First Independent Mena Newspaper
Africa continues to bear the heaviest burden of malaria globally, with the disease slashing GDP growth by approximately 1.3 percentage points annually in the most affected nations. This economic drain, resulting from mounting medical costs, widespread absenteeism, and diminished productivity, compounds the public health crisis across the continent. Besides, climate change threatens to worsen the […]
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to launching the Eco currency by 2027, a key step in advancing regional economic integration and financial stability. The ambitious currency project, which aims to unify the economies of 15 West African countries, was discussed at the recent 11th ECOWAS Convergence Council meeting […]
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced on Tuesday March 4 a critical funding gap of $412 million for 2025 to address the urgent humanitarian needs in South Sudan. The WFP stressed the importance of securing funds for essential food and nutrition aid, prepositioning supplies before the onset of the rainy season in […]
Morocco’s phosphates and fertilizer giant, OCP, said its revenue grew 6% in 2024 to 9.7 billion dollars, following improving demand in the international markets. The group, which will issue detailed financial results at a later date, plans to go green by 2040 as it forges ahead to rely on renewable energies and desalinated water by […]
Morocco’s defense industry is gaining momentum with the establishment of a local company dedicated to the production of components for the WhAP 8×8 armored vehicle in collaboration with India’s Tata Advanced Systems. Based in Casablanca, Metlonics Morocco SARLAU will produce essential parts for the WhAP 8×8 armored vehicles designed for the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. […]
Six AH-64E Apache helicopters have been received by Morocco, in a drive to modernize the air force’s capabilities in an uncertain environment. The delivery is part of an order made in 2019 for 36 Apache helicopters and related equipment for a total cost estimated at $4.2 billion. A Moroccan Royal Armed Forces account on X […]
Tanger Med Port Authority has released its 2024 annual results, revealing strong performance across its industrial sector with a business volume of 174 billion dirhams and over 10 billion dirhams in private investments. The Tanger Med industrial platform attracted 10.06 billion dirhams in investment during 2024 while creating a cumulative total of 14,034 new jobs. […]
Morocco’s tourism continues its impressive performance with 10% increase in receipts to 8.8 billion dirhams or 880 million dollars, the foreign exchange office said. Remittances from Moroccans living abroad rose 0.5% to 950 million dollars in the first month this year. Foreign direct investments jumped 24% to 500 million dirhams, helping attenuate the country’s current […]
Morocco has taken over the vice-presidency of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) for the North African region for the 2025-2027 term. This came during the 6th extraordinary session of the Executive Committee of the AMCOW Board of Directors, held on Monday. Speaking at the session via videoconference, Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water […]
As South Africa and possibly also other continental states face the real possibility of being expelled from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a United States Trade Act, experts are urging them to diversify their export markets. Wamkele Mene, secretary-general of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, addressed concerns at a recent […]