Here are the main headlines developed by the national press for this Thursday, January 9, 2025
The morning
Maternal mortality finally below 70 per 100,000 births
The Minister of Health welcomed the spectacular reduction in the maternal mortality rate, which fell by 70% in the space of two decades. This decline, according to him, demonstrates the Kingdom’s constant efforts to improve reproductive health and strengthen obstetric care. However, these notable advances mask glaring disparities, particularly in remote rural areas, where harrowing scenes highlight persistent challenges related to access to care. This contrast between progress made and challenges to be met illustrates the long road that remains to be covered to ensure equitable and universal access to health services in all regions of Morocco.
Growth, security, water stress, defense… Morocco’s assets and challenges according to IRES
Morocco displays contrasting performances in its international positioning, according to the new Strategic Dashboard published by the Royal Institute of Strategic Studies (IRES) in October 2024. This 12th edition, which analyzes 189 strategic indicators, reveals a notable improvement in areas such as international peace and security and maritime connectivity, but also points to persistent weaknesses, particularly on the economic and social level. The document highlights the major challenges facing the Kingdom, particularly in terms of food sovereignty, availability of water resources and development of human capital, in a global context marked by profound changes.
Small olive growing: the ADA hires Capital RH to monitor the planting program of 18,000 ha of olive trees
The Agency for Agricultural Development has just mandated the Capital RH firm to support it in the process of managing disbursements and monitoring the olive growing development program for small farmers. Financed by the Islamic Development Bank (79 million DH), this project concerns five olive-growing regions of the Kingdom and involves the planting of 18,000 ha of olive trees, hydro-agricultural development over 136 km in addition to the development of tracks for opening up of production areas over a length of approximately 49 km.
Private clinics under fire, Amine Tahraoui highlights public investment effort
The Moroccan health sector, already undermined by glaring inequalities, sees private clinics at the heart of controversies. Accused of capturing most of the resources and taking advantage of the flaws in the public system, they were strongly criticized by deputies during the oral questions session, held Monday in the House of Representatives. Faced with these attacks, the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amine Tehraoui, tried to reassure by outlining a reform plan to rebalance access to care.
Eco inspirations
Change: Morocco’s net situation still in debt but in slight reduction
The global external position (PEG) is appreciating. The barometer of Morocco’s assets situation vis-à-vis the rest of the world reveals a net debt situation of 785 billion dirhams (MMDH) at the end of September 2024, according to data published by the Foreign Exchange Office. This development is mainly due to the increase of MAD 13.6 billion in financial assets driven by the increase in “other investments”, up by MAD 5.4 billion, and “portfolio investments” of MAD 4.2 billion. These performances demonstrate a renewed attractiveness of Moroccan financial assets on the international scene.
Banking sector: AI, vector of new growth
In a global context marked by the rise of digitalization, the banking sector is exploring new horizons thanks to artificial intelligence. A truly disruptive technology, AI is emerging as a strategic lever to transform business models and redefine the commercial performance of agencies. A recent study, conducted by Rachid Maghniwi and Mustapha Oukassi, respectively doctoral student and research professor at Mohammed V University in Rabat, highlights the significant impact of this innovation on Moroccan banks, revealing both its promises and its challenges.
Investments and business climate: Karim Zidane’s grand oral presentation
Karim Zidane’s grand oral presentation, Tuesday in the second chamber of Parliament, was rich in lessons. Regional distribution of investment, CRI reform, new investment charter, foreign direct investment… nothing has been left aside. The Minister Delegate announced on this occasion that a strategic roadmap has been put in place in order to improve the business climate. The latter, which should make it possible to define priority projects for the period 2023-2026, is broken down into 46 initiatives aimed at facilitating the act of investing. The aim is to create favorable conditions to attract more investments from foreign nationals or Moroccans around the world.
Dangerous materials: carriers finally win their case
The transport of dangerous goods in Morocco is preparing to reach a decisive milestone with the development of a draft decree awaited for more than a decade. Ratified in 2001 and promulgated in 2011, the ADR agreement was finally supplemented by an ambitious regulatory framework, subject to consultation among players in the sector. Approved vehicles, mandatory training and reinforced controls, this text aims to align the country with international standards and guarantee optimal safety.
