First Independent Mena Newspaper
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 […]
The IMF commended Morocco for launching a flexible ex-change rate system, saying that such a decision will help fur-ther improve Morocco’s external position, enhance the economy’s capacity to absorb shocks, and preserve its external competitiveness. Adopting the central bank law and continuing efforts to increase supervisory capacity in line with 2015 Financial Sector Assessment Program […]
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has lent French aerospace manufacturer Figeac Aéro SA €38 million to finance its production expansion in Morocco and Tunisia. The EBRD loan will support the transfer of skills and advanced technology and an improvement in local quality standards towards international levels. The creation of new jobs in countries […]
Almost one week after the launch of the Dirham float, head of Morocco’s central bank, Abdellatif Jouahri, and Economy and Finance Minister, Mohammed Boussaid, reassured that the flexible exchange rate will not lead to price hikes. Speaking at a joint session of the two houses of Parliament, the two officials offered briefings on the launch […]
The long awaited launch of the flexible exchange rate system for the Dirham currency will start on January 15 after it was postponed for 5 months. The gradual Dirham float will start with an anchor of 2.5% in-stead of 0.3% currently, while fixing the Dirham exchange rate via a peg that is 60 percent weighted […]
The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development has approved a €9.7 Million loan to Fondation Albaraka, one of the largest microfinance institutions in Morocco for on-lending to local micro enterprises. Access to finance through banks remains extremely limited for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Morocco. The EBRD funds will offer much-needed support for […]
Morocco has become member of the Government Debt and Risk Management (GDRM) program of the World Bank Treasury. The GDRM Program provides assistance to middle-income countries (MICs) to improve macroeconomic and fiscal management by reducing vulnerability to financial and other shocks. The GDRM Program brings a tailored approach to each country’s priorities and provides expert […]