Here are the main headlines developed by the national press for this Wednesday, January 1, 2025
L’Opinion
• The Ministry of the Interior strives to combat the proliferation of associations and their affiliated branches, as well as the resulting legal disputes. In a circular addressed to the walis of the regions and the governors of the provinces, the authority recalled the strict procedure to be followed by local officials in processing requests relating to the creation or renewal of associative branches in their territorial jurisdiction. Thus, the Interior has asked those responsible to ensure that any declaration of this type is duly registered by the parent association with the competent authorities of its geographical area, even before granting a receipt to these new entities.
• The Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Omar Hejira, urged Moroccan small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to intensify their export efforts to African countries. During his intervention at the oral questions session in the House of Representatives, Omar Hejira stressed that one of the priority axes of the 2025/2026 program of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is to encourage and support SMEs. The objective is to develop them from local manufacturing establishments to exporting companies. He also mentioned that efforts are underway to simplify customs procedures. According to him, the continent constitutes “a promising market for their quality products”, offering significant opportunities for Moroccan exporters.
The morning
• To strengthen the accounting and financial management of political parties, the Ministry of the Interior announces an ambitious project aimed at developing a common information system to use the accounting plan of political parties. Based on the recommendations of the Court of Auditors, this project also provides for the development of a guide to accounting procedures to support political parties in more transparent management of their finances. This reform, which should be operational before the next elections, responds to the growing demands for transparency and credibility in public accounts, a key issue for good democratic governance.
• The National Railway Office has launched the architectural competition for the design of the LGV station of the new green city of Benguérir and the RER stations of the Green City, Sidi Bou Othmane, Sidi Ghanem and the Marrakech Stadium. This will involve developing new stations along the Kenitra-Marrakech line, equipped with the latest technologies to improve the quality of service and the fluidity of travel. These railway platforms will be designed to meet high standards of comfort and efficiency, promises the national rail specialist.
• The Agency for Agricultural Development is preparing a commercial prospecting mission to the Netherlands, to promote Moroccan local products. This initiative, including B2B meetings, innovative promotional tools and rigorous monitoring of transactions, aims to open new international horizons for local cooperatives. With emblematic products such as argan oil and rose water, this strategic operation is part of a dynamic of promoting Moroccan agricultural heritage on a growing European market.
• Fund transfers made by Moroccans living abroad (MRE) stood at more than 108.67 billion dirhams (billion dirhams) at the end of November 2024, compared to 105.68 billion dirhams during the same period a year earlier, according to the Foreign Exchange Office. These transfers are up 2.8% (+2.99 billion dirhams) compared to the end of November 2023, specifies the Office in its recent bulletin on monthly indicators of foreign trade.
• The latest economic note from the HCP, relating to the National Accounts for the third quarter of 2024, highlights national economic growth of 4.3%, a clear improvement compared to the 3% recorded for the same period last year. This recovery is based on strengthened domestic demand, while taking place in a context of relative control of inflation. However, the financing needs of the national economy continue to worsen, reflecting structural challenges.
Al Bayane
• King Mohammed VI sent a message of condolences and compassion to the American President, Joseph R. Biden, following the death of the former President of the United States of America, Jimmy Carter. In this message, the Sovereign claims to have learned with “great sadness” of the death of Jimmy Carter, “a man of reconciliation and dialogue”, paying tribute to the legacy of the late American President.
• The money supply (M3 aggregate), amounted to 1,856.1 billion dirhams (MMDH), marked an annual increase of 6.7% in November, the same rate of progression as the month of October, according to Bank Al -Maghrib (BAM). This development is the result of a combined effect of a deceleration in the growth of net claims on the Central Administration to 5.5% after 10.4%, of a virtual stagnation in the increase in bank credit in non-financial sector to 2.5% and an acceleration in the growth of official reserve assets from 1.6% to 4.5%, BAM reports.
Al Alam
• Entering the new year 2025 means for several professional sectors the implementation of a set of legal and regulatory measures. In this context, the DGSN published a press release indicating the obligation for operators of first and second category taxi licenses to provide a recent life certificate from the owner of the license, or a document certifying that it is still envy. The DGSN has set January 31, 2025 as the deadline for the implementation of this measure, warning that any delay beyond this date will result in the withdrawal of the approval from its holder. This decision aims to combat fraud, prevent the exploitation of “agreements” by illegal parties, ensure that accreditations still belong to their rightful owners and regulate the transport sector and improve its services.
Al Ahdat Al Maghribia
• After years of delay in reforms, and after having adopted the strike bill, which has already caused a stir, the government has moved up a gear to reform the pension systems, announcing a proposed reforms to the beginning of the year. Speaking in the House of Representatives, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, clarified that the government planned to make a first presentation on the reform of pension systems in January. This reform is based on the principles agreed within the framework of social dialogue, in particular the creation of two poles, public and private, the definition of transition mechanisms towards a new system while preserving rights and achievements, as well as the improvement of governance, she stressed.
Assahra Al-Maghribia
• The Secretary of State to the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, in charge of Maritime Fisheries, Zakia Driouich, met in Rabat with the Ambassador of the Republic Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Ahmed Ould Bahia, around means of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of fishing. On this occasion, Driouich shed light on the means of strengthening the bilateral partnership in the fishing sector, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, and of instilling a new dynamic of cooperation between the two countries in areas of common interest related to the sector.
• The Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, presented to the House of Representatives the government’s plan to address the challenges of poverty and vulnerability, as well as most of the measures undertaken by the State to alleviate the suffering of affected groups and strengthen social justice. To stem the growing indicators of poverty and vulnerability, the minister reviewed the measures and actions launched by the government to improve the purchasing power of citizens and limit the effects of price inflation, noting that “more 105 billion dirhams were allocated to support basic necessities, in addition to subsidizing electricity consumption for households and providing direct social assistance to the most deprived groups.
