Morocco’s Minister delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of the budget, Fouzi Lekjaa, and the Country Manager for Morocco at the African Development Bank (AfDB), Achraf Tarsim, signed four financing agreements totaling over 6.45 Bln MAD on Wednesday in Rabat.
The agreements cover financing for the program supporting the transformation towards a digital, entrepreneurial, and inclusive Moroccan university with a budget of around 1.28 Bln MAD, as well as approximately 2.14 Bln MAD for a results-based program to enhance territorial competitiveness in Morocco.
Nearly 898 Mln MAD was dedicated to the program supporting inclusive and sustainable development of forest areas. A further, 2.14 Bln MAD was set aside for the Guercif – Nador highway project.
The agreements encompass promising education, industrial project funding, and employment opportunities. They will also enhance infrastructure and projects in forestry to maintain environmental balance.
Lekjaa highlighted the significance of these financing agreements and commended “the quality of Morocco’s relationship with the AfDB,” noting the bank’s support in “implementing crucial structural reforms and providing technical assistance in various domains.”
Tarsim expressed that the “transformative and complementary projects reflect the excellent relationship between the AfDB and Morocco.” He further explained that “these agreements include a project that will transform Moroccan universities to be more entrepreneurial, digital, and inclusive.” The new deals provide an opportunity to “enhance the competitiveness of Moroccan territories and to attract more investors,” according to Tarsim.
Regarding the program dedicated to supporting inclusive and sustainable development of forest areas, Tarsim highlighted its role in enhancing forestry value chains, promoting entrepreneurship in these areas, and bolstering carbon sequestration capacity. The same project aims to promote female and youth forestry and aquaculture entrepreneurship, develop ecotourism, and promote public-private partnerships (PPPs) and South-South cooperation.
The university program hopes to improve human capital quality and empower youth through inclusive access to excellent higher education, innovative and synergistic with the territorial ecosystem.
The results-based program to enhance territorial competitiveness in Morocco seeks to improve territorial competitiveness to attract investors, create jobs, and enhance socio-economic inclusion.
As for the Guercif – Nador highway project, it strives to strengthen transport infrastructure in the Oriental region and promote its economy by providing high-capacity road links integrated into the national highway network. This project is expected to significantly enhance the profitability and operational efficiency of the Nador West Med port complex and its associated industrial zone.
Attending the signing ceremony were the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Abdellatif Miraoui; Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka; Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour; Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies Mohcine Jazouli; and the Director General of the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) Abderrahim Houmy.