Morocco Expects Quarterly Growth of 3.3%

Morocco Expects Quarterly Growth of 3.3%
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Morocco Expects Quarterly Growth of 3.3%

Morocco Expects Quarterly Growth of 3.3%

Morocco’s High Commission for Planning (HCP) expects economic growth to amount to 3.3 percent in Q1 2020, exceeding the 2.5 percent growth during the same period in 2019.

It attributed this growth to anticipated growth in the agricultural activities sector by 6.8 percent and the non-agricultural activities by about 2.8 percent, during this years’ first quarter.

It also expected a less restrictive international context for the national economy in the first quarter of 2020.

“With the fears of a global recession and the easing of trade tensions between China and the United States, world trade will pick up some momentum.”

“Under these conditions, the global demand addressed to Morocco would benefit from a slight revival of dynamism in imports from the eurozone and would show an increase of 1.3 percent, in annual variation,” according to the economic outlook.

It also pointed to an expected development in the national economy during the first quarter of 2020 “in light of an international circumstance characterized by a slight improvement compared to the previous quarter.”

It comes in line with the decrease in fears of a global economic crisis and the decrease in trade tension between China and the United States.

The HCP noted that global trade exchanges will witness a slight recovery, while the global economy will continue to grow at a below-average rate.

It said the global economy will remain subject to inflationary pressures associated with the hike in oil prices in international markets, as the inflation rate will be close to two percent at the global level.

Meanwhile, the global demand for Moroccan exports is expected to increase by 3.1 percent in 2020, the HCP said.

The report revealed that consumption loans increased by 4.7 percent in the last quarter of 2019, proving that the expenditure of Moroccan households is on the rise, along with purchase power.

Consumption expenditure for Moroccan households reached 2.5 percent, compared to two percent in the previous quarter, while public expenses increased by 3.7 percent.



FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)

Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that the organization will take an active role at COP16, the UN conference on combating desertification, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in early December.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he expressed confidence that the conference—the first of its kind in the Middle East—would produce significant outcomes.

Elwaer’s comments came during a roundtable organized by FAO’s regional office in Cairo, attended by a select group of media representatives. The session focused on FAO’s participation in the upcoming conference and the importance of the Rio Trio —the integrated framework of the three major UN conventions addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and desertification.

Fida Haddad, FAO’s Program Officer for Land Rehabilitation and Climate Change, highlighted the interconnectedness of the three conventions and noted that COP16 would place a strong emphasis on land and water rehabilitation and their sustainable management.

Haddad pointed out that approximately 90% of the Middle East is affected by arid conditions. Despite this, local communities and Arab governments have made notable progress in addressing desertification and drought. She also announced that, for the first time, FAO has successfully placed food systems on the COP16 agenda, enabling discussions on how land rehabilitation can enhance food supply chains and systems.

Elwaer underscored FAO’s central role in achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): eradicating hunger. He emphasized that FAO actively engages in the UN conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification, which collectively contribute to this mission.

FAO’s focus, according to Elwaer, is on transforming food and agricultural systems to become more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable, aiming for better production, nutrition, and livelihoods. He highlighted the organization’s success in integrating these priorities into the agendas of the three conventions and collaborating with host countries on joint initiatives.

He further noted that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 is particularly significant for the region, which faces pressing challenges such as water scarcity, desertification, and food insecurity. The conference presents an opportunity for Middle Eastern nations to highlight these issues, explore solutions, and ensure their inclusion in global environmental discussions, not only at this event but in future COP sessions, he underlined.

Elwaer emphasized the growing global attention on desertification, as it is now impacting regions previously unaffected, such as southern Europe and parts of Latin America. These areas are witnessing alarming declines in arable land and forests, prompting them to seek lessons from the Arab world, which has developed resilience strategies to combat desertification over centuries.

FAO will have a strong presence at COP16, with two dedicated pavilions—one in the Blue Zone for official delegations and another in the Green Zone to engage civil society and conference participants, he said.

He added that in collaboration with Saudi Arabia and the UN, FAO will lead coordination on Food Day and Governance Day, scheduled for December 5 and 6, respectively. The organization will also participate in other specialized sessions throughout the conference.