The Tunisian parliament approved earlier this week the 2019 budget, which does not provide for any new taxes on individuals in a move to buy social peace. Earlier this year, People had taken to the streets to protest against the government’s austerity measures. The protests broke out after activists and politicians denounced increases in VAT […]
Finance
Morocco: FDI Increases, Trade Deficit Deepens
The indicators of Moroccan economy showed a positive evolution in 2018. Thus foreign direct investments (FDI) amounted to 30.2 billion dirhams at the end of the first ten months of the current year, compared to 21.3 billion at the end of October 2017. However, the trade deficit is worsening. According to the Exchange Office (Office […]
Bouteflika’s Fifth Term Risks Worsening Algeria’s Political Crisis- Financial Times
The UK’s Financial Times drew bleak prospects for Algeria whose ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika prepares for a fifth term that risks prolonging Algeria’s economic and political crisis. Maintaining Bouteflika, who has been ruling Algeria since 1999, as President “ threatens to prolong the political paralysis in a country facing the monumental challenge of transforming its […]
AU to Sanction Members Defaulting on Payment of Financial Contributions
The African Union on Wednesday called for a sanction regime against member states that would fail to make their annual financial contributions. African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat announced the new measure in a speech at the 20th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, focused on the continental reform agenda, […]
Attijariwafa Bank to Expand Operations to East Africa
Moroccan Attijariwafa Bank group, which is already present in North Africa and West Africa, is planning to set foot in East Africa through new acquisitions to be launched by the end of 2019, announced Youssef Rouissi, the bank’s deputy general manager. Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of an investment conference in Johannesburg, Rouissi , […]
Morocco Gets € 117 Mln Loan from AfDB for Drinking Water Projects
The African Development Bank Group has approved a €117 million loan to Morocco to enable the North African country to finance a project destined to ensure the sustainability and security of access to drinking water. The project aims to secure access to drinking water in the provinces of Guercif, Zagora, Al Hoceima, Tanger and Beni […]
AfDB offers Morocco €75 mln loan to develop Rabat airport
The African Development Bank granted Morocco a €75 million loan to help expand and develop Rabat airport into a regional hub. The loan will help expand the airport and acquire new equipment that will enable it to meet international standards as it seeks a larger chunk in regional air traffic, AfDB said in a statement. […]
IFC Teams up with Moroccan BCP Group to Enhance Microfinance in Sub-Saharan Africa
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has sealed an agreement with Atlantic Microfinance for Africa (AMIFA), a subsidiary of the Moroccan Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) Group, for developing new products and services to boost financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa. The agreement will enable AMIFA to strengthen the development capacity of its microfinance program in Sub-Saharan Africa […]
Southern Provinces Take Lion’s Share of Public Investments
The region of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra in Morocco’s Sahara will receive 17.8 billion dirhams in public investments in 2018, out of a total 57.65 billion dirhams allocated at the national level. The Sahara region ranks first among the other 11 Moroccan regions with 30% of overall investment budget in 2018. After Laayoune, comes the […]
Social Services Feature Prominently in Morocco’s 2019 Appropriation Bill
The 2019 appropriation bill prepared by the Moroccan government and submitted for the approval of the parliament increases spending on social services, the reduction of social and spatial disparities as well as the promotion of enterprises. To that end, the government planned to spend an additional 7 billion dirhams as the budget dedicated to education […]









