Upgrade in the MENA region: Cases of Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia

Abstract

The concept of upgrading is new in the economic literature, very few theorists are focused on explaining this concept, but all agreed on the relationship of upgrading with the competitiveness of companies. In the context of increasingly competitive environment the countries of the MENA regions including Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco have established several programs to upgrade their businesses. Efforts to revitalize these programs have nevertheless been undertaken in recent years, raising hopes for a favorable impact on the competitiveness of companies. Moreover, we can say that the Tunisian upgrade program is called successful due to the involvement of his government and the importance given to vocational training. Conversely, Morocco seems to have adopted a more liberal approach, its government seeks to act on market imperfections. The Egyptian program is highly structured, with strong government control and intervention of two foreign bodies, the EU and UNIDO. The pre-selection of intervention areas is also an Egyptian specificity, as well as the payment of an incentive amount for each company.