First Independent Mena Newspaper
Morocco’s comprehensive pension system reform may face postponement beyond the 2026 legislative elections, as government officials acknowledge the complexity of achieving social consensus on the politically sensitive restructuring. In an interview with le360 news outlet, Economist Zakaria Ferano argues that “an electoral year is inappropriate for this type of undertaking,” given the technical, social, and […]
Morocco’s domestic tax revenues rose by an unprecedented 21% year-on-year by the end of August, signaling a remarkable fiscal performance ahead of the presentation of the draft Finance Bill for the upcoming legislative session, scheduled before October 20. The surge reflects a dynamic tax environment, with the country’s three main levies (corporate income tax (IS), […]
Morocco’s draft 2026 budget projects an economic growth rate of 4.5%, a figure that outpaces the global average of 3% and far exceeds the European Union’s sluggish 1%. On paper, the outlook appears promising. In reality, however, the growth target masks deeper structural issues. “A 4.5% growth rate is insufficient to absorb the growing ranks […]
Morocco has been selected among 13 beneficiary countries from a new green financial program worth $634 million provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Under this program, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Mongolia, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will benefit from […]
President of Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra has thanked King Mohammed VI for hosting a meeting highlighting the investment opportunities offered in this landlocked African country. The investment meeting, organized in Casablanca from 14 to 15 September, was marked by the presence of several Moroccan, Central African, Arab and foreign officials as well as diplomats […]
Governments and businesses in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa are grappling with sharply rising borrowing costs, a trend that poses serious risks to economic growth across Sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new report by Moody’s Ratings. Over the past five years, debt servicing costs have surged in all three economies due to weak policy frameworks, […]
The Central African Republic chose Casablanca as the strategic venue to unveil its ambitious National Development Plan 2024-2028, valued at approximately 7,000 billion CFA francs ($10.7 billion). This came during an Investment Round Table dedicated to financing the Central African Republic’s National Development Plan 2024-2028. The round table, held September 14-15, 2025, transformed Morocco’s economic […]
Thunes company, a global leader in cross-border payments, has launched its real-time money transfer service in Morocco, one of the major remittance recipients in Africa. The new service enables payouts in Moroccan Dirham (MAD) and gives Thunes’ Members greater access to Morocco’s increasingly connected and digitized economy. According to the World Bank, Morocco received over […]
Africa is losing an estimated $88 billion annually through illicit financial flows (IFFs), depriving nations of vital resources for healthcare, education, and infrastructure, according to the African Union (AU). The AU and experts warn that tax evasion, money laundering, and profit-shifting by multinational corporations, often aided by weak regulations and corrupt elites, are draining the […]
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is seeking $2.61 billion annually to launch a 5,000-strong regional Standby Force aimed at combating terrorism, political instability, and transnational crime across the region. At a high-level meeting in Abuja, ECOWAS Ministers of Defense and Finance convened to finalize funding strategies for the ambitious counterterrorism initiative. A […]