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GHANA COUNTRY OVERVIEW

GHANA COUNTRY OVERVIEW

Ghana Accra scheda paese - Country Profile

GENERAL INFORMATION

Official Name: Republic of Ghana
Area: abt 240,000 km2
Population: abt 26 million esteemed
GDP growth esteemed in 1014: 7.5%
GDP pro-capita: abt 2,000 USD (world economic outlook database 2013)
Capital: Accra 2,269 mln (CIA World Factbook)
State: unitary state, independent from the United Kingdom from the 6th of March 1957
Government: Unitary presidential constitutional republic, the head of the State is also the head of the Government.
Religion: Christian 69%, Muslim 16%, Animist 15%
Languages: English (official language), other local languages
Currency: New Ghanaian Cedi (GHS); 1 € = 2.54 GHS (10.04.2013)

SECTORS AND GDP DISTRIBUTION

- Agriculture 24.6%
- Industrial sector 27.5%
- Services 47.9%

FORECAST AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The construction sector is growing considerably (9.2% of the GP – source: African Economic Outlook 2013) because the housing needs are not satisfied by the quantity of the available residential units.
Bank of Ghana estimations highlight a need for 1.5 million affordable homes (social housing projects, meaning real estate development projects funded by national or international institutions).
The main obstacle to the sale of real estates concerns the access to credit.
There is a positive response to the made-in-Italy; over the last 10 years, the property market registered transactions worth an estimated value of about 2 billion USD.
Among the private entities, one organisation that plays an important role in the real estate development of the country is Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA).
This country has an urgent need for infrastructures (roads, drainage systems, water mains, agricultural drainage, industrial plants, port facilities) and for the maintenance of the few ones already existing.
The local productivity (especially concrete and building materials) can guarantee high profit margins; the furniture industry follows the fast progression not only of the housing sector but also of the civil construction, which is linked to services (offices, shopping centres, tourist facilities, shops, showrooms..).
Agriculture is an extremely important sector for Ghana’s economy and it constitutes 23% of the country GDP; The main products of Ghana’s agriculture are cocoa, rice, coffee, sugar, tropical fruit palm oil, peanuts, tobacco.
Aiming to produce 10% of the energy from renewable sources, the government supports the production of fuel for biodiesel engines (for example jatropha seeds, Brong Ahafo region).

TYPES OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

Company typology: Sole proprietorship, Partnership, Company Limited by shares, Company limited by guarantees, External company (branch), Companies Code;
The current legislation in Ghana requires the presence of one local partner only to the companies that operate in the mining sector.
The minimum investment required for every foreign member in a company under Ghanaian law is:
• USD 10,000.00 if the joint venture is mixed, i.e. composed of both foreign and Ghanaian members
• USD 50,000.00 if the joint venture corporate in Ghana is 100% composed of foreign members;
• USD 300,000.00 for the registration of companies that operate mere trading activities.

FISCAL ASPECTS

The income tax rate on legal persons is fixed at 25%, the dividend payment to local or foreign partners is subject to a rate of 8%;
If a foreign operator works in Ghana through a branch, the neat revenue is subject to a further 10% deduction;
There are tax incentives for free-zone companies (ten-year exemptions and application of a reduced 8% tax rate), for companies that deal with the processing of agricultural products (adjusted rates that can be up to 20% depending on the company’s locationing) and waste disposal (rate discounts up to 50%);
Repatriation of profits: non-resident people doing business in Ghana through a stable organization can repatriate their profits paying a 10% tax.

LEGAL SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS AND LEGAL ASPECTS

Mixed system including Common law and Customary law;
The judicial system bodies are: Supreme Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, Regional Tribunals.

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

The Convention for the avoidance of double taxation concerning income tax and the prevention of tax evasion was signed on the 19.02.2004;
Agreement to avoid double taxation on incomes deriving from air and maritime navigation (signed in Accra on the 23.08.1968 and entered into force on the 24.03.1977, with exchange of notes done on the 30.06.1972 in order to determine its retroactivity up to the 01.01.1961);
Ghana ratified the 1958 New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.

INSURANCE ISSUES

SACE insurability conditions: no conditions for private and baking risk; conditions for sovereign risk.

Relationships between Italy and Iran

Relationships between Italy and Iran

Italia Iran i rapporti tra i 2 paesi

Why should Italian enterprises invest in Iran ?

Author : Lorenzo Giusepponi
Translation by Ilaria Nardella
November 2017

An important country

Iran is a member of the N – 11 ( the next 11 ), meaning the eleven countries that, according to Goldman Sachs ’ evaluations, represent, along with the BRICS countries, the world ’s largest economies of the 21 st century, with promising growth prospects . The Islamic Republic is the 29 th world economy depending on its nominal GDP, the 17th depending on its purchasing power parity GDP and the second in the Middle East, with characteristics that launch it towards a gradual modernization process . There are numerous factors that characterize the Country, making it a desirable destination to the Italian companies . Among them, for example, its geographical strategic position, because it represents a connection point between the West and the East, its demographic composition ( in fact, it has about 80 million inhabitants, 60 % of whom are under 30 ), its high literacy index, its abundance of natural resources and its developed infrastructure and telecommunication network . Furthermore, complementarity between the Iranian and the Italian economy does not lack, because the Country requests different types of products and, above all, know-how and technologies that the local industry is still not producing adequately .

