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Automotive, aeronautical, subcontracting, mechanics |
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Public works, construction, water and environment |
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Information technology, electronics, telecoms |
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Pharmacy, health, chemistry, biotechnologies |
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Textile, garments |
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| SECTOR PERSPECTIVES
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With the rapid growth of the populations, accelerating urbanisation and industrialisation, the public works, construction, water and environmental sectors would henceforth appear decisive for the future of the MEDA countries. The gradual disengagement of the States, the opening of the national markets and the increased demand of the populations should offer interesting prospects and opportunities for investing in these key sectors. |
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Presentation |
In this context, rural electrification is progressing, the telecommunications networks are developing, the airports are being modernised … Certain States, such as Israel, Cyprus, Malta, Tunisia, Morocco can count on quality infrastructures. The others are in the process of making up the leeway. Important progress has been made in the domain of telecommunications: data transmission, mobile communications, satellite and fibre optic links. The opening up of the markets, the privatisation of public operators gives a new lease of life to this market.
More than two thirds of the population of the MEDA countries presently live in urban environments. The part of the population concentrated near the coastline grows incessantly. These evolutions in the same way as the demographic pressure, which is only dropping slowly, shows the importance of urban management: the development of large metropolitan areas, the construction of accommodation and installations, renovation of the ancient city centres (medinas), roads and public transport. The challenge is to respond to considerable needs, with often reduced means, in the perspective of sustainable development: develop, yes, but by preserving the environment and the heritage, in the towns often charged with history and in countries which count on tourism to provide an increasing share of their income.
In the sector of water, in the supply as in the treatment of sewage, the progress in the delegation of public services to private service companies or the simple sub-contracting to public organisations opens new perspectives. The European Union is currently concerned at raising the standard of the MEDA infrastructures to international norms (in particular freight ports, container terminals, airports, road network etc…), in the perspective of the free trade area programmed for 2010. The use of the private sector (project financing) is an important feature of this programme. |
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Country focus |
Tunisia continues to reinforce its telecommunications infrastructure. The sector is largely liberalised. Its objective: make the country move forward into the immaterial economy, based essentially on the use of new information and communication technologies. Thus, the Internet network is to be reinforced and extended. Little by little, the administrative measures may be carried out by electronic means. In terms of transport, a plan for the construction of 200 km of concessionary motorways has recently been launched.
Morocco has the advantage of an excellent interurban road network. The country recently decided to create a special international economic development zone, « Tanger Méditerranée ». Included in the programme, the construction of a deep water port, free trade areas, road and rail infrastructure and other concerning water and communications. The cost of the project: one billion dollars. The end of the work is planned for 2007.
Algeria has undertaken a reinforcement of its public services, which concerns the communication infrastructure, roads, the railway, without forgetting accommodation, where the needs to be satisfied are considerable. The « Investment Support Fund » finances the infrastructure expenses necessary for the investment to be realised. Other than telecoms, the transport sector is a domain where liberalisation has made good progress – new air navigation code, new maritime code and the law on land transport. Opportunities are there for the taking by foreign investors.
In Jordan, there are two ring roads under construction, around Amman and Irbid, the third city in the country. These are projects open to foreign companies. The authorities also nurture the desire to open the capital of the State public transport company to the private sector.
The private sector is at the origin of the modernisation of Egyptian infrastructures. The new communications technologies have invaded the market. But the needs remain enormous. In Cairo, for example, the population should reach twenty million between now and 2020, which will oblige the authorities to rethink public transport. An ambitious project plans the a creation of four new metro lines, as well as the two already in existence.
So as to encourage companies to come and settle in the country, Israel can count upon a modern economic infrastructure. For example, the motorways that criss-cross the country, the highly developed telecommunications and good quality water and electricity distribution networks. The rail infrastructure is, however, obsolete. The authorities have launched an ambitious programme to attempt to put this right, with projects for tram services in several towns. International companies have a role to play also in the domains of signalling and the electrification of the lines.
Cyprus has reached a level of development of its telecommunications comparable to that of the European Union.
Despite its small size, Malta has succeeded in equipping itself with high quality infrastructure. Telecommunications, for example, are to international standards. A certain saturation of the road network, at peak periods, can be observed in the urbanised part of the island. Better control of the environment is one of the challenges for the years to come, on a very reduced territory, where urban and tourist pressure is very strong. |
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Main data on transport in the MEDA region |
| Country |
Rails (km) |
Roads (km) |
Merchant marine (boats) |
Airports |
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| Algeria |
4 820 |
104 000 |
136 |
73 |
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| Egypt |
4 955 |
64 000 |
175 |
92 |
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| Lebanon |
399 |
7 300 |
71 |
Not available |
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| Morocco |
1 907 |
57 847 |
41 |
69 |
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| Palestinian A. |
0 |
Not available |
0 |
1 |
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| Syria |
2 750 |
41 451 |
133 |
100 |
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| Tunisia |
2 168 |
23 100 |
15 |
32 |
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| Turkey |
8 607 |
382 059 |
548 |
548 |
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