Morocco: Government Allocates $1 Bn to Develop Regions

Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani. (Reuters)
Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani. (Reuters)
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Morocco: Government Allocates $1 Bn to Develop Regions

Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani. (Reuters)
Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani. (Reuters)

Moroccan regions will benefit from financial transfers of $1 billion by the year 2021 which will to improve the regional infrastructure and achieve equitable and balanced development, announced Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani.

He said that under the Finance Act of 2019, the government continues to support the regions by increasing their share of the income tax and company taxes from 4 to 5 percent.

Speaking at parliament, the PM explained that the government's vision is based on each region’s role in economic and social development, as well as reducing social and geographic disparities and ending the isolation of distant regions.

The government was keen on activating each of the Social Rehabilitation Fund and the Regions’ Solidarity Fund, which aim to cover the deficit in human development and basic infrastructure and equipment.

Othmani noted that the government will continue to exert all needed efforts to boost the regional tax collection department and enable it to develop better means of collecting taxes.

Regarding the basic infrastructure, the prime minister said that a series of programs are being implemented for the roads, railways, ports, airports, logistics, construction, public works and services.

He explained that in accordance with the instructions of King Mohammed VI, the government established a new approach to monitor the workshops and investment programs of regional and local development for better results on a regular and efficient basis.

He urged ministers to regularly visit the regions and follow up on projects.

Othmani stressed that the government is keen on directly communicating with all the regions, which will in turn put them in contact with voters.

Government officials have so far visited eight regions, most recently the Oued Ed-Dahab Lagouira, on Saturday.



Gold Extends Slide to 1-week Low on Curbed Safety Demand, Stronger Dollar

A view shows an ingot of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
A view shows an ingot of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Gold Extends Slide to 1-week Low on Curbed Safety Demand, Stronger Dollar

A view shows an ingot of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
A view shows an ingot of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Gold prices extended declines on Tuesday, hitting a more than one-week low, pressured by a jump in US dollar and easing safe-haven demand after reports of a possible Lebanon-Israel ceasefire.

Spot gold was down 0.4% at $2,614.56 per ounce as of 0845 GMT, after hitting its lowest since Nov. 18 earlier in the session. US gold futures edged 0.1% lower to $2,614.80, Reuters reported.

The precious metal fell 3.2% on Monday, its deepest one-day decline in more than five months, on news that Israel looked set to approve a US plan for a ceasefire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah, with further pressure from Trump's nomination of Scott Bessent as the US Treasury secretary.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said it had noted that Trump's circle was speaking about a potential peace plan for Ukraine.

"This has reduced the geopolitical risk premium, leading to a decline in gold prices," said Soni Kumari, a commodity strategist at ANZ, adding that a stronger US dollar is also weighing on investor appetite for gold. The dollar was up by 0.3%, after US President-elect Donald Trump vowed tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, reducing gold's appeal for holders of other currencies.

"So now the focus will shift back to, what Fed is going to do in December meeting," Kumari said. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari, typically on the hawkish end of the US central bank's policy spectrum, said he is open to cutting rates again next month.

Traders will also keep a close eye on US consumer confidence data and the minutes from the Fed's November meeting later in the day.

"I expect gold to trade in a narrow range in the short term, with a slight upward drift," Matt Simpson, a senior analyst at City Index said.

Spot silver slipped by 0.1% to $2,614.80 per ounce, platinum shed 1.1% to $928.40 and palladium was down 0.2% to $971.10.