First Independent Mena Newspaper
Portugal, an Atlantic nation with centuries-old ties to many countries in Africa, has backed in clear-cut terms Morocco’s initiative to facilitate access to global trade for landlocked Sahel states. This came in a joint statement following talks in Lisbon Tuesday between Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, and his Portuguese peer, Paulo Rangel. Portugal backs the […]
Morocco has secured the top position in North Africa for economic freedom, ranking 101st globally out of 196 countries in the 2025 Nomad Capitalist Freedom Index, though structural obstacles continue to limit its full economic potential. The tax and migration advisory firm’s index evaluated countries across five pillars: financial freedom (30 percent), asset protection (25 […]
Morocco has established itself as a major player in global fruit markets, yet a new OECD-FAO report warns the kingdom must balance export success with domestic food security needs to ensure sustainable agricultural development through 2034. The “OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034” highlights Morocco’s strategic positioning alongside Egypt in meeting growing international fruit demand. The report […]
North Africa’s wheat import landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation, with Black Sea suppliers now controlling 75 percent of the market as European Union share plummets to 25 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest analysis. The region, comprising Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, represents 15 percent of global wheat imports. During […]
Morocco’s economy is projected to grow 4.4 percent in 2025 and 4 percent in 2026, driven by robust domestic demand and investment, though concerns mount over a widening trade deficit that could reach 20.1 percent of GDP by 2026. The High Commission for Planning’s exploratory economic budget reveals an economy gaining momentum despite global uncertainties. […]
Morocco is moving forward with the operationalization of the national agency for the strategic management of state holdings (ANGSPE), a key institution created to modernize and professionalize the management of public assets, local media reported. Established by decree-law in 2023, the ANGSPE is now entering its implementation phase. It will serve as the central body […]
The initial public offering (IPO) of Vicenne, a leading Moroccan medical equipment company, broke a new record on the Casablanca Stock Exchange with an IPO that was oversubscribed 64 times. The offering attracted over 32 billion dirhams in demand by investors for shares worth just 500 million dirhams, resulting in an unprecedented oversubscription. Vicenne offered […]
South African car exports to the United States have plummeted dramatically, falling over 70% in the first quarter of 2025, and tumbling further to 80% in April and 85% in May, 2025, following the imposition of steep tariffs by US President Donald J. Trump. The automotive industry, which relies heavily on the US market under […]
Morocco’s microfinance sector faces significant transformation as proposed regulations dramatically increase lending limits and introduce new deposit frameworks, positioning microfinance institutions as crucial intermediaries for small business financing. The draft decree, implementing Law 50-20 on microfinance, establishes differentiated credit ceilings based on institutional structure and client profiles. For associative microfinance institutions serving low-income populations, limits […]
Morocco has solidified its position as a key trade partner for Spain, emerging as the third-largest supplier of agricultural and fisheries products to the Iberian nation after France and the Netherlands, according to official data released by Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. The figures, published in the 2024 Foreign Trade Report, reveal that […]