Moroccan Govt Heightens Money-laundering Combating Procedures

Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration against corruption and official abuses, in the Rif region in Rabat, Morocco June 11, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer
Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration against corruption and official abuses, in the Rif region in Rabat, Morocco June 11, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer
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Moroccan Govt Heightens Money-laundering Combating Procedures

Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration against corruption and official abuses, in the Rif region in Rabat, Morocco June 11, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer
Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration against corruption and official abuses, in the Rif region in Rabat, Morocco June 11, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer

The Moroccan government has amended a law to combat money laundering in implementation of the Financial Action Task Force recommendation.

Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine al-Othmani considered the ratification a qualitative addition for the sake of eradicating this crime that conceals accumulated revenues of other crimes whether corruption or others.

He added, during the government’s meeting on Thursday, that this law would enable the country to combat this crime and others. From here, the amendment was significant because combating corruption is an essential tool that could maintain security.

The PM reinstated the procedures taken to combat corruption, including establishing the National Institution for Integrity and Combating and Preventing Bribery (Instance Nationale de la Probité, de la Prévention et de la Lutte contre la Corruption) and other procedures.

Othmani stated that the purpose is to close corruption channels on all levels. Earlier, Morocco underwent the first round of mutual assessment of the system for combating money-laundry and terrorism-funding in 2007. The second round underwent mutual evaluation in Sep. 2017.

The first report on mutual assessment in Morocco was prepared during the general meeting in Beirut in November 2018, also in the general meeting in April 2019 in Amman. In the report, Morocco got a ‘basic’ level in the field of investigating terrorism funding crimes and bringing the involved to court.

Morocco was among the pioneering countries in the region in preparing the first risk assessment report on money-laundry and terrorism-funding, with the assistance of the World Bank.



Indonesia Expects to Conclude Free Trade Talks with EU by End of June

People attend a morning prayer on the street during Eid al-Adha celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, 06 June 2025. (EPA)
People attend a morning prayer on the street during Eid al-Adha celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, 06 June 2025. (EPA)
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Indonesia Expects to Conclude Free Trade Talks with EU by End of June

People attend a morning prayer on the street during Eid al-Adha celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, 06 June 2025. (EPA)
People attend a morning prayer on the street during Eid al-Adha celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, 06 June 2025. (EPA)

Indonesia said on Saturday that free trade negotiations with the European Union, which have been going on for nine years, are expected to finish by the end of June.

Airlangga Hartarto, the chief economic minister for Southeast Asia's biggest economy, met with EU Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic in Brussels on Friday.

"Indonesia and the European Union have agreed to conclude outstanding issues and we are ready to announce a conclusion of substantial negotiations by the end of June 2025," Airlangga Hartarto said in a statement.

He did not disclose details about what agreements may have been reached.

Denis Chaibi, EU Ambassador to Indonesia, said: "Negotiations are ongoing and substance will determine timing. We will communicate in details when we have an outcome."

The EU is Indonesia's fifth biggest trade partner, with total trade between the two reaching $30.1 billion last year. Indonesia had a $4.5 billion trade surplus, Airlangga said.

Indonesia and the EU have previously disagreed on EU trade rules for products with potential links to deforestation that could affect Indonesian palm oil, as well as Jakarta's ban on exports of raw minerals.

Indonesian officials have been motivated to accelerate talks on free trade agreements, keen to diversify the country's export destinations as they deal with US tariff challenges.

Seeking to end US trade deficits worldwide, US President Donald Trump announced sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs that have since been paused until July.

Indonesia is facing a 32% tariff rate.