World Bank-Morocco Partnership Gaining Momentum

The partnership set between the World Bank and Morocco is constantly evolving and gaining momentum thanks to constant dialogue, better coordination and shared socio-economic development vision.

WB Managing Director of Operations, Axel van Trotsenburg, who is currently visiting the country, said the Bank will continue to support the efforts made by the North African country and is upbeat over the upcoming WB-IMF Annual Meetings due in Marrakech October 9-15, 2023.

Mr. van Trotsenburg and Farid Belhaj, the Bank’s Vice Pdt for MENA, were received Monday by Head of Govt. Aziz Akhannouch. Talks focused on Morocco-WB strategic partnership and the structural reforms engaged by the Moroccan government.

Akhannouch thanked the Bank for supporting Morocco’s project seeking to expand social protection, the reform of public sector and other structural development projects.

The two WB officials conferred the same day with minister of economy & finance, Nadia Fettah. She said the Bank has provided Morocco this year $1.8 billion injected in several sectors for inclusive economic growth.

She also praised the WB support for economic and human development, private sector modernization and green economy transition.

During his visit to Morocco, Axel van Trotsenburg will meet with other senior government officials as well as representatives from the private sector, civil society organizations, think tanks, and youth in the lead-up to the 2023 WB-IMF annual meeting, to be hosted this year in Marrakech Oct.9-15.

“The upcoming Annual Meetings in Morocco will provide an excellent opportunity to build and strengthen relationships among the international community while advancing the dialogue on key development priorities,” said van Trotsenburg.

“The preparations for these meetings are well underway, and we will continue to work closely with the Government of Morocco and the International Monetary Fund over the coming months to make these Annual Meetings a success”, added the WB official.

He will also co-chair a global event on gender equity, “Empowering Women to Shape the Future of Jobs,” in Benguerir. The event is co-organized by the World Bank, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P).

The high-level convening will discuss the role of women – as leaders and agents of change in the labor market and within economies – in light of the structural changes and green transition facing countries around the world.