Iran ’s economic picture

The service sector ( 53 % ) is the economic sector that mostly contributes to the GDP . It is followed by the industry sector at 23 % and by the agricultural one at 9 %. However, if we consider it by itself, oil represents 15 % of the GDP, since Iran is the fourth oil producer in the world ( 11.3 % of the world ’s supplies ) and the second natural gas producer ( 18 %). The 2016 data estimate a +5.4 % GDP growth for 2017 . The inflation rate is positive as well . It decreased to 14 %, while the unemployment rate is at 10.7 % . Public debt is balanced and it is about 13 % of the GDP, while foreign debt is inferior to 1.5 % . Economic planning is based on twenty – year plans and implementing reforms based on principles of market economy, such as the privatization of companies and banks owned by the state, is among the main methods . The money that the Public Treasury receives still depends largely on the sale of hydrocarbons and their derivatives . Thus, it is subjected to international price floating. Industry, especially heavy industry, is strongly controlled by the State . In fact, most chief executive officers of the big enterprises are also Deputy Ministers and the authorities control the prices of the energetic, agricultural, credit and currency sector . For the remainder, industry is also composed of small and medium private enterprises .

Bank system

In Iran there are 31 banks, 8 of which are state owned and 23 are private . The majority of banks, among which the Central Bank, have been linked to the SWIFT system with the resulting opportunity to make international transactions .

Why invest in Iran ? And in which sectors ?

Because Tehran ’s government is now aiming to recover the market share that lost during the embargo . They intend to be a hub for the movement of goods in the region, in other words for a market that could go over 350 million inhabitants in its entirety . Authorities include also the touristic potential among the advantageous factors . In fact, Iran has as well as 19 locations, which are part of the UNESCO patrimony . However, they especially talk a lot about significant investments for the retrofitting of plants and the building of new infrastructures, which need the participation of foreign companies as well . These are the main sectors in which you can invest :

Constructions : there has been a real construction boom during the last years . It concerned especially residential areas ad shopping centres . Among the large-scale projects there is that of the new Towns .
Electrical energy : authorities have developed a plan for the development of alternative sources, saying that they will invest in the renewable sources as well . This is a sector where they aim to produce 5000 MW every year by 2018, hoping in the participation of foreign companies for the transfer of technology and know – how .
Water supply, sewerage system and waste treatment : in Iran, water is becoming an ever – rare resource and they need modern irrigation and desalination systems .
Motor vehicles : there is high request for joint – venture with foreign brands for the production of motor vehicles, farm machines and public transports .

International relationships

Thanks to its large energy resources, Iran is in the OPEC first positions . In spite of its tensions with Saudi Arabia, it continues to have an important influence in the region . Russia has announced its support to Iran ’s entry in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ( China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan ). There is also the possibility of a more concrete involvement of Tehran in the Eurasian Economic Union ( Russia, Kazakhstan, Belorussia, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia ). There is also an ongoing action of regeneration of Iran ’s accession process to the World Trade Organization . Its request dates back to 1996, but it had been later blocked by a series of American vetoes . However, the main development in Iran ’s international relationships is the conclusion in 2015 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which came into force on October 18 of the same year . It establishes the abolition of the sanctions that are still valid, caused by the Country ’s activity in the nuclear sector, through a series of different steps . On January 16 2016, after the positive report of the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ), the United Nations, the USA and the EU have suspended the application of the sanctions . The next phases are those expected for 2023, when they will wait for a report of the United Nations regarding the civil objectives of the Iranian nuclear sector and the final end of the sanctions .

Political and commercial relationships between Iran and Italy

After the sanctions have been suspended, people in Europe started to talk about the great opportunities that the Iranian market offers again . Italy is very interested in this market and it is one of the few Countries that has kept in good relationships with Iran in the last three decades, in other words after the revolution of 1979, which transformed the Country in an Islamic Republic, antagonist of the West . The Iranian president Hassan Rohuani has said more than once that Italy is a “ door ” to Europe for Iranians . The two governments established official diplomatic relationships in the 1950 s, when the Democrazia Cristiana ( Christian Democracy ) governed in Italy and the shah governed in Iran . When the conservative Mahmud Ahmadinejad was president ( 2005 – 2013 ), the relationships with Italy became more rigid, but did not stop . For example, in 2009, Frattini, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Berlusconi government, invited Iranian politicians to Trieste to discuss Pakistan and Afghanistan safety . In 2003, Emma Bonino, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Letta government, was the first European diplomat to visit Iran after a long time . Finally, in January 2006, Rouhani visited Rome, while Prime Minister Renzi went to Teheran in the April of the same year . In the business sector, Italy is the second commercial partner of Iran in Europe. Germany is its first, but Italy has been first from 2006 to 2012 . After the Iran nuclear deal had been concluded, an Italian delegation of 180 small and medium – sized enterprises and 12 banks went to Iran .

