First Independent Mena Newspaper
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has approved nearly $297 million to fund major development projects in Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, and Mauritania. The funds aim to boost job creation, strengthen public services, and drive inclusive growth. The approval came during the IsDB’s 361st Board of Directors meeting held at the beginning of this week. The financing […]
The meetings of the technical and steering Committees of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, held in Rabat July 10-11, highlighted by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Togolese Gaz Company (SOTOGAZ-Togo), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC-Nigeria), and Morocco’s Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM). This memorandum, the latest to be inked after […]
Africa’s rapidly expanding digital economy faces a critical challenge as legal frameworks lag behind technological advancement, prompting calls for urgent reform and strategic mentorship programs to prepare a new generation of tech-savvy lawyers. The continent’s digital transformation, driven by fintech innovations, e-commerce expansion, and artificial intelligence adoption, has outpaced regulatory development. Legal experts warn that […]
Two African nations have emerged as unexpected beneficiaries of global fertilizer market disruptions, with Morocco and Egypt capitalizing on geopolitical tensions to establish themselves as alternative suppliers to Europe amid a 15 percent price surge in 2025. World Bank data released this week reveal dramatic price increases across fertilizer categories, with triple superphosphate jumping 43 […]
Morocco’s tourism sector has achieved remarkable growth, welcoming 8.9 million international visitors in the first half of 2025, a 19 percent surge that adds 1.4 million additional tourists compared to the same period last year. The Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy announced these record-breaking figures, highlighting the kingdom’s strengthening position as […]
Morocco is reportedly negotiating with some UAE companies wind energy projects in its southern provinces. The total investment of these projects is estimated between $8 and $10 billion, according to Arabic energy-focused Attaqa media platform. The Emirati companies engaged in talks are Masdar, AMEA Power, and Taqa. They are negotiating with the North African Kingdom […]
The Algerian regime has been listed by the EU Parliament among high-risk countries for money laundering and terrorism financing. The move is expected to have serious economic repercussions for the country, viewed as a “rogue state”. The European lawmakers have approved lately a European Commission resolution adding Algeria to the EU’s list of high-risk countries […]
Morocco’s Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, Younes Sekkouri, unveiled ambitious plans Thursday to overhaul the country’s labor code, addressing evolving work patterns, digital transformation, and generational shifts in employment expectations. Speaking at a conference-debate organized in Casablanca, Sekkouri outlined three fundamental dimensions driving the reform: societal changes, evolution of employment forms, […]
Rising costs of road freight across West Africa are threatening to derail the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), exporters and trade experts warn, as unofficial fees and bureaucratic bottlenecks mount along key trade corridors. A recent case study by the West African Association for Cross-Border Trade (WACTAF) reveals that transporting a truckload of goods […]
Morocco has unrolled its 2030 digital transition strategy and is investing in artificial intelligence and data centers to strengthen its digital sovereignty. Minister in charge of digital transition and the reform of the administration Amal Fallah Seghrouchni announced that Morocco is preparing to launch a 500 MW data center in Dakhla, a key step to […]