First Independent Mena Newspaper
Morocco’s trade deficit narrowed by 1% from January to May to 117 billion dirhams ($11.7 bln), after exports rose to 191 billion dirhams, but still less than imports at 308 billion dirhams. The automotive sector topped Morocco’s exports at 67 billion dirhams, up 12%, auguring well for another record exports this year. Aeronautics was the […]
The International Monetary Fund gave the greenlight for the disbursement of 360 million dollars to Ghana, after the latter reached an agreement with its creditors to restructure its debt. “The authorities’ strategy aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability and reducing debt vulnerabilities is paying off, with clear signs of stabilization emerging,” IMF Deputy Managing Director Kenji […]
Morocco plans to upgrade 25,000 rooms through state-guaranteed loans before 2025, when the country will host the African cup of nations and ahead of the 2030 World Cup, the tourism ministry said. Hotels wishing to apply could receive up to 100 million dirhams ($10 million) in loans, whose interests will be paid by the state, […]
Morocco was ranked the eighth largest recipient of financial flows in renewable energy at 6.2 billion dollars between 2010 and 2021, a new renewable energy agency report said. Most of these financial flows went to solar, followed by wind, said the report, to which the international energy agency also contributed along with the World Bank. […]
Ghana had reached a deal with bondholders that will forgo nearly $5 billion in a sovereign debt restructuring deal that would help the country avoid default. The deal marks a key step in the country’s quest to restructure its $13 billion debt that left the country on the brink of financial collapse. Bondholders including Abrdn, […]
Foreign investment flows to Africa dropped by 3% in 2023 to $53 billion, despite an increase in investments in green energy projects, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said. While Egypt and South Africa drove the overall investment trend in the continent, countries such as Morocco and Mauritania are expected to benefit from […]
Morocco’s central bank cut its borrowing rate to 2.75% from 3% as inflation drops thanks to lowering food prices and easing external inflationary pressures, the bank said following its board meeting. “On the basis of all these considerations, the Board considered that the calibrated tightening of monetary policy, the regular monitoring of the transmission of […]
The World Bank has approved $600 million funding to Morocco to enable the North African Kingdom finance two projects destined to improve public service and performance. The first project, which gets a $350 million support, aims to improve the governance, restructuring, competitive neutrality, and performance monitoring of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The 2nd project, entitled “Public […]
Morocco’s government debt is sustainable as efforts are ongoing to cut it further below 70% of GDP, finance minister Nadia Fettah Alaoui said. The minister made the remark during an interview on le360, following criticism by opposition MPs who warned of the risk of debt unsustainability. Debt to GDP ratio was brought below 70% this […]
Moroccans have lost nearly €11 million in fees for rejected Schengen visas last year. In 2023, the number of Moroccan nationals who had their Schengen visas applications rejected amounted to 136,367, costing €10.9 million or about 117 million MAD. This places Morocco second among African countries in numbers of visa rejections. While the Kingdom led […]