Recent developments

At the moment, the Iranian authorities want to take economic stabilization measures, such as the opening of Free Zones and Special Economic Zones . Commercial trades have increased since 2002 and have reached their historic maximum in 2011 . ( 7.97 million euros ). Italy is among the first countries that exports to Iran . In 2016, the value of the exports was 1.5 million euros and it marked a +29 % increase compared to 2015 . Imports have also registered a + 123.7 % increase, for a total value of 1 billion euros . Italy mainly exports machinery to Iran, while it imports crude oil and steel products . The Italian Bank, SACE and other institutions have supported exporting to Iran through loan disbursement of 4 billion euros as borrowed funds and 4 billion euros as a guarantee to the so – called lines of credit . They gave also 800 million euros for the restart of the small and medium-sized enterprises in the Country . Consequently, in spite of the latest difficulties caused by the commercial and financial sanctions, Iran still represents a good investment opportunity .

References :

www.infomercatiesteri.it
www.ilpost.it

IRAN JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION

IRAN – JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION

iran-piano-congiunto-di-azione-globale-e-partnership-economiche

JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION : WILL THE PACIFIC TRANSITION OF IRAN OPEN NEW ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS ?

Author: Elisa Mariani

Translated by Matteo Aristei

October 2016

The joint comprehensive Plan of action was born in July 2015, and represents the crowning of the joint Plan of action, that is a provisional agreement made in November 2013 by Iran, countries of UN Security Council ( China, United Kingdom, Russia, France, United States ), Germany and the rest of EU .

Such agreement concerns the use of Iranian nuclear power for pacific aims . In order to enjoy full rights for the use, Iran undertakes to not produce nuclear weapon, accept positively and implement all the measures requested by the UN Security Council; this measures must be monitored by a joint Commission and by the International atomic energy agency ( IAEA ).

Since 2006, the UN Security Council puts pressure on Iran in order to block their policies on nuclear power and especially the one on the production of Uranium, also through the limitation
of the trade of dual-use goods, goods that can be used both for civil and military aims . After the refusal of Theran in 2012, that was the refusal of accepting favourably the visit of the UN delegation which had to monitor the military establishment of Parchin after 20th September 2015, the turning point was in January 2016, when the IAEA declared that the Iranian Government accepted and started to take the progress requested in the military field .

In fact, Theran is respecting the agreement which provides for the diminution of two third of centrifuges for the uranium enrichment, the maintenance of this fell under the 3,67 % for the next 15 years and Iran reduced the uranium supply . In this respect Iran has maintained the promise to not give the green light to the construction of new buildings for the uranium enrichment and to convert the buildings of Arak and Fordo that are used so far for the the production of plutonium and uranium for military aims, respectively in centres of radioisotope creation for medical aims and research buildings .

The other news is represented by the consensus of Iran for the regular inspection of IAEA in the nuclear sites of the country such as Natanz, where important measures have been taken in order to control the uranium enrichment, including the disposal of new generation centrifuges .

In the last 16th January ( date called implementation day ), this permitted the diminution of the national and international restriction on the import and export of some products such as oil and its derivatives, hydrocarbon, all the instruments for the production of such substances and finally raw material such as metals and diamonds . Despite this, all the stops to the trading of instruments for the construction nuclear weapon in the Iranian territory are in force .

Through the visit of April by the EU High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy Federica Mogherini, the European Union wanted to reiterate its own intention of a creation of a partnership with Iran in mutual interest matters such as environment, economy, energy, migration and humanitarian matters . Italy contributes to this project too, with a financing of 5 billion Euros, that are provided by insurance services of credits for companies and banks together with Cdp s.p.a. ( Deposit and Consignment Office ), allowing in this way our country to have a relevant position in the partnership with Iran .

However, after the agreement of January, the Iranian diplomatic relationships are still tense, especially with United States because of the taxes imposed by the American government that are still in force, and they concern the presumed Iranian military support to the Shiite organization in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, and for the tests on ballistic missile ; Iran said that has made these tests exclusively for defensive purposes . Such measures obstacle the financial transitions between the two countries and with Europe, since the economical relevance of US empire at national level .

But tension haven’t prevented Italy from basing for an ever more greater cooperation with Iran, as the Business Forum Italy – Iran ( that took place in Rome in January ) confirms . This cooperation has seen ratification of contracts of 17 billion Euros and the the comparison between entrepreneurs of the two countries on trade opportunities in vitally important sectors such as infrastructure, petrochemical and the industrial sector .

The event availed of the participation of the President of Confindustria, Ministers of infrastructure of both countries and Italian ministers of economic development and Agriculture . To give substance to this common project, in the last 8th and 9th February, was created a delegation composed by the undersecretary of foreign affairs, Confindustria, Ministers Del Rio and Martina, together with 130 Italian companies, and it had a mission in Iran in order to define investment programs in the country for the following years .

ARTICLE SOURCES OF ‘ JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION : WILL THE PACIFIC TRANSITION OF IRAN OPEN NEW ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS ?’

