According to the Algerian Customs’ National Centre of Data Processing and Statistics, the country’s surplus trade stood at $4.63 billion in 2014, against $9.94 billion in 2013, declining by nearly 53.5 percent. This decline in the trade surplus was reportedly driven by increased exports by 3 percent during last year, with the percentage of imports covered by exports hitting 108 percent.

According to local authorities, Morocco will experience strong economic growth in 2015. This declaration is based on the expectation of a bountiful harvest and the drop in oil prices. The high planning commissioner said that he expected the country to achieve 4.8 percent growth in 2015, a dramatic increase from the 2.6 percent of the previous year. [NYT, 1/20/2015]

After a central bank auction, Egypt’s currency has fallen to a historic low against the dollar. The central bank has allowed the currency to slide several times over the last week. On Wednesday, it offered 40 million dollars and sold a total of $38.4 million at a cutoff rate of 7.34 Egyptian pounds per dollar. [NYT, 1/20/2015]

World Bank-sponsored project continues to make waves among Yemeni entrepreneurs. Officially titled the “Enterprises Revitalization and Employment Pilot Project,” it was launched in Yemen in mid-2013 to “improve individual employability of college and university graduates and to improve the business capabilities of enterprises participating in the project.” In December 2014, officials selected 100 companies for the project’s second phase. Over the course of six months, each of the selected companies will be awarded $10,000 to improve its performance with help from consultants. [Al-Shorfa, 1/20/2015]