First Independent Mena Newspaper
Morocco is rapidly emerging as a global automotive manufacturing powerhouse, challenging traditional European players and poised to surpass Italy in vehicle output. Once considered a peripheral actor, the North African kingdom has leveraged its strategic location, competitive labor costs, and aggressive industrial policy to attract billions in foreign investment, particularly from China and Europe, Spanish […]
Morocco is observing Youth Day this August 21, marking both a national celebration and King Mohammed VI’s birthday, in a tradition that traces its roots to the nation’s independence era and continues to symbolize the enduring bond between monarchy and younger generations. The celebration originated in 1956 when newly independent Morocco’s youth requested that then […]
Libya’s Speaker of Parliament Aguila Saleh met with Central Bank Governor Najee Issa and his deputy Marai al-Barassi in Benghazi on Wednesday, August 20, to discuss planned economic reforms and monetary policy. The talks, attended by Deputy Speakers Fawzi al-Nuwairi and Misbah Douma, centered on tackling the country’s ongoing liquidity crisis and advancing electronic payment […]
Morocco has emerged as the United Kingdom’s top supplier of blueberries, setting a new export benchmark with a record-breaking performance in the 2024/25 season, according to data from EastFruit. Between July 2024 and June 2025, Moroccan exporters shipped 19,000 tons of blueberries to the UK, valued at $144 million, marking a 44% year-on-year increase. The […]
Morocco’s eastern grape-growing region has extended its harvest season from two to six months through agricultural innovation, but severe water shortages threaten to undermine gains that have positioned Nador province as a key supplier to domestic and international markets. The expansion from a traditional summer-only harvest to a June-through-December season resulted from introducing new grape […]
South Africa is fast becoming the new battleground for global automakers, with Chinese and Indian car manufacturers racing to establish a stronghold in Africa’s most developed economy. Amid strained U.S. trade relations and shifting global dynamics, brands like Leapmotor, LDV, and Tata Motors are investing heavily in South Africa to access the broader African market. […]
Bechtel, a leading U.S. construction and engineering firm, is interested in the investment opportunities offered in Morocco’s airports modernization projects as the country braces for co-hosting the FIFA World Cup 2030 along with Spain and Portugal. According to Africa intelligence news platform, the American company hopes to secure a contract for the modernization of the […]
Morocco’s handicraft sector posted a 14% year-on-year increase in exports during the first seven months of 2025, driven by surging demand for traditional garments and a sharp rise in shipments to Turkey and the United States, according to government data. Total exports reached 737 million dirhams ($72 million) between January and July, up from 648 […]
Tunisia was flagged among four other African nations by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for prolonged delays in completing their mandatory Article IV consultations. The other African nations are: Sudan, Eritrea, Liberia, and Senegal, among 13 member states globally. Article IV consultations are annual economic assessments conducted by IMF staff to evaluate a country’s macroeconomic […]
Morocco’s National Tourist Office (ONMT) has picked the London-based Rooster agency to promote the country’s tourist destination in the UK and Ireland. Rooster’s mission includes managing media, collaborating with influencers, engaging travel industry professionals, organizing events, and enhancing Morocco’s Nation Brand. The British Communications agency has been chosen after successful marketing campaigns from late 2024 […]