First Independent Mena Newspaper
Drought continues to slash jobs in rural areas leading to the surge of the unemployment rate to 13.3% in 2024, compared with 13% in 2023, the statistics agency HCP said. The number of unemployed people in Morocco reached 1.638 million people last year, ringing the alarm bell for the government. The unemployment rate was notably […]
The Kremlin has announced the expansion of the list of “friendly and neutral” African countries whose banks may now trade currencies and derivatives in Russia. By adding Nigeria, Tunisia and Ethiopia to the list, “the number of friendly and neutral countries whose credit institutions and brokers will be allowed to trade on the Russian foreign […]
Morocco’s tourism revenue grew 7% to 11.2 billion dollars thanks to increased arrivals, the tourism ministry said. With 17.4 million tourists visiting in 2024, arrivals were two years ahead of schedule or 20% higher compared with 2023, showing the country has turned the Covid-19 page thanks to major investments in its hospitality sector. Morocco plans […]
The Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO), National Construction, and Al-Jawf companies have issued a stern warning regarding the adverse effects of delayed operational budget disbursements, describing this as a significant barrier to projects aimed at boosting production. The companies raised these concerns during the first session of the General Assembly of the National Oil Corporation […]
The ongoing development projects in Morocco meant the country had to import more equipment and semi-finished products in 2024, leading to an expansion of the trade deficit by 7.3% at 300 billion dirhams ($30 bln). Imports at $76.1 billion outweighed exports at $43 billion, the foreign exchange regulator said. Morocco’s leading exports were cars and […]
The Arab Union for Sports Culture awarded, on Sunday in Doha, the “2024 Arab Sports Culture Honorary Prize” to the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa. The award was presented to Lekjaa during a ceremony held on the sidelines of the 5th Annual Conference on Sports Culture in the Arab World, […]
A groundbreaking $18.8 million rural development program is set to transform 16 Moroccan villages into world-class tourist destinations by 2026, marking one of the most significant investments in the country’s rural tourism sector. The comprehensive initiative aims to revolutionize rural tourism while preserving the authentic character of these distinctive locations, bringing sustainable economic growth to […]
Morocco’s Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) has released a comprehensive report highlighting the physical, mental, and social impacts of excessive digital technology use among children. The report reveals concerning trends in digital consumption and recommends significant legislative reforms. According to CESE’s findings, as relayed by the news outlet Le360, approximately 90% of Moroccans use […]
An economic delegation from the Republic of Liberia visited Dakhla on Friday to explore business opportunities in the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region and discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various sectors. This visit is part of the Liberia Economic Promotion Week in Morocco, aimed at showcasing Liberia’s economic potential in various sectors and promoting the […]
The President of Morocco’s National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), Amina Bouayach, called for greater commitment to protecting migrants’ rights in Africa. Speaking in Rabat Friday at the opening of a working group meeting on migration within the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), Bouayach highlighted the urgency of migration situation on the […]