Eights of the nine tenders for the attribution of mine prospecting went to Chinese companies .
The country intends to pursue a mining mini-revolution in opening the country to the prospecting and exploitation activities. The legislation allowing private and foreign companies to enter the mining sector was passed in July 2001.
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EGYPT – Cairo will host a new stock exchange dedicated to SMEs
The new SME stock exchange, expected to be launched in the coming months, will give companies that do not meet the paid-in capital requirement for a listing on the CASE an opportunity to be traded on the capital market. While the plan has been on the drawing board for years, its launch now would seem appropriate given the CASE’s commitment to introducing new mechanisms that diversify investment.
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TUNISIA – Euromed programme on Innovation Medibtikar signed an agreement with API
The Tunisian industrial promotion agency (API) and Intrasoft International, leader of the Medibtikar programme supporting innovation policies in MEDA, have signed an agreement in Tunis to cooperate. Since 2006, ANIMA is part of the consortium managing this programme.
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Algeria– TELECOMMUNICATIONS - Telecom Egypt is thinking of giving up its 50% stake in LACOM, Algeria's second fixed-line operator.
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Algeria– COMMUNICATIONS – According to the general manager of the Algerian television company, Abdelmalek Houyou, the digital terrestrial television (DTT) will reach by 2009 some 70% of Algerian families.
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Egypt– BANKING – Some 80% of Bank of Cairo capital shares will be put up for sale to a strategic investor within the framework of restructuring the general commercial banks posts in Egypt.
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Egypt– TEXTILE – Big international clothing brands are entering the market through franchised retailers, but prices remain high due to custom duties.
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Jordan– TELECOMMUNICATIONS – The mobile phone market is still very important in the country. Arab Advisors Groups considers Jordan as the Arab world's most competitive market in this sector.
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Libya– ENERGY – National Oil Company (NOC) is ready to launch the first natural gas tender. The contracts apply to the exploration of a zone of about 72,500 square kilometres that includes the Bay of Sirte (in the north of the country), Murzek (in the south) and Cirenaica (in the east).
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Morocco – INDUSTRY – A new large industrial zone of 500 hectares will be constructed in Jorf Al Asfar, El Jadida province, on the central Atlantic coast.
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Turkey– TRANSPORT – The tender for the new international flights terminal of Milas airport in the Aegean town of Bodrum, which was cancelled by the Turkish Transportation Ministry, will be held again within a month.
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Turkey– BANKING – Local media reported that Turkish equities, as well as South African, Russian, Egyptian, Israeli and Polish stocks, have been included in a new investment product of Merrill Lynch, the global wealth management, capital markets and advisory conglomerate.
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Algeria - Industry
Egyptian ASEC plans to build a cement plant in Djelfa.

Egypt - Internet
American Google opens a new office to address the Middle East and North Africa.

Israel - High tech
American consultancy firm and merchant bank Nobska Ventures dedicates US$ 50 million for Israeli high tech start-ups.

Turkey - Privatisations
Turkish Bridges and Highways in 2007, National Lottery in 2008, Port of Derince and Tekel Tobacco after elections..

MENA– The region has the strongest delegation of all emerging regions in AT Kearney Global Retail Development Index's top 20
As big cities are reaching retail saturation, retailers are entering countries through smaller cities where consumers agree to adopt Western-style retail concepts and products thanks to the influence of television, movies and the Internet. .
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Algeria– The "Friday Saturday" week-end is considered as legal
For Algerian Minister of Labour and Social Security Tayeb Louh, the decision taken recently by Mittal Steel to pass from the 'Islamic' weekend to a 'mixed' weekend is "legal". “Companies could organise themselves like they consider best”, he said.
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Egypt– Business Monitor International sees real estate and telecommunications as key growth engines
BMI salutes the financial reforms (including the creation of a credit bureau) that will develop the home finance market. In telecoms, they forecast a rise of retail internet users from 8.4% in 2006 to 10.4% in 2007 and 15.2% in 2008. Privatisation should also boost the fixed line subscription; and the robust growth rate in mobile telephony is planned to continue (5 million new subscriptions in 2006).
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Jordan– Bilateral agreements signed with Tunisia
Following four days of negotiations between senior officials from both countries, Jordan and Tunisia have signed 11 agreements on several fields like trade, industry, water and others.
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Libya– Emaar's project of massive mixed-use development in Zowara-Abou Kemash will be ''growth engines for the Libyan economy''
The UAE-based global property developer is finalising the masterplan design to develop the Zowara-Abou Kemash area on the Mediterranean coast near Tripoli.
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Morocco – The EIB recommends more saving to support the Moroccan growth
The study that analyzed private savings in the country concludes that the national saving has to increase and change structurally to become more stable in order to support the investments that are still needed.
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Tunisia– Tunsia's IPA releases a new Investors' Guide to Tunisia in Manufacturing and Services
This guide includes all the information about setting up a company, from the initial concept through strategic positioning studies for the various sectors, business plan and the role of support structures. It also gives a thorough review of financing possibilities.
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Turkey– More venture funds invested in the country
According to global consulting giant Deloitte Turkey, more than USD 2.5 billion in venture capital funds have been invested in Turkey in the last 18 months.
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20-24 Novembre 2007 – Mediterranean Economic Week, Marseille, France
Save the date and plan to stay in Marseille for this week where over 12 economic events on Mediterranean will be held, including several recurring conferences (Euromed Investment Summit of The Economist, Medinnov 3, Rendez-Vous Economiques de la Méditerranée from the Cercle des Economistes and Institut de la Méditerranée, and Aspen Mediterranean Conference). More information given during the summer.
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Next ANIMA Biz Board release in September 2007
The ANIMA team wishes you a nice summer leave and looks forward to seeing your fit Mediterranean businesses in September !