The North Africa Cluster
Background
The North Africa/Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) region is composed of 7 countries and one disputed territory (Western Sahara), and has a population of about 214 million and an average GDP per capita of $5,688.
The North African economy is primarily reliant on its vast reserves and production of oil and gas. All 7 countries in the region are notable oil and gas producers, collectively holding approximately 56 percent of Africa’s total crude oil reserves and producing about 49 percent (as at March 2009).
North Africa has considerable stocks of copper, gold, iron, steel, and coal.
The region also produces such cash crops as groundnuts, wheat, cotton and fish.
Overall, North Africa’s vast natural resources and its proximity and deeper historical ties to Europe give it a strategic advantage over other African regions.
However, the region remains politically volatile with ongoing instability in Mauritania and Sudan.
About the B&M North Africa Cluster (NAC)
B&M’s North Africa Cluster (NAC) is a highly specialized research group of B&M analysts that provides clients with timely analysis on political, economic, security and social developments affecting North Africa, and forecasts the impact of these developments on a client’s bottom-line.
The Applications for Business and Investment
Our analysts help clients incorporate political risk management into their plans for business in North Africa, especially at the point of entry and expansion.
Our flexible research model and pioneering AfriRisk Index©, the first comparative country risk index modeled to distinctively monitor, measure, and forecast political, economic, social, and security risks unique to Africa, can be adapted to track categories of risks prevalent in North Africa and pertinent to a client’s investment plans.
NAC advises NGOs, non-profits, foreign aid donors, multilateral organizations and foreign governments (municipal, provincial and national), and helps them (and other clients) monitor and manage the political risks of engaging institutions operating at the sub-regional level, including the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU).
For more information, please contact the North Africa Cluster (NAC) directly at nac@bmconsultancy.net
North Africa Cluster Analysts
NAC analysts are experts on both African and Middle Eastern politics, history and business. They are particularly well-versed on and well-traveled within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and possess the requisite language skills.
These analysts monitor all developments affecting North Africa, including those occurring within and outside the region.
The NAC is supported by field research analysts and on-the-ground monitors based in several North African countries, strategically positioned to help our clients navigate and manage the day-to-day political, security and social risks of doing business on the ground.
The Space
NAC conducts its research on a sub-regional, national, state, provincial, municipal and industry level.
It covers all eight North African countries and territories individually and collectively as members of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), a sub-regional organization promoting economic integration, trade, foreign investments and conflict resolution.
NAC analysts work in close collaboration with other B&M industry and regional clusters to provide clients with insightful comparative analysis of the business environment across multiple cities, states, countries, and regions.
Coverage Area (7 Countries and 1 Disputed Territory)
Algeria
Egypt
Libya
Mauritania
Morocco
Sudan
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Common Research Topics
The politics of oil and gas production in all countries.
Agribusiness, with a focus on the production of key cash crops like groundnut, wheat, cotton and fish, in all countries.
The impacts of the succession debate (whether Hosni Mubarak’s son Gamal will replace him as president) on political and economic stability in Egypt.
Depleting natural resources in some countries.
The discovery of new reserves of natural resources (i.e. oil and gas reserves) in countries like Mauritania.
For more information, please contact the North Africa Cluster (NAC) directly at nac@bmconsultancy.net
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