90% of Tunisian companies working in the textile sector works in the clothing sector and in the knitwear packaging. In this branch work thousands of companies, of which around 2000 have more than 10 or more employees. Among those 83% are exporting companies, which is 41% of the manufacturing industry. Tunisia is a large producer of clothes for third parts, thanks to its low cost labour and for its strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean, moreover, near to a wide and rich market of potential buyers. Companies with more than 10 employees are around 200.000 and 178.000 are totally engaged in the export and 17.000 employees work in companies with a partial export, this underlines the Tunisian vocation for exports.

2/3 of foreign capital companies are owned by foreign people. 350 from France, 240 from Italy, 82 from Germany and 120 from Belgium. The division and distribution of countries that invest in the textile sector in Tunisia represent its political and economic relations. In 2010 before the “Jasmine Revolution”, that have slowed down the main sectors of the economy, the Tunisia textile sector export toward the most important Tunisian market, the European Union, it reached 2.3 billion €. Even if Tunisia has less citizens than Morocco, it is the 5th largest EU supplier , after China, Turkey, India and Bangladesh. The main EU clients of Tunisia are France (36%) Italy (32%) and Germany (10%)

AGRI-FOOD SECTOR

Agri-food sector is a strategic sector for Tunisia. Companies of this sector are around 1000 and 18% work only in the export. There is a national inclination for agricultural production , food transformation and food for domestic consumption. Employees working in companies with more than 10 employees are 70.000. One of the features of this sector that we signal is that 11% of agricultural sector companies and food transformation , are supported by foreign finances,only 2.8% is totally owned by foreign investors. Italy has 40% of foreign participations in this sector, France around 35%. As it is for other sectors of the country the proximity with our country is at the same time and advantage but also a limit for the competition with our companies.

There are several ways to penetrate the agri-food sector, however the best two are bought local companies or participate in existing companies. Currently the agri-food sector situation doesn’t allow an horizontal expansion with the buying market quotas, but is better to enter in local companies specialised in food transformation and production processes mechanisation. There are many investment projects in this sector, some of those collected 2 million €. However, it is important to underline that the territorial proximity, excellent trade political and cultural relations, could persuade soma Italian companies to modernise the Tunisian industry through a continuous growth, the creation of high-tech machineries in order to transform, store and package products. Tessuto industrial of Tunisia

BUSINESS ENTITIES

Analysis of the creation of a society in Tunisia. Tunisian trade code has 6 kinds of business entity:

- S.A – Anonym society
- S.A.R.L. – (limited reliability companies)
- S.U.A.R.L. – ; Limited reliability one-man company
- S.N.C – General partnership;
- S.C.S – Limited partnership companies;
- S.C.A. – Limited partnership joint-stock companies
Most spread business entities in Tunisia are Anonym Society (S.A.) Limited Reliability Societies (S.A.R.L.) and Limited Reliability One-man Company (S.U.A.R.L.); these societies are ruled by laws alike to European laws, in particular French ones.
For societies with a foreign participation, the Tunisian investment code supports the creation of:
- Foreign company branches: in order to establish a branch it is necessary to create and give to the authorities the original copy of the company statute or the equivalent certificate of corporation, with attached the company address or the address of the main bureau;
- Partnership: there is no limitation for number of partners; however every partner is responsible for company debts. The law does not provide the obligation of account revision and it is not necessary to publish budgets;
- Joint venture: This type is supported through government agencies, and JV can be created both with a partnership and as limited companies. Tunisian law rules the majority of trade activities, and JV can be established only after a formal application, and after the deposit of declaration, released by authorities:
- A.P.I.I. – Agency for the promotion of industry and innovation , for every industrial activity and services linked to industry;
- CEPEX – Center of exports promotion, for projects linked to international trade;
- A.P.I.A. – Agency for the promotion of agricultural investments, for projects in agricultural sector, agri-food and fishing sector;
- O.N.T.T. – National body for tourism, for projects in the field of tourism;
- O.N.A.T. – National body for craftsmanship, for craftsmanship activities;

SUBSIDIES

Law number 93-120 regulates subsidies for entrepreneur investments in Tunisia, Tunisian or foreign investors, resident or not, also in the joint-venture form. JV are supported by government agencies and they can be established with a partnership or by limited companies.
Moreover it is important to underline that the Tunisian fiscal system has been reformed. The 16th May 1979 the Italian and Tunisian Republics have signed and subscribed in Tunisi the Agreement to avoid double taxations on the revenue, in order to avoid tax evasions, through a protocol, in force since 17th September 1981.
The agreement on double taxation is adopted to residents in one or both signing States (Italy and Tunisia) and it is applied on revenue taxations withdrew for every signing country, through administrative or political subdivisions, whatever the withdraw system is.
Taxes on the overall revenue, taxes on the purchase of movable or immovable assets, taxes on the total amount of salaries paid by companies, and taxes on added value. It is interesting to underline subsidies for export societies.

