Here are the main headlines developed by the national press for this Monday, November 11, 2024
Eco inspirations
Economic situation: optimistic outlook for 2025
Forecasting a moderate recovery in the economy, marked by an increase in GDP and dynamic domestic demand, BMCE Capital Global Research anticipates a revival of activity for the coming year. Despite persistent challenges, such as increasing unemployment and a growing trade deficit, Morocco’s growing attractiveness for foreign investors and measured management of inflation offer encouraging prospects.
Housing: the supervisory authority sets its priorities for 2025
As part of the execution of the 2025 budget of the Ministry of Housing, an envelope of more than 4.5 billion dirhams (billion dirhams) is planned dedicated to investments, including 78% (3.62 billion dirhams) intended for aid. to housing. 2 billion dirhams will be devoted to the social fund for housing assistance and urbanization. Regarding the operating budget, the ministry plans to disburse more than 425 million dirhams (MDH). Other expenses are estimated at some 883 MDH, 63% of which is intended for urban agencies, or 557 MDH. Furthermore, the Minister, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, indicated that the budgetary report at the end of October 2024 was fully executed, in particular for the social housing assistance fund. 78% of the related budget is devoted to investments.
Green hydrogen: the port of Tan-Tan wants to adapt
The National Ports Agency (ANP) is launching a technical feasibility study for the upgrade of the port of Tan-Tan, with a view to supporting the development of the green hydrogen sector. The study will thus make it possible to evaluate the necessary extensions. The objective is to meet the needs of investment projects for the production of green hydrogen and its derived products in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region initially and other regions subsequently. The study also concerns possible development configurations in extension of the current site of the port of Tan-Tan.
L’Opinion
Record production of Moroccan avocado thanks to an exceptional harvest this season
While the sector is professionalizing to meet the demands of European markets, Moroccan avocado is emerging as a flagship product, benefiting from geographical advantages and increasingly assured quality. The avocado harvest campaign in Morocco began with the arrival on the market of green-skinned varieties. This season, abundant production has allowed a significant drop in prices, a point noted in a recent report from “Fresh Plaza”, a site specializing in agricultural trade. According to this source, the situation contrasts sharply with that of the previous year, where production volumes were more modest, leading to pressure on prices. Local producers see this abundance of harvest as a sign of stabilization for the future of the sector in Morocco. An avocado farmer from the Larache region shared his enthusiasm, describing this season as “a great step forward towards the stability of production in Morocco”.
Finance: the Moroccan banking sector under the microscope of the EIB
The Moroccan banking sector includes 24 banks – 19 conventional banks and five Islamic banks – whose balance sheet total represents around 130% of GDP, according to a new study by the European Investment Bank (EIB). Entitled “Finance in Africa – Unlocking investment in the era of digital transformation”, the report highlights that the structure of the Moroccan banking system is characterized by its high concentration, the three largest establishments, in this case Attijariwafa Bank , Bank of Africa and Banque populaire, representing approximately 62% of the sector’s total assets. The share of public banks has, however, recorded a decline over the last two decades, standing at 22% of total assets in 2023, compared to around 40% in 2002, writes the study.
Lawyers vs Ouahbi: towards the end of the crisis after the institutionalization of dialogue?
Dialogue was finally opened between lawyers and the Ministry of Justice, after weeks of protests, marked in particular by the boycott of hearings. Indeed, the black dresses met on Saturday in the House of Representatives with the supervisory ministry at the invitation of the Justice, Legislation and Human Rights Committees of the House of Representatives and Councilors. In a joint statement, the two parties welcomed the frank and constructive discussions, which lasted several hours, covering all issues, during which the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, underlined the importance and status of the profession of lawyer and its pivotal position within the Moroccan judicial system. The lawyers, for their part, underlined the importance of the participatory approach in the implementation of reform programs, including those related to the legislative field.
Al Massae
Resident and intern doctors paralyze hospitals for three days
After the general strike they led on November 5 and 7, resident and intern doctors will resume the strike, from Tuesday until next Thursday. The strike will also be global, with the exception of emergency, resuscitation and on-call services to ensure the continuity of services provided to citizens, according to a press release from the National Commission of Internal Physicians and Residents. The Commission stressed that its demands, described as “just and legitimate”, have become “an urgent necessity which cannot be postponed”.
Al Alam
Judicial bailiffs and the Ministry of Justice reach an “agreement in principle”
In order to find a solution to the outstanding issues, the National Order of Bailiffs and the Ministry of Justice have reached an “agreement in principle” on the majority of the demands formulated by professionals on bill no. ° 46.21 organizing the profession of bailiff. In this context, Mahmoud Abou Lhoukouk, president of the National Order of Bailiffs, stressed that what was reached with the Ministry of Justice is nothing other than an agreement in principle, and not an final solution, adding in a statement to the newspaper that “there are still several points pending” and that “we are awaiting the response from the ministry”, such as the equipment of professionals with body cameras in order to note cases of refusal of receipt of the summons.