- repubblica.it
- ilfattoquotidiano.it
- valvecampus.com
- ilsole24ore.com
- confindustriabergamo.it

RENEWABLE ENERGY IN KENYA

RENEWABLE ENERGY IN KENYA

Energie Rinnovabili in Kenya

THE EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN KENYA

Author: Elisa Mariani
August 2016
Translated by Arianna Zargar

Until a few years ago Kenya had a scarce production of electric energy, with an internal supply available only for the 30% of the population. Furthermore, according to relative recent estimates, Kenya ranks worldwide 22nd for the production of electric energy and 46th for the production of photovoltaic energy. In view of this situation, the Kenyan government is making efforts to develop projects relating to renewable energy, which focus on the extension of electricity supply to most of the people of the country.

That is why the executive is encouraging the development of renewable energy on the Kenyan territory on three fronts, in collaboration with private entrepreneurs. First among everything the photovoltaic industry, which forecasts 1 billion euros investment allocated by the government itself with a private contribution that will double funding for the creation of 9 photovoltaic plants. The purpose of this strategy, supported also by Cliff Ouiti, one of the biggest supporter of KEREA (Kenya Renewable Energy Association), consist in the divert of the 50% of energy from the photovoltaic in 2016, intended to decrease duties thereby reducing the costs of energy of 80%.

Another field of intervention concerning the renewable is wind energy with the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project, intended to create the biggest wind farm of the African continent, located in the Loyangalani district of the Marsabit County, in the area close to the Lake Turkana, with the installation of 365 wind turbines covering 162 km of land. In addition to providing news in terms of energy, this project is part of a redevelopment intervention of the region itself, which is characterized by illiteracy, dryness, insufficient connections and infrastructures compared to the rest of the country and poverty. In fact, we need only think that in this district the majority of the population lives, on average, with only 15€ monthly in peripheral areas and 30€ in urban areas.

Moreover, this area is highly recommended for the construction of wind plants thanks to its excellent ventilation. The wind farm will be finished within October 2016, as confirmed by Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO). The jewel in the crown of this project is the approval and financial support from Google that aspires to obtain the 12,5% of amounts at finished and functioning plant.
The last piece of the puzzle in this renewable revolution is represented by the exploitation of geothermic energy, a sector that has seen a wide development in Kenya and plays a key role in the energy production of the country. The success of this energy type in Kenya is mainly due to the geyser, fumaroles, and hot springs presence in the Rift Valley.

The Kenyan government is searching private investors and international partners willing to cooperate for the increase in using the renewable, especially of geothermic energy. This call has been collected by The United Kingdom that has 20 firms interested in investing in renewable energies. For this purpose, a Memorandum of Understanding for the renewable development between the UK and Kenyan has been signed.

Lastly, the project Kenya Vision 2030 was launched in 2008 also includes, among the many initiatives, the production of 5000 MW of low-carbon energy through the use of geothermal science.
According to UNEP estimates (United Nations Environment Programme), thanks to policies relatives to renewable energies adopted by the Kenyan government, which also include the introduction of the account energy, intended to promote renewable supply, the energetic production will have an increase of 1300 MW leading, within the next 15 years, the renewable sector to cover the 60% Kenyan energy needs.

SOURCES for the article “The extraordinary development of renewable energy in Kenya”

- italafricacentrale.com
- aliceforchildren.it
- greenbiz.it
- rinnovabili.it
- missionconsolataonlus.it
- vision 2030.go.ke
- ltwp.co.ke

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

Micro Credit Project and Human Development in Morocco

Micro credito e sviluppo umano in marocco

Micro Credit Project and Human Development in Morocco

National Initiative for Human Development in Morocco (NIHD)

The National Initiative for Human Development in Morocco comes from a vision of economic and social development gained by the royal family, and was presented by His Majesty King Mohammed VI currently reigning, May 18, 2005. This initiative is thus part of a global vision based on three components objectives:

• political process of consolidation of the modern state: democracy, rule of law, promoting the rights of women and children;
• Reforms and structural projects to generate growth;
• Human development in its economic, social and cultural development, based on the principles of good governance through information, monitoring and accountability.
The initiative is therefore based on a global and integrated vision of social development, the objective of human being, in order to combat the social deficits that continue to afflict society and lay the foundation for a harmonious development between urban and rural.

It also seeks to enhance the action of the State Government and local authorities, without replacing the sectoral programs or plans for economic and social development of local communities.
To this end, provides a potential in additional funding, to support actions to support permanent, able to bring faster results and produce dynamics in human development of appreciable level.

She started as a central priority of economic and social policy of the country in the fight against poverty, social exclusion and precariousness, deciding strategy as a decentralized approach based on geographic targeting the poorest and most disadvantaged groups in society, on the principles of participation of beneficiary populations, strategic planning, collaboration with local stakeholders to ensure greater ownership and feasibility of projects and interventions and their convergence with the sectoral programs.