Society that only export are:

- Societies whose production is intended only for exports;
- Societies that work abroad or in Tunisia but giving services abroad;
- Societies that work only with foreign companies or in free zones or with foreign financial institutes;
Export companies have a taxation similar to those of the free zones except for administrative orders limitations after 2015.
Best subsidies give the possibility of a total exemption from revenue taxes and revenues of first ten years of activity and a 50% reduction for the following years. Extension of the period in which the revenue deduction is in effect (and export profits).
Fiscal relief on revenues and profits re-invested in the initial capital or to increase on condition of minimum taxation.
Fiscal relief on profits re-invested in the company, on condition of minimum taxation.
Faculty and possibility of import (total exemption of rights and taxes) goods needed for the company production.
Total exemption from registration rights and VAT on company activities.
Possibility of earning on the domestic market 30% of the income.
Possibility of hiring at most 4 foreign employees or workmen.

TRADE AGREEMENTS

- Trade agreement with 41 countries;
- Free trade zone agreement with 11 countries;
- Multilateral agreements with 50 countries;

COUNTRIES WITH FREE TRADE ZONE AGREEMENT (IN EFFECT)

- Bilateral agreement to create a free trade zone with Turkey;
- Agadir free trade agreement with Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia signed in 2004;
- Bilateral agreements with Libya, Iraq, and other agreement with Gulf Countries in order to create a free trade zone;
- Arab League multilateral agreement;
- Arab-Mediterranean free trade zone;
- Free trade agreement between Tunisia and EU.

DEFENSE AND JUSTICE

The Tunisian judiciary system is based on French right.
2014 Constitution is very advanced compared with near countries constitutions. It has been drafted according to democratic constitutionalism and parties request, inspired to Islam, in the Constituting Assembly.

Tunisian judiciary institutions are:

- 1 Court of Cassation;;
- 10 Appellate Courts;
- 23 Courts of first Instance;
- 83 Cantonal Courts;

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Tunisia and the Arab Spring: the success of the Awakening

Tunisia Arab spring

Tunisia and the Arab Spring: the success of the Awakening

Author: Pierre Varasi
January 2015

The 23rd November 2014 Tunisia dealt with its first democratic elections since its birth in the ‘50s, after obtaining independence. Since that moment, the Neo Destour party, one of the most repressive and authoritarian of the Arab world, has led the country. The demonstrations that since the end of 2010 have concerned all Tunisian cities, originating the so-called ‘Jasmine Revolution’, inspired the Arab Spring, considered a revolutionary movement that should have brought democracy to all the states involved (from Morocco to Yemen). Unfortunately, in most of them what the Arab Awakening left has nothing to do with democracy: instability is everywhere, with a civil war in Syria, militaries in power in Egypt and terroristic groups that threaten peace.

Tunisia is perhaps the only exception among these countries, the silver lining of years of internal fights. The elections, followed by a second ballot the 22nd December, saw the victory of Bèji Caïd Essebsi, of the moderate party Nidaa Tounes, that defines itself as secular, social democratic, liberal and innovative. The party won with the 55.68% of total votes, opening a new chapter of Tunisia’s history, and this should bring to the country’s stabilization.

We are now waiting for the creation of the government, expected this month, and from that moment, it is all downhill. Nonetheless, as always in today’s globalized world, internal work, as necessary as it is, will not be enough. Before the protests that began in 2010 the 7% of the country’s GDP consisted in tourism, and it will be difficult to bring it back to those levels, after these hard times. Economy has almost always gone hand in hand with democracy, and as much as the causal connection is not clear, it is easy to understand that a working economy will be in the next months one of the most important factor in deciding the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of the new government, its length and outcome.

While in a stable country economic problems can lead, in the worst scenario, to new elections, in a democratically fragile and young state, close to even more unstable countries, we cannot consider the attempts to make things work properly unlimited. Politicians and the population itself cannot underestimate the risk of an ‘authoritarian fall back’. An economic growth is definitely more important here than anywhere else. The institute of microcredit, which was born in Bangladesh in the ‘70s, has a decisive role here, as in all ‘Third World’ countries; however, the growth has to come both from the government as well as from national and international entities to be enduring.

Reforms have already begun, and from January 2015 the new financial law will be effective. Presented by the finance minister Hakim Ben Hammouda, the law includes, among different actions, that the offshore companies operating in Tunisia will be able to allocate 50% of their production to the sale in local markets, limit previously of the 30%. Moreover, investments will be encouraged with the reduction of taxes for new industries and with the revision of VAT to 6% for imported machineries.

