Morocco starts giving subsidies to transport professionals

The Moroccan government started distributing subsidies to professionals in the transport sector to help mitigate the impact of the surge in energy prices on the purchasing power of citizens, marking a U-turn in its subsidies policy.

This aid will benefit 180,000 professionals in different transport sectors including taxis, trucks, buses, inter-city travel and tourist transport.

In a statement, the head of the government office asked transporters to register in a website that has been launched to help them receive this aid.

The aid ranges from 1600 for small urban taxis to 7000 dirhams for inter-city buses, the head of the government office said in a statement.

Crude prices have surpassed the 100 dollars per barrel threshold and Morocco imports refined fuel which makes the bill higher.

The North African Kingdom ended fuel subsidies in 2015, in a move that was hailed by international lenders such as the IMF. But recent geopolitical tensions in the black sea sent prices skyrocketing.