For the period 2006-2010 (NIHD) will be divided into four programs listed below

The transversal program

The transversal program aims on the one hand, support for projects with significant impact on human development through all the prefectures, prefectures and provinces of the Kingdom of the district, particularly in rural municipalities, the deprived urban areas, according to a procedure call to present driven projects at the provincial or prefectural level and on the other hand, support for job placement by dell’INDH at the regional level for training / capacity building, technical assistance, communication, evaluation, support to the Divisions of action social (DAS) and associations of municipal and district (EAC / Q) and support to associations of micro-credit.

Programme for the fight against insecurity

Piloted at the regional level, the program of fight against insecurity is designed for individuals marginalized and extremely vulnerable with the aim of:

• To encourage as much as possible the family reintegration of excluded people;
• Improve the quality of services offered to associations and public institutions to achieve quality standards that guarantee the respect of human dignity now;
• Build capacity and potential additional host where this is necessary.

The program to combat social exclusion in urban areas

This program involving more than 264 of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in the big cities, aims to reduce social exclusion and poverty alleviation poorest communities by improving living conditions and strengthen social inclusion. The measures envisaged in this regard dall’INDH are grouped under four headings:

• Support for access to local services and facilities to the urban core (education, health, road, water and sanitation, etc.).
• Development of the local economy for income-generating activities;
• Support action and animation social, cultural and sporting activities;
• Strengthening governance and building local capacity.

The program to combat poverty in rural areas (Rural Tourism Development Project)

The program to combat poverty in rural areas covers 403 rural municipalities among those that have a poverty rate higher than or close to 30%, according to the paper published in poverty in 2004 by the High Commissioner in charge of the Plan (NIHD).

This program aims to improve human development in these communities, particularly through the following actions:

• Support access to basic infrastructure, equipment and basic social services for people in precarious situations (civil society)
• The development of the local economy for income-generating activities and employment;
• The support for the action and animation in social, cultural and sporting activities,
• Capacity building and local potential;
• In additional to the above programs, is provided for the commitment of expenditure to support the agency in support of the program (NIHD).

The analysis in each category must be refined to more accurately determine the needs of people, the degrees of uncertainty and to develop high-performance multi-sectoral programs.
The institutional and regulatory framework that governs the NIHD, innovative and ambitious initiative, is designed to ensure a work placement in accordance with the procedures that ensure transparency, agility and speed, giving a pivotal role to the regional committees, prefectural, county and local, and oriented management for contracting based on the results.

In this regard, about trust management, recipes and expenses pertaining all’INDH fall within the framework of a special account entitled (“Provision of support for the National Human Development”) created by decree, and that the ‘officer is the Prime Minister. Similarly, the mechanisms that ensure the regularity, transparency and speed of execution of the commitment and expenditure have also been provided.

A loan agreement was signed on December 15, 2006 between the Governments of the Kingdom of Morocco and the World Bank. It’s about helping finance dell’INDH in the amount of 78.9 million euros, equivalent to $ 100 million. This Agreement entered into force on 8 febbraio2007. For its part, the European Union has given a gift to Morocco 60 million, in the framework of the National Program from 2007 to 2010 and refinanced until 2020.

Actors interested in the program (NIHD)

Many actors can intervene in the development of the program (NIHD):

Associations and Unions, Elected local, external companies, local authorities, universities, the private sector, technical and financial partners.
Of all the actors mentioned, associations and cooperatives occupy a central place because the funding of projects NIHD must pass by them.

Procedural framework

The organization dell’INDH is based on a set of texts (circulars, ministerial notes of the Minister of the Interior, ordinances, decrees) as well as of 6 procedures manuals dedicated to:
• Procedures of income-generating activities (AGR);
• procedures of the program for the fight against poverty in the rural sector;
• procedures of the program to combat social exclusion in urban areas;
• procedures of the program to combat insecurity
• procedures for “call for projects” of the transversal program, fiduciary procedures.

Assessment methods

The lack of the following tends to penalize the ex-ante evaluation and design have been incorporated specifically by the World Bank:

• Lack of information on project monitoring, operation of infrastructure;
• Lack of information on the impact of the projects;
• Lack of mechanisms that allow recipients to give their opinion on the project, their use and their satisfaction;
• the specific provisions relating to the component of vulnerability is not present;
• the system of advertising, web-based, partially operational;
• the absence of further development of the projects after their completion.

Bodies external evaluation

Independent body established by the head of government and created in 2008, the National Observatory of Human Development (ONDH), has the mission to the permanent analyze and evaluate the impact of human development programs put in place and to propose measures and actions that contribute to the development and placement in work of a national strategy for human development, particularly within the framework of the initiative to the National human Development; the board shall submit annually to the appreciation of His Majesty the King a report on human development.

In addition, the Inspectorate General of Finance, IGF, and the Inspectorate General of territorial administration (IGAT) have been appointed by the government to jointly pursue the external auditing.

Participatory and inclusive processes

Participation is a central axis of the philosophy dell’INDH, his appreciation is however very difficult in the absence of comprehensive assessment available but also because of the many aspects that encompasses: information, training, consultation, taking into account the views, return of results, evaluation of participation, gender, communication, mediation, management of proximity communication with the people, the presenters of projects and in general all the local actors, is an essential element of the participatory process started.