Foreign investment will save Tunisia, and the government knows it, as the economic provisions show. Funds from the EU, that in 2014 has invested around 201 million euro in its economy and territory, will help the country too. Ten more million have been recently donated through subsidies, such as helping small agricultural entrepreneurships that will absorb five of these. Two will be invested in the management of a program for agricultural development, and the remaining three will reinforce an already existing program that works in the Medenine governorship, still with an agricultural and environmental aim.

In 2015, the International Monetary Fund predicts a growth of 3%, a decrease in the level of inflation, especially thanks to the recent fiscal reforms that the government is implementing, and a deficit decrease from 7.9 to 6.6% of GDP. The forecasts are therefore positive, and this will not only have consequences for the economy, which will definitely grow, but it should bring political and social stability. The stabilization and growth of the country is nonetheless threatened by the tensions in the Maghreb region and in the Middle East, and in particular by what is going to happen in Libya. Only a direct response of the Govern to social problems as youth unemployment and gender inequality present in the country will make Tunisia the very first success of the Arab Spring.

SOURCES:
- Euronews.com
- Lastampa.it
- Ifm.org
- Ansamed.info
- Africaneconomicoutlook.org

Tunisia Jasmine Revolution

TUNISIA JASMINE REVOLUTION

Tunisia Rivoluzione Gelsomini

Author: Elisa Mariani
Translated by Martina Paoli
August 2016

THE JASMINE REVOLUTION IN TUNISIA: FIVE YEARS LATER

Five years after the Jasmine Revolution, Tunisia still has to face many challenges. Governed by Bèji Caïd Essebsi, it is considered as a successful leading example, which inspired the Arab Spring, thanks to the remarkable changes adopted by the new social democratic government.

The Zine El Abidine Ben Ali absolutism overthrow has been strongly endorsed by population, especially young people, protesting for different reasons (poverty, regional discrepancy, unemployment, dictatorship) and has resulted in the draft of a new progressive constitution.

It focuses on the restoration of some of the most important human rights, including freedom of religion, speech, conscience, strike, and gender equality between men and women concerning the attribution of institutional offices and issues related to inheritance.

Nevertheless, the current government has not fulfilled its promises, since there has not occurred a real economic development after this social-political progress. For this reason, today as five years ago, citizens of Tunisia take to the streets to request new economic reforms.

The most worrying indicator is the unemployment rate, which stood at 15.4% in April 2016, against a 13% measured between October 2010 and January 2011. Therefore, a 2.4% more in comparison with the period in which there were the first signs of the Jasmine Revolution. These data are even more alarming if we consider that the 55% of Tunisians are under 25 years of age.

However, at the beginning of 2016 the Tunisian Solidarity Bank approved many loan applications and projects, which will permit creating more than 14,720 jobs. Moreover, according to recent estimates, currently the GDP amounts to 44.6 billion US dollars, against 47.3 estimated in 2014 and 45.2 of 2015, underlining a clear decrease.

Another significant parameter is the increase in the public debt, from 24.6 billion US dollars in 2012 to 28.4 billion US dollars in 2016. The companies’ competitiveness index is 3.93% in 2016, against 4.49% of 2010.

A modest improvement relating to the ease of doing business index took place in 2015 (74), with respect to 2014 (75). The lowest Tunisian value was estimated in 2010 (40). There has been an increase in the private consumption, from +3.7 in 2013 to +4.4 in 2016.

Because of the decrease in the main economic indexes, the government of Tunisia is working to realise the Development Plan 2016-2020. This strategy includes a number of reforms aimed at creating additional jobs and intensifying the struggle against poverty.

In fact, economic interventions relating to urban infrastructures and incentives for industry and green economy are expected to be done. They require an investment of 50 billion euro, which is possible thanks to the exploitation of local resources and the private contributions. The final aim of this policy is to reach an increase of 4% in the annual GDP.

The most profitable sectors of the country are service industry and manufacturing, which represent a large part of GDP (respectively 61.2% and 29% of the GDP, according to 2015 estimates). Tunisia boasts a great exportation of agricultural products.

Tourism gives a wide contribution in the job creation and is a fundamental activity for the economic welfare of the country. Regarding the commercial relations with foreign countries, Italy plays a very important role, as it is one of the principal Tunisian allies. In 2015, Italy’s export to Tunisia amounted to €3,033 million, while import from Tunisia amounted to €2,300 million.

Sources:

- cia.gov (Central Intelligence Agency US)
- infomercatiesteri.it
- tradingeconomics.com
- lookoutnews.it
- schedeflash.it
- esteri.it
- huffingtonpost.it