Daily press review for this Thursday, October 13, 2022

Here are the main headlines developed by the national press for this Thursday, October 13, 2022

The Economist

Telecoms: economic nonsense in infrastructure

Telecom operators are committing to massive investment in network infrastructure. The challenge is to accelerate broadband and very high speed as well as the deployment of fiber optics, almost everywhere in Morocco, including in unprofitable areas. In any case, this is the promise that the three players (IAM, Orange and Inwi) are making through the press. In detail, the three operators undertake to invest each in ambitious programs with billions of dirhams. Orange has announced 5.7 billion dirhams over 3 years (by 2025) in order to continue developing its telecoms infrastructure, strengthening the fixed and mobile network, fiber, etc. For the incumbent operator, the overall amount is more substantial. It amounts to 16 billion DH by 2025. Finally, Inwi is committed to some 7 billion DH.

Today Morocco

Pension reform: actions and timing

The pension reform commission will work from this month of October on updating the data and diagnosing the situation of the pension funds. The months of November and December will be reserved for the debate on the conclusions of the study commissioned by the government, while the period from January to March is devoted to strategic orientations, the elaboration of a vision of reform and of a roadmap. The final scenarios for the reform are expected to be adopted in April 2023 before the start of implementation in May. The establishment of the pension reform commission aims to implement, as indicated in the agreement of April 30, a common and integrated vision for the “public” and “private” poles within a reasonable timeframe taking into account the and constraints.

Eco Inspirations

Tourism: conquering Japan

The Minister of Tourism, Crafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy, Fatim-Zahra Ammor, has just started a working visit to Japan. This visit is part of the efforts undertaken to conquer new markets. It should be noted that Japan represented, in 2019, 13% of tourist arrivals from Asia. The Minister intends to hold meetings with the country’s major tourism players with the aim of concluding partnerships to strengthen the attraction of Morocco as a destination.

Al Bayane

Spanish loan of 20 million euros to the Moroccan financing fund Jaïda

The Spanish Council of Ministers has adopted an agreement authorizing the granting of a loan of a maximum amount of 20 million euros to the Financing Fund for Microfinance Organizations in Morocco, Jaïda. The loan, granted through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), aims to finance the expansion of the Jaïda Fund portfolio.

The morning

World Bank: $200 million to support Morocco’s climate transition

Following new negotiations with the government, the World Bank is preparing a new loan of $200 million to support Morocco’s climate transition. This financing, via the “programme loan for results” instrument, aims to integrate climate considerations into the management of public finances. It also aims to help Morocco implement certain priority actions under its “Nationally Determined Contribution” (NDC) relating to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, in order to make rural areas more resilient. and low-carbon cities.

Opinion

Fight against money laundering: despite the reforms, the end of the tunnel is still far away

In the 2022 edition of the “Basel Anti-Money Laundering Index”, the anti-money laundering index of the “Basel Institute on Governance”, the Kingdom improved its ranking by 13 places, going from 51st to 64th in the world. If this is a good signal for Morocco, its main objective is to get out of the FATF gray list, on which it has appeared since 2019. For years, the Kingdom has striven to implement an adequate legislative framework, with the adoption of Law No. 43-05, and organizational, with the creation of the National Financial Intelligence Authority. However, several challenges remain to be met, particularly given the preponderance of the informal economy, which facilitates money laundering.

Morocco Day

Morocco-Luxembourg: a common desire to promote economic cooperation

The Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, and HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Prince Guillaume affirmed their common desire to promote bilateral cooperation with a view to exploiting the economic potential existing in the two countries. During a meeting between Fettah and HRH Prince Guillaume, the two parties reviewed issues of common interest and discussed possible ways and means to develop bilateral economic relations. This meeting takes place within the framework of the working visit to Morocco by His Royal Highness the Hereditary Grand Duke at the head of a delegation of businessmen representing specialized companies operating in different economic sectors.

Al Massae

Road control: 120 radars handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie and the DGSN

The Royal Gendarmerie received 120 mobile road control radars at a cost of 9.1 million dirhams and 36 utility vehicles for the deployment of mobile radar units (5.8 million DH). For its part, the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) received 110 750 CC mopeds and 20 1250 CC mopeds in addition to 13 utility vehicles for a total cost of 24,255,847 DH. This operation is part of the improvement of road user behavior indicators and the expansion of the fleet of road control equipment.