To meet this requirement, communication programs have been assigned to the DAS, which have drawn up plans for local communication. In addition to corporate communication, many communication actions proximity have been put in place, such as, caravans, billboards, leaflets, meetings news, websites, radio and television programs.

Tourism and Micro Credit in Morocco

turismo in marocco e micro credito

Where to create micro enterprise interested in the micro credit

Perspective view of the tourism sector in Morocco

AROUND 2020 SHORT

Commitment: “To continue to make tourism a key driver of economic, social and cultural life of Morocco”

The profound and rapid transformation of the country as a whole over the past decade, the solid foundations laid down by the Vision 2010 and the opportunities offered by the new trends in world tourism, providing a source of great ambitions for the next decade based on core values and points of difference:

Authenticity: The Moroccan tourism for decades has chosen the consolidation of its development and positioning of its brand authenticity. This choice has become a real competitive advantage, which differs from its direct competitors engaged in mass tourism. The Vision 2020 would grow a historical choice through a proactive approach to the protection, conservation and enhancement of cultural and natural heritage of the Kingdom.

Diversity: in terms of tourism, the most important comparative advantage of Morocco is its diversity: diversity of territories and landscapes, the diversity of natural resources and ecosystems, the diversity of cultures and influences (African and European). the Vision 2020 promotes diversity through an ambitious program of land use.

Quality: while the development of new capacity remains a strategic goal, the Vision 2020 aims to significantly improve the competitiveness of the possible links of the chain of tourism, in particular: to deepen the culture of service and to develop an irresistible offer.

Sustainability: finally, on the basis of the general guidelines adopted for the entire country, Vision 2020 places sustainable development at the center of his ambitions. Morocco with its resources that have historically been stored in this way has a real and substantial potential for differentiation in a highly competitive perspective.

Ambition: “In 2020, Morocco is among the top 20 destinations around the world and emerge as a reference in the Mediterranean in terms of sustainable development”

Objective: “To double the size of the industry”

Doubling the carrying capacity, with the construction of 200,000 new beds with 150,000 hotels and 50,000 structures similar to provide visitors with a rich and dense tourist experience

As a result, increasing tourist arrivals, doubling market share in key European markets and traditional attracting 1 million tourists from emerging markets.
Also you want to triple the number of domestic travel, with the aim of expanding tourism in the country.
The tendency is to create 470,000 new jobs across the country, and use by the end of the decade, nearly one million Moroccans.

Increase revenue from tourism to 140 billion dirhams in 2020, a cumulative sum in the decade of almost 1 trillion dirhams.
Increased by two percentage points of GDP from tourism than the national GDP bringing it as close to 150 billion dirhams compared to 60 today.

Potential of Rural Tourism

The selection of rural tourism is potentially varied: ecotourism / nature, mountain sports, water tourism, wellness and relaxation.
The Moroccan market is characterized by biological diversity and the richness of flora and fauna, despite the great expansion of arid and desert (93% of the territory), and despite the poverty of many soils. It should be noted, however, that in the face of a wealth of wildlife, many species are endangered. Many sites are characterized by the value of their ecological variety and quality of the landscape. In particular this is the case in mountain areas, coasts and wetlands. The impressive number of species identified in studies largely reflect the current reality and unfortunately, many animal and plant species have disappeared or have become very rare and vulnerable, thus justifying a policy of protection and rational management based on the principle of the evaluation.

The different wealth in natural resources often in danger in Morocco involving the assumption of responsible behavior both nationally and internationally; and imposes a duty to ensure the perpetuation of wealth consists of these as The potential “natural” is very diverse. It includes sites that lend themselves to ‘observation, sightseeing tours, sports and favorable sites for ecotourism development of biological interest.

The natural sites are isolated centers of attraction that tourists visit during a transfer between two successive destination (such as a stop to the landscape Ito, during a trip to Meknes Tafilalt) or while hiking rapids from their place of residence (eg, a visit to Oukaïmeden from Marrakech or Agadir Imouzzer Ida or Tanane).
The scenic tours and discovery relating to famous sites and visits are organized into groups, with driving or renting a 4×4 investigating judge individually. The South Atlas of Morocco, with the valleys of the south side (Dadss, Mgoun, Todrha) Ksours and palm oasis presaharic, rock carvings and dunes are the main attractions that make up the attractions for tourists.

The sports sites are largely confined to the mountains. We distinguish many sites of rock climbing (especially in the High and Anti-Atlas), downhill skiing or cross country skiing (High Atlas of Marrakech region of Ifrane, Bou Iblane) present on websites, exploitable rivers for rafting and canyoning (Central High Atlas and Middle East Atlas), the rivers for sport fishing (especially in the Middle East Atlas) and numerous sinkholes, caves and sinkholes for caving.