-L’Opinion
Flour milling sector: 14 units in prolonged shutdown
According to new annual data from the National Interprofessional Office for Cereals and Legumes (ONICL), the number of active mills reached, at the end of 2024, 141 units, of which 113 are dedicated to the grinding of soft wheat, 16 are dedicated to the milling durum wheat (semolina) and 12 are dedicated to milling barley. As for the geographical distribution of factories, the same data show that approximately half of the number of factories is concentrated in the regions of Casablanca-Settat, Fez-Meknes and Marrakech-Safi. ONICL notes that 14 soft wheat flour mills have been in prolonged shutdown (more than 3 months) over the last 5 years.
Liberation
National electricity transport network: nearly MAD 30 billion in investments between 2024 and 2030
An investment of nearly 30 billion dirhams (billion dirhams) in the national electricity transport network has been allocated for the period 2024-2030, “without taking into account the additional high voltage electricity link project of 3 GW between the South and the Center of the Kingdom,” indicated the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali. In response to oral questions in the House of Representatives on “the strategy for developing and promoting investments in clean energy”, Benali stressed that for the first time, the private sector will have the opportunity to invest in this network ” in case of necessity.”
The Economist
Renewed optimism among franchises
After slumps and series of closures in network commerce following Covid, the situation is starting to recover. The Moroccan Franchise Federation (FMF) confirms this positive turnaround. The arrival of new entrants and renowned brands is whetting investors’ appetites. Better yet, on the eve of the 2025 African Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, shopping center projects in railway stations, airports, etc. mobilize a total amount of more than 10 billion DH. To seize new opportunities, the FMF is organizing its first international exhibition next February in Casablanca.
Annahar al-Maghribia
Banks refuse to receive large funds, demanding justification of their sources
The first days of 2025 saw traders flocking to banking establishments with the aim of depositing large sums, believing that the procedure of paying 5% of unjustified income was still in force. Bank agencies have rejected the approach of customers, asking them to produce proof of the large sums to be deposited. The Office des Changes announced that the process of automatic settlement of goods and assets established abroad recorded during the year 2024, a total of 658 declarations, while the total of the amounts that were declared amounts to more than 2 billion dirhams.
Al Akhbar
National Investment Commission: 171 projects approved, including 53 financed by foreign investments
The National Investment Commission has approved a total of 171 projects, including 53 financed by foreign investments from 18 countries, for a total amount estimated at around 94 billion dirhams (MMDH), indicated Tuesday in Rabat, the Minister Delegate in charge of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of public policies, Karim Zidane. In response to an oral question in the House of Advisors, Zidane assured that these projects, approved since the entry into force of the new Investment Charter, will contribute to the creation of more than 54,000 jobs.
Al-Ahdath al-Maghribia
Hicham Sabiry: 488 aborted strikes
The Secretary of State for Labor, Hicham Sabiry, revealed that the interventions of labor inspectors made it possible to avoid 488 strikes in 483 institutions, which contributed to strengthening social peace in companies. In response to questions from councilors during the weekly question session, Sabiry highlighted that as of September 2024, labor inspectors had processed 18,227 complaints, noting that 23,819 individual conflicts and 531 collective conflicts took place in 2024.
Al Massae
New strike paralyzes Kingdom’s hospitals next week
A new escalation in the Kingdom’s hospitals. The National Union Coordination of the health sector announced a national strike on Wednesday January 15 in all hospital establishments, with the exception of emergency and intensive care units. This strike, which will be accompanied by a demonstration in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, was decreed to demand “the complete, correct and rapid implementation of all points of the agreement signed with the government in July 2024”, six months after its signature, according to union coordination.
Al Alam
Formation of a government commission responsible for developing the preliminary draft reform on the Family Code
The government has moved to the next stage with regard to the preparation of the draft bill amending and supplementing the Family Code, by incorporating the proposed amendments, according to daily sources. Thus, these sources affirmed that the government formed a commission to draft the preliminary draft of the final version including the proposed amendments, noting that this commission includes representatives of the government departments concerned, notably the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Solidarity for Social Inclusion and the Family, the General Secretariat of the Government and representatives of the judicial power.
