Business News North Africa May 2025
Business
EGYPT – Outsourcing company Intelcia establishes MENA regional headquarters in Egypt
French outsourcing company Intelcia has opened a new regional headquarters covering the MENA region in Gizeh, near Cairo. The opening aims to expand Intelcia’s workforce in Egypt from 2,700 employees to 4,000 by 2026, by opening two new outsourcing centers in Cairo and Alexandria. The centers will provide client service in seven different languages, mainly for companies from the United States, Europe, and the Gulf region.
Apr. 22, 2025
MOROCCO – China’s Shandong Daye to launch a steel manufacturing unit in Morocco
Chinese company Shandong Daye, specialized in manufacturing metallic tire frames, is set to launch a factory in Tangier, northern Morocco. The project has an investment budget of USD 117 mn and is set to produce steel tire bead wires, as well as steel cables. The industrial site will have an initial production capacity of 80,000 tonnes per year, before upgrading to 120,000 tonnes.
Apr. 11, 2025
MOROCCO – Swiss electronics manufacturer Cicor Group acquires two factories in Morocco
Swiss electronics manufacturer Cicor Group has acquired two manufacturing sites in Morocco from its French counterpart Éolane. The industrial sites are located in Berrechid, near Casablanca, and are specialized in the manufacturing of electronic chipsets.
Apr. 22, 2025
TUNISIA – French aeronautical parts manufacturer Mecachrome expands its Tunisian factory
French company Mecachrome, specializing in the manufacturing of aeronautical parts, has inaugurated the extension of its factory in Mghira, northeastern Tunisia. The expansion required an investment of EUR 5.0 mn and helped generate 600 new jobs. It increased the factory’s production capacity from 2.5 million pieces per year to 5 million.
Apr. 8, 2025
TUNISIA – Germany’s Zollner Elektronic to build an industrial complex in Tunisia
German electronics manufacturer Zollner Elektronic has announced the imminent launch of a high-tech complex in Sousse, eastern Tunisia. The project has a budget of EUR 15.5 mn and will span over an area of 11 hectares. It will specialize in the production of electronics mainly used in the automotive and aeronautical industries. The complex will include three production sites and a research and development center. It is expected to generate 800 new jobs in 2025 and 3,400 jobs by 2030.
Apr. 16, 2025
ALGERIA – Chery launches a joint venture in Algeria to produce 5 car models
Omoda & Jaecoo, a subsidiary of Chinese car manufacturer Chery, has launched a joint venture with Algerian industrial conglomerate Iris to establish several automotive assembly units in Algeria. The factories will produce five different car models: Omoda C3, Omoda C5, J5, C7, and J7.
Apr. 15, 2025
Politics
EGYPT – Egypt and France sign nine bilateral agreements worth EUR 262 mn
Egypt and France have signed nine bilateral agreements worth EUR 262 mn. The agreements, signed between Egyptian authorities and the French Development Agency, concern the financing of several major infrastructure projects in Egypt, notably in the sectors of transportation, water, and energy. The agreements were signed during a State visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Cairo.
Apr. 7, 2025
MOROCCO – Morocco and France launch a joint task force to prepare for 2030 FIFA World Cup
Morocco and France have launched a task force to jointly prepare for the organization of the 2030 FIFA World Cup set to take place in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. The task force’s main mission is to facilitate coordination between Moroccan and French companies to work on projects related to the World Cup, notably in the fields of infrastructure, transportation, hospitality, and telecommunications.
Apr. 24, 2025
ALGERIA – Algeria closes its airspace on flights from and to Mali
Algerian authorities have banned all flights coming from or going towards Mali from passing through Algeria’s air space. The decision comes after the Algerian military claimed they had detected an armed drone belonging to the Malian army inside Algerian air space. In response, Mali, along with the other members of the Confederation of Sahel States – Burkina Faso and Niger, recalled their ambassadors to Algiers.
Apr. 7, 2025
ALGERIA – Algeria and France reciprocally expel consular and diplomatic agents
Algerian authorities have decided to expel 12 French consular and diplomatic agents working at the French embassy in Algiers from Algeria. The decision follows the arrest of an Algerian consular agent in France for allegedly participating in the kidnapping of an Algerian dissident on French territory. In response, French authorities also decided to expel 12 Algerian consular and diplomatic agents from France. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also recalled its ambassador to Algiers, marking a new episode of diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Apr. 16, 2025
Economy
EGYPT – Egypt records a 13.6% annual inflation rate in March 2025
The annual inflation rate in Egypt has increased from 12.8% in February 2025 to 13.6% in March. “Regulated items” have witnessed a 25.1% increase in prices over the year. Meanwhile, fruits and vegetables are the most affected product category, with a 30.8% price increase between March 2024 and 2025.
Apr. 10, 2025
EGYPT – Central Bank of Egypt reduces key interest rates by 225 basis points
The Central Bank of Egypt has decided to reduce its key interest rates by 225 basis points. The overnight deposit rate was reduced to 25.0%, the main operation rate and the credit and discount rate to 25.5%, and the overnight lending rate to 26.0%. The decision is attributed to the improving national economic indicators witnessed in the first quarter of 2025.
Apr. 17, 2025
MOROCCO – Annual inflation rate in Morocco decreases to 1.6% in March 2025
Morocco’s annual inflation rate has dropped from 2.6% in February 2025 to 1.6% in March. The figure is attributed to a 2.2% annual increase in the prices of food products and a 1.1% increase for non-food products. Price variations for non-food products range from a 2.4% decrease for transportation to a 3.9% increase for restaurants and hotels.
Apr. 22, 2025
TUNISIA – Tunisia’s annual inflation rate increases to 5.9% in March 2025
The annual inflation rate in Tunisia has slightly increased to 5.9% in March 2025, up from 5.7% in February. The prices of food products increased by 7.8% over the year, notably sheep meat (21.9%), fresh vegetables (20.0%), fresh fruits (15.0%), fresh fish (14.1%), and poultry (13.9%). Meanwhile, the prices of manufactured goods and services increased by 5.6% and 4.7%, respectively.
Apr. 4, 2025
ALGERIA – Algeria records a 6.2% annual inflation rate in March 2025
Algeria has recorded a 6.2% annual inflation rate in March 2025. The categories most affected by the increase in prices are food products (7.3%), household items (4.2%), and health and hygiene products (3.6%). Meanwhile, education, culture, and entertainment services are the only category that witnessed an annual decrease in prices, at -3.3%.
Apr. 28, 2025
Key Economic Indicators