The land areas involved

- Méditerranée (Tangier, Tetouan, etc.)
- Centre – North (Fez, Meknes, etc.)
- Oriental (Oujda, Taza)
- Centre (Home, Rabat, Kenitra, El Jadida, etc.)
- Grand Sud (Ouarzazate, Errachidia)
- Centre – South (Marrakech, Beni Mellal)
- Balnéaire South (Agadir, Essaouira, etc.)

EU funds – ENI Program

With a total budget of € 15.433 billion for the program 2014 / 2,120, ENI is the new European Neighbourhood Instrument, which provides EU assistance, aimed at creating a zone of prosperity, between the European Union countries EU and neighboring areas (partner countries), not having any prospect of joining the EU, but with which the EU has launched a neighborhood policy. It replaced the old ENPI.

This financial instrument will focus mainly on promoting human rights and the rule of law; development of a thriving civil society; sustainable and inclusive growth and economic development, social and territorial cohesion; mobilization and contacts, regional integration.

Main elements of the new program are: improved diversification of the support given by adapting the service to the needs and progress of the recipient countries; an incentive-based approach, so as to enable the EU to increase its support to countries that will achieve sustainable democracy and the agreed reforms; improvement of the rules on cross border cooperation programs between EU member states and partner countries, to facilitate their effective implementation and faster, closer links with the EU policies and instruments to enable the beneficiary countries and their citizens to participate Community programs in areas such as research and innovation, youth development of SMEs ect ..

Italian Development Cooperation STATE OF THE ART IN MOROCCO

E ‘was also signed April 9, 2013 a new Intergovernmental Agreement conversion of debt by EUR 15 million, which will fund initiatives under the national program Moroccan human development, conservation of the archaeological heritage and training of health personnel. Major Ongoing funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

- Support for Healthcare network of basic health services in the Province of Settat;
- Government and Society: Program conversion of debt in favor of efforts to combat poverty;
- Agriculture and Fisheries Olive – Olive implemented exploiting the local growers of Tadla-Azilal, regional project for the integrated management of pests in the country of the Middle East;
- Trade and industry: The fight against poverty in rural Morocco through support to micro-credit;
- Multi-sector: “Fund for Program coordination” – financial instruments and technical assistance to promote the continuation of the cooperation activities in Morocco;
- Migration and Development Project-regional consortia to promote development and export;
- Water and sanitation: Italian contribution to the Programme for water supply of the rural population – PAGER sets for the benefit of future generations. The operation guide is probably the most direct way to ensure recovery and therefore the conservation of these resources, as long as it is done with care.

PERSPECTIVES

On August 29, 2014 came into force the new Law “Rules General on international cooperation for development” (Law August 11, 2014 no. 125).
Council after 27 years by the old law governing the matter (Law 49/1987), Law 125/2014 defines the subjects, instruments, methods of intervention and reference standards based on changes acquired over the years in the international community, while allowing an adjustment of the Italian system of development cooperation models prevelanti partener in the countries of the EU.

The Interministerial Committee for Development Cooperation (CICS), consisting of departments involved in the subject matter of cooperative activities will be at the center of the new governance structure of the system and ensure coherence and cooperation coordianamento policy. Under the law now in force, the objectives of the new cooperation will focus on:

• Eradication of Poverty
• reducing inequalities
• affirmation of human rights and dignity of individuals
• conflict prevention
• support to peace-making

The objectives will be detailed and specified by the adoption of a document three years of planning and policy, approved by the Council of Ministers, after obtaining the opinion of the competent parliamentary committees, by March 31 of each year.

Law 125/2014 also defines a new management structure, providing for the birth of the Italian Cooperation for Development which will enhance existing skills and attract new ones, allowing also to grapple with how best innovative partnerships that exist today not normatively compatible with the existing set.

Integrated Development Project

In view of the foregoing, we believe that the possible intervention strategy can be considered in the integration, the project called Micro Credit and a developable project and in support thereof, and framed as supporting human development, such as continuity of action , framed in the funds available in the program (NIHD). You may also be (if compatible) pinpoints the invitation Community-sector cooperation on which to present the project as an additional funding request. Here then, we indicate the possible forms which could be based on the project development:

Module 1

Analysis of the impact of micro finance in Morocco
• The object of analysis, that the individual or family that enjoys the program of micro-credit;
• Randomness. One of the central problems of the impact analysis is to understand to what extent the observed changes in the client’s life can really be attributed to micro-finance program. This raises the question of determining the causal relationships between the variables considered. In order to solve this problem we must consider the question of the fungibility of credit, or the difficulty in determining by whom and in what manner is actually used credit, how much, and how much in fuel consumption for productive activities;
• Indicators. The indicators should have characteristics that make them available and easily applicable. They must also be easy to understand the interviewee, reliable, robust, sensitive, and must be applied at low cost;
• The measurement of income, which covers an important part in the evaluation of the condition of poverty;
• Evaluation of poverty: there are different ways to measure the level of poverty, but the most used are the visual indicators of poverty, ie those based on the quality of the house (House Index), or definitions and classifications given by the community (Participatory Wealth Ranking ) are tools used by many institutions as a starting point to define the level of poverty of potential customers. Two other very useful tools are often used in the impact assessment: indices of women’s empowerment and Exit Analysis; first need to look at what effect access to credit has had on the status of women and on gender relations, the second is a study of the reasons that lead customers to abandon the program for information on how to improve the work of the institutions .

