First Independent Mena Newspaper
Prices of cobalt, a key mineral for energy transition, began to rise following an export ban by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to balance the market. On China’s Wuxi Stainless Steel Exchange on Monday, cobalt trading was paused after prices jumped nearly 12%, the highest since October. Last month, DRC said it will stop […]
Morocco is preparing to launch a tender to launch 5G bandwidth, a project that attracts interests from China’s Huwawei and western firms, Morocco’s Finance News Hebdo said. Huwawei is already operating in the country in partnerships with local operators Maroc Telecom and Orange Maroc and seems to be better placed compared to western peers such […]
Chinese state-owned firms are playing a dominant role in port development across Africa, with a presence in 78 ports across 32 countries as builders, financiers, or operators, sparking concerns about China’s long-term geo-strategic aims. According to a new report by the Washington-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies, these Chinese firms are not only builders and […]
Morocco won the presidency of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in an event that highlights the Kingdom’s clout and leadership within the continent. The one-year-term presidency will feature the chairmanship by Morocco’s industrial minister Ryad Mezzour of the Confederation of African Ministers for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development. Algeria, as was expected, attempted […]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board completed its fourth review of Egypt’s economic reform program under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement, granting the country immediate access to approximately $1.2 billion. The approval, announced on Tuesday March 11, marks a significant step in Egypt’s ongoing efforts to stabilize and reform its economy with the […]
A new report from the African Development Bank (AfDB) underscores Africa’s impressive economic recovery, highlighting the continent’s resilience, growth, and the impact of bold reforms. With a projected GDP growth from 3.2% in 2024 to 4.1% in 2025 and 4.4% in 2026, Africa is now the second-fastest-growing regional economy globally, trailing only Asia. This growth […]
Morocco’s tourist arrivals grew 24% to 2.7 million tourists up to the end of February this year, underscoring the momentum in the sector. “A half-million additional visitors in just two months is a figure that speaks for itself. This confirms that Morocco has its place among the world’s top destinations,” tourism minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor said. […]
Moov Africa Gabon, the local subsidiary of Morocco’s Maroc Telecom, was spared a nationalization push that affected many strategic firms in the country. Speaking at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Gabon’s minister of digital economy made it clear that “the sector of telecommunications was not concerned by nationalization policies.” Since Brice Oligui Nguima took power […]
The recent rainfall that blessed most Moroccan fertile lands gave farmers hope after a prolonged drought compromised this year’s harvest. The rainfall coupled with snow in the mountains improved the dam filling rate to 30% on March 10, from 26% last year. While the rain could have a limited impact on grains, spring crops will […]
Tunisia’s President Kais Saied has suspended ties with the IMF after shunning the reforms it conditioned for a lifeline deal that could have made it easier for Tunisia to access foreign loans. The failure of the $1.9 billion offered by the IMF in exchange for reforms puts Tunisia in an uphill battle to access funding […]