First Independent Mena Newspaper
Morocco’s dirham appreciated 1.3 percent against the U.S. dollar while weakening 0.7 percent versus the euro between May and June 2025, according to Bank Al-Maghrib’s latest monthly economic review, reflecting broader currency market dynamics and the euro’s strength. The central bank attributed these movements partly to the euro’s 2.1 percent appreciation against the dollar during […]
Morocco has positioned itself as the driving force behind Africa’s energy transformation, combining strategic investments, institutional innovation, and regional partnerships to address the continent’s energy paradox, according to a new analysis by global energy expert Mehmet Öğütçü. Despite Africa possessing over 60 percent of global solar potential and vast critical mineral reserves, more than 590 […]
Morocco will import up to 20% of its annual soft wheat needs from the United States for the first time, according to Moulay Abdelkader Alaoui, president of the National Federation of Milling (FNM). This strategic shift comes amid a global drop in wheat prices, driven by expectations of record harvests worldwide, Alaoui told Medias24. The […]
Mauritania’s economic growth is projected to decelerate to 4.0% in 2025, down from 5.2% in 2024 and 6.5% in 2023, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest Article IV consultation. The slowdown is attributed primarily to a contraction in the extractive sector, which has been a key driver of recent growth. While the economy […]
The upcoming meeting of the Morocco-EU joint Parliamentary Committee is scheduled in Rabat by the end of October. The announcement was made by the Committee co-chairs, Lahcen Haddad and Ruggero Razza, following videoconference talks. In a joint press release, the Committee’s Co-Chairs underlined the timeliness of the planned meeting as it would follow shortly after […]
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has approved nearly $297 million to fund major development projects in Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, and Mauritania. The funds aim to boost job creation, strengthen public services, and drive inclusive growth. The approval came during the IsDB’s 361st Board of Directors meeting held at the beginning of this week. The financing […]
The meetings of the technical and steering Committees of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, held in Rabat July 10-11, highlighted by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Togolese Gaz Company (SOTOGAZ-Togo), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC-Nigeria), and Morocco’s Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM). This memorandum, the latest to be inked after […]
Africa’s rapidly expanding digital economy faces a critical challenge as legal frameworks lag behind technological advancement, prompting calls for urgent reform and strategic mentorship programs to prepare a new generation of tech-savvy lawyers. The continent’s digital transformation, driven by fintech innovations, e-commerce expansion, and artificial intelligence adoption, has outpaced regulatory development. Legal experts warn that […]
Two African nations have emerged as unexpected beneficiaries of global fertilizer market disruptions, with Morocco and Egypt capitalizing on geopolitical tensions to establish themselves as alternative suppliers to Europe amid a 15 percent price surge in 2025. World Bank data released this week reveal dramatic price increases across fertilizer categories, with triple superphosphate jumping 43 […]
Morocco’s tourism sector has achieved remarkable growth, welcoming 8.9 million international visitors in the first half of 2025, a 19 percent surge that adds 1.4 million additional tourists compared to the same period last year. The Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy announced these record-breaking figures, highlighting the kingdom’s strengthening position as […]