First Independent Mena Newspaper
Credit rating agency Moody’s downgraded Tunisia’s credit rating to B2 against the backdrop of deteriorating fiscal situation, complicating the government’s plans to borrow from international lenders. Moody’s cut Tunisia’s rating by one notch to B2– five levels below investment grade and on a par with Argentina, Nigeria, Cameroon and Kenya. Moody’s rating downgrade will complicate […]
Credit rating agency Moody’s maintained Morocco’s BA1 positive ranking, and noted that the country’s credit strengths reflect a structural shift towards higher value-added export industries and fiscal improvements, which could lead to stronger non-agricultural growth and a stabilization and gradual reduction in public sector debt. “Morocco is strategically positioned within global value chains in the […]
ape-Town based insurer Sanlam said it will fully acquire Morocco’s SAHAM group insurance business in Africa in a $1.05 billion deal. The deal will give Sanlam access to SAHAM’s 26 markets across North Africa, the Middle East and West Africa and builds on its business that spans 11 African countries, India and Malaysia. SAHAM Finances, […]
The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) has provided the Tunisian banking and insurance software developer Vermeg a €25 million loan for the acquisition of Lombard Risk, a leading global provider of integrated regulatory reporting and collateral management solutions. Founded in 2002, Vermeg counts major internationally-renowned financial institutions and central banks in more than […]
Bank Al-Maghrib, Morocco’s Central Bank, and the International Finance Corporation, member of the World Bank group, held Thursday an international conference on Public Credit Registry best practice, focusing on how credit reporting data can support regulators’ institutional functions and help ensure financial stability. The joint work is part of a wider project aiming to strengthen […]
President of The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Suma Chakrabarti, who is paying a visit to Morocco underscored that EBRD will continue supporting Morocco in priority areas such as promoting youth employment, facilitating the setting up of SMEs and encouraging green economy projects. Chakrabarti said, during a meeting with the head of government […]
Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP), one of Morocco’s three biggest lenders, continues its expansion in Africa with the acquisition of Banque des Mascareigne in Madagascar and the opening of a subsidiary in Mauritius, thus becoming the first Moroccan bank to operate in the island. With this acquisition, BCP reinforces footprint in the Indian Ocean as part […]
Currency liberalization is the centerpiece of Morocco’s efforts to transform itself into North Africa’s main financial hub. The gradual Dirham float, which was announced early in January, will help Morocco attract more investments, IMF officials say. Morocco’s Central Bank launched a cautious and smooth liberalization of the Dirham starting with an anchor of 2.5% instead […]
French Credit Insurance Company Coface has downgraded Algeria ratings to C, the lowest grade, over serious concerns of social frustrations boiling in the oil-producing country wherein high risks of social turmoil are exacerbated by the volatility of oil prices. The Algerian growth “slowed in 2017 due to the state’s dwindling financial resources and public spending […]
The green projects launched by Moroccan enterprises will receive support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). In this respect, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Rabat by Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance Mohammed Boussaid, and EBRD Vice President Pierre Heilbronn, who is on visit to Morocco from 24 to 29 […]