Module 2

Development of a comprehensive system of micro-finance, with additional services needed, run by the Postal Bank Al Barid Bank
• Work to raise awareness and communication of services offered to beneficiaries;
• Diversification of financial products (examples: Social Work);
• Introduction of the service of Micro credit (loans individual and collective);
• Financial education customers;
• Support and advice for clients with low levels of education;
• Approach-oriented banked for financial inclusion and social satisfaction of social needs in emergencies and development of micro-entrepreneurship.

Module 3

Develop initiatives of micro entrepreneurship
• Development of training programs targeted to the acquisition of skills, administrative and fiscal management and also in the cooperative sector;
• Implementation of the development of micro-enterprise in the territory of Morocco including partnerships between non-profit organizations Moroccan and Italian in the areas identified by the program (NIHD).

Module 4

Areas of development of micro entrepreneurship
• Rural tourism, marine, cultural;
• Manufacturing Production craft;
• Agri-food production and sustainable organic;
• Service port for recreational boating;
• Services in the field of logistics.

Module 5

Promotion: Communication and Marketing
• Development of audio-visual and multimedia aimed at social communication, guidance, training, business development;
• Creation of commercial websites;
• Advertising campaigns;
• Themed Events.

Module 6

Monitoring of the project implementation
- Publication of the results during and after

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

Nigeria Country Profile

Nigeria Country Profile

Nigeria Scheda Paese - Country Profile

GENERAL INFORMATION ON NIGERIA

Official Name: Federal Republic of Nigeria
Area: around 925,000 sq. km
Population: around 169 million (world bank data 2013)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita: 2,700 USD (World Economic Outlook Database, 2013)
Capital: Abuja (pop. 1.857 million)
Other important cities: Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Kaduna
State: Federation of 36 states, independent from the United Kingdom since 1st October 1960
Government: Presidential Constitutional Republic, the Head of State is also Head of Government
Religions: 50% Muslim, 40% Christian, 10% traditional local ones
Languages: English (official) and local ones

SECTORS AND DISTRIBUTION OF GDP IN NIGERIA
- 30.9% Agriculture
- 43% Industry
- 26.1% Services

FORECAST
According to United Nations’ estimates, Nigeria will develop a high population growth in the next 40 years, with a population that will be higher than 367 million inhabitants by then.
According to the latest projection over the next 10 years as carried out by the Global Construction Perspectives & Oxford Economics, the growth rate of the Nigerian construction industry, due to the rapid urbanization, will be the highest on the continent, equal to 6.4 billion USD by 2015.
Therefore, investment opportunities in housing sector will increase, even though they already have an excellent starting point in the current housing deficit, which lies between 12 and 16 million units, equal to approximately 200 billion USD.
Lagos is one of the 6 largest cities in the world (it currently has 20 million inhabitants and it is expected to grow up to 25 million by 2020). In the Nigerian construction industry there are mainly foreign companies, which control almost 95% of the market, including a large number of Italian ones, such as Cappa d’Alberto, Gitto, Impregilio, Salini, Borni, AG Ferrero, INTELS.

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN NIGERIA

Forms of Direct Investment: Sole proprietorship, Partnership, Public and Private Limited Liability Companies

Obligation Local Partner: foreign investors can operate in Nigeria even without a local partner, except for engineering consultancy companies and for Oil & Gas sector where there are strong incentives with a local partner to 51% of capital.

Minimum Social Capital: the minimum capital requirement to set up a company open to foreign capital participation is 10000000.00 NGN (approximately 65000.00 USD).

TAX ISSUES IN NIGERIA

Companies Tax treatment: the tax rate on corporate income is equal to 30%.

Repatriation of profits: The Monitoring & Miscellaneous Provision Act n. 17 of 1995 establishes that foreign investors are free to repatriate after taxes profits deriving from economic activities in Nigeria and through approved professionals. Dividends are taxed by a withholding tax of 10% except for dividends paid by a Nigerian company to another company that are exempt from it.

LEGAL SYSTEM FEATURES AND LEGAL ISSUES IN NIGERIA

The Legal System is a mix of legislations: Common Law, Islamic law (12 northern states apply the Islamic criminal code based on the Koran’s teachings, the so-called “Sharia”) and Customary law.

The federal court system bodies are: the Supreme Court (composed of judges appointed by the Head of State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council) and the Federal Court of Appeal.

Arbitration: the country has ratified the New York Convention of the 1958 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

Convention to avoid double taxation on income deriving from aviation and shipping, with exchange of notes, signed in Lagos on 02.22.1977 and in force since 11 .09.1978.

Agreement on the promotion and mutual protection of investments signed in Rome on 27.09.2000 and in force since 22.08.2005

INSURANCE ISSUES

SACE Insurability conditions without conditions on sovereign risk, bank risk, private risk and the portability of SACE insurance policy for Export or Foreign Direct Investment in the country.