Moroccan PM Calls for Speeding National E-Integration

Morocco’s Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani (Arabic website)
Morocco’s Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani (Arabic website)
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Moroccan PM Calls for Speeding National E-Integration

Morocco’s Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani (Arabic website)
Morocco’s Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani (Arabic website)

Morocco’s Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani called for establishing a national e-strategy which promotes the integration of digital technology for the African country to catch up with world countries, after its rank slid in the latest United Nations e-government survey.

In the UN E-Government Survey 2018, Morocco ranked the 110th out of 193 countries vetted worldwide. Before, Morocco ranked 85th.

It is also worth noting that Morocco’s ranking places it sixth among African countries.

The survey aims to promote E-Systems for governing member states of the UN, whereby world governments are asked to develop online platforms that better present public services and provide information concerning certain sectors.

It also measures e-participation and focuses on the use of online services to provide and facilitate citizen access to public information and services, interaction with stakeholders, and participation in the national decision-making processes.

“Morocco is betting on digital transformation in order to create a qualitative leap in economic and social development,” Othmani said.

“We need a combined vision to translate the digital transformation envisaged in our country and ensure maximum use of digital technologies.”

The prime minister went on explaining that aim of his vision for digital transformation is to “create new patterns that provide the comfort of the intruders in their relationship to public administration, nurture a positive atmosphere that increases competitiveness among Moroccan enterprises, especially in the digital market, and facilitate the actualization of Morocco's ambition for African economic integration.”

Othmani cited progress achieved by Morocco’s state institutions on developing online services pertaining to tax return statements for large and medium companies, some licenses such as construction permits, and customs import and export operations.



Gold Slips as US Bond Yields Rise, Investors Assess New Tariffs

Gold rings are displayed in a gold shop in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo
Gold rings are displayed in a gold shop in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo
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Gold Slips as US Bond Yields Rise, Investors Assess New Tariffs

Gold rings are displayed in a gold shop in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo
Gold rings are displayed in a gold shop in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo

Gold prices eased on Tuesday, weighed by higher US Treasury yields as US President Donald Trump announced new tariff proposals on trading partners, including Japan and South Korea.

Spot gold was down 0.2% at $3,328.67 per ounce, as of 1207 GMT. US gold futures fell 0.1% to $3,338.20.

The yield on benchmark US 10-year notes rose to a two-week peak, making the non-yielding bullion less attractive.

"Gold is stuck between a rock and a hard place," said UBS commodity analyst Giovanni Staunovo, Reuters reported.

"Negative for the gold price is the US decision to extend the deadline for a trade deal for many trade partners, positive for the gold price is the fact that key US trading partners in Asia might have to deal with higher tariffs in the near future, weighing on economic growth prospects."

On Monday, Trump told 14 countries that sharply higher tariffs would start on August 1, marking a new phase in the trade war he launched in April, with levies between 25% and 40%.

The new deadline was firm, Trump said, adding that he would consider extensions if countries made proposals for a trade deal.

"Reciprocal tariffs" were to be capped at 10% until July 9 to allow for negotiations, but so far, agreements have been reached only with Britain and Vietnam. In June, Washington and Beijing agreed on a framework covering tariff rates.

Meanwhile, China has warned the Trump administration against reigniting trade tensions and threatened to retaliate against nations that strike deals with the US to exclude it from their supply chains.

Trump's tariffs have stoked inflation fears, further complicating the US Federal Reserve's path to lower interest rates.

Investors await minutes of the Fed's June meeting, due on Wednesday, for more clues into the bank's policy outlook.

Spot silver fell 0.1% to $36.71 per ounce, platinum rose 0.2% to $1,372.51, and palladium rose 0.6% to $1,117.33.