Arab countries of North Africa feel coronavirus’ economic pain

Arab countries of North Africa feel coronavirus’ economic pain

The socio-economic challenges confronting Algeria are emblematic of the situation in all the Maghreb countries as they grapple with the deadly coronavirus pandemic.. Algeria's energy-dominated economy has never been dependent on tourism or trade, but the country is likely to take a major economic hit due to the collapse of oil prices.. "The differences between the Maghreb countries, especially between Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, have long been known, but faced with this global crisis the challenges are the same for all of them," said Slim Bahrini, executive director of the Maghreb Economic Forum (MEF).. For his part, Bahrini says that Maghreb countries must set aside their differences if they want to succeed in their response to the coronavirus threat.. Take Morocco, the North African country with the most extensive ties to Europe.. The National Tourism Confederation (CNT) estimates the projected losses across Morocco for 2020 to be about $34.1 billion in overall tourism revenue and $14 billion for the hotel industry alone.. While not officially part of the Maghreb, Egypt is one of the North African countries most vulnerable to the pandemic's fallout.. Lebanese rush to shops, banks, and cafes as 4-day virus lockdown lifted /node/1676656/middle-east. People walk past