Morocco: Government Backs 28 Projects Worth $2.4 Bn

Meeting of Morocco's Investment Commission (Asharq al-Awsat)
Meeting of Morocco's Investment Commission (Asharq al-Awsat)
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Morocco: Government Backs 28 Projects Worth $2.4 Bn

Meeting of Morocco's Investment Commission (Asharq al-Awsat)
Meeting of Morocco's Investment Commission (Asharq al-Awsat)

Morocco's Investment Commission, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani, approved Wednesday 28 new investment projects worth $2.4 billion in various sectors.

The committee studies projects worth over $21 million and approves their governmental support either directly or through the Hassan II Development Fund. It also approves the privatization of public facilities for the private investment projects.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Committee's meeting, Othmani explained that the projects presented were diverse and tackle various vital sectors, such as industry, tourism, leisure, health, transport and infrastructure.

He stressed that the meeting comes within the context of the government's keenness to continue to implement a number of structural reforms aimed at stimulating and supporting investment and enhancing the confidence of private investors in the business climate in Morocco.

The PM indicated that the government is also working on a number of legislative reforms aimed at modernizing the legal aspects of business, improving Morocco's image as a preferred destination for investors.

The government also aims to improve Morocco's ranking in the World Bank's annual "Doing Business" report, which will put Morocco among the top fifty economies in the world.

In this context, the Prime Minister noted that the government prepared a draft law relating to movable collateral, with the aim of facilitating contracting to various funding sources available through the provision of movable collateral.

The draft also wants to improve the competitive conditions of contracting through securing financing for investments and consolidating the principles and rules of transparency in transactions relating to movable collateral.

In addition, Othmani informed the press that two bills on changing and completing the law relating to incorporated companies, as well as the law pertaining to partnership, limited partnership, partnership in commendam, and limited liability companies.

This will help enhance the protection of small investors and establish the principle of transparency and good governance as well as national legal arsenal with international standards.



IMF Approves Third Review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 Bln Bailout

Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
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IMF Approves Third Review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 Bln Bailout

Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage
Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF along with Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF and Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka at the IMF, attend a press conference organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thilina Kaluthotage

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the third review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 billion bailout on Saturday but warned that the economy remains vulnerable.
In a statement, the global lender said it would release about $333 million, bringing total funding to around $1.3 billion, to the crisis-hit South Asian nation. It said signs of an economic recovery were emerging, Reuters reported.
In a note of caution, it said "the critical next steps are to complete the commercial debt restructuring, finalize bilateral agreements with official creditors along the lines of the accord with the Official Creditor Committee and implement the terms of the other agreements. This will help restore Sri Lanka's debt sustainability."
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka plunged into its worst financial crisis in more than seven decades in 2022 with a severe dollar shortage sending inflation soaring to 70%, its currency to record lows and its economy contracting by 7.3% during the worst of the fallout and by 2.3% last year.
"Maintaining macroeconomic stability and restoring debt sustainability are key to securing Sri Lanka's prosperity and require persevering with responsible fiscal policy," the IMF said.
The IMF bailout secured in March last year helped stabilize economic conditions. The rupee has risen 11.3% in recent months and inflation disappeared, with prices falling 0.8% last month.
The island nation's economy is expected to grow 4.4% this year, the first increase in three years, according to the World Bank.
However, Sri Lanka still needs to complete a $12.5 billion debt restructuring with bondholders, which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake aims to finalize in December.
Sri Lanka will enter into individual agreements with bilateral creditors including Japan, China and India needed to complete a $10 billion debt restructuring, Dissanayake said.
He won the presidency in September, and his leftist coalition won a record 159 seats in the 225-member parliament in a general election last week.