First Independent Mena Newspaper
Portugal, an Atlantic nation sharing centuries-old ties with many African countries, has reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan as the most serious, credible and constructive basis to settle the Sahara issue. This came in a joint statement following talks in Lisbon Tuesday between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Portuguese peer Paulo Rangel. […]
Morocco has secured the top position in North Africa for economic freedom, ranking 101st globally out of 196 countries in the 2025 Nomad Capitalist Freedom Index, though structural obstacles continue to limit its full economic potential. The tax and migration advisory firm’s index evaluated countries across five pillars: financial freedom (30 percent), asset protection (25 […]
British junior energy company Chariot Limited has taken control of Morocco’s Anchois gas field development, adopting a scaled-back, modular approach following Energean’s withdrawal, potentially unlocking 18 billion cubic meters of gas reserves crucial for national energy security. Announced July 8, 2025, Chariot’s takeover marks a strategic revival of the offshore field in the Lixus permit […]
The Casablanca Stock Exchange achieved a historic milestone last week, crossing the one trillion dirham market capitalization threshold for the first time, confirming the Moroccan financial market’s growing maturity and investor confidence. The benchmark MASI index advanced 1.30 percent during the week, breaking through the psychological 19,000-point barrier. This achievement reflects sustained market consolidation driven […]
Morocco has established itself as a major player in global fruit markets, yet a new OECD-FAO report warns the kingdom must balance export success with domestic food security needs to ensure sustainable agricultural development through 2034. The “OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034” highlights Morocco’s strategic positioning alongside Egypt in meeting growing international fruit demand. The report […]
Automotive giant Stellantis has inaugurated a major expansion of its Kenitra manufacturing facility, investing 1.2 billion euros to double production capacity and achieve 75 percent local integration by 2030, reinforcing Morocco’s position as Africa’s leading automotive hub. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, who officiated the July 16 ceremony, emphasized that the project embodies Morocco’s New Investment […]
Morocco is moving forward with the operationalization of the national agency for the strategic management of state holdings (ANGSPE), a key institution created to modernize and professionalize the management of public assets, local media reported. Established by decree-law in 2023, the ANGSPE is now entering its implementation phase. It will serve as the central body […]
The initial public offering (IPO) of Vicenne, a leading Moroccan medical equipment company, broke a new record on the Casablanca Stock Exchange with an IPO that was oversubscribed 64 times. The offering attracted over 32 billion dirhams in demand by investors for shares worth just 500 million dirhams, resulting in an unprecedented oversubscription. Vicenne offered […]
Morocco’s microfinance sector faces significant transformation as proposed regulations dramatically increase lending limits and introduce new deposit frameworks, positioning microfinance institutions as crucial intermediaries for small business financing. The draft decree, implementing Law 50-20 on microfinance, establishes differentiated credit ceilings based on institutional structure and client profiles. For associative microfinance institutions serving low-income populations, limits […]
The French Embassy hosted a vibrant celebration on the occasion of France’s National Day, marking not just a historic date but a renewed chapter in French-Moroccan relations. Held at the French Residence, the event welcomed some 2,500 guests, including high-ranking Moroccan officials, diplomats, business leaders, and members of the French community in Morocco. The evening […]