
Morocco Aims to Reduce Budget Deficit Below 67% by 2027
Rabat – Morocco's Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, said today that the country's budgetary programming for 2025-2027 will focus on reducing the budget deficit and ensuring long-term debt sustainability while maintaining strong investments in social protection.
Speaking before the Finance and Economic Development Committee in Parliament, Fettah said the government is looking to lower the Treasury's debt ratio to below 67% by 2027.
To achieve this, Morocco will reinforce fiscal discipline, including setting a medium-term debt target and controlling public spending while boosting revenues, According to the minister.
She noted progress in revenue collection and deficit reduction in 2024, with the budget deficit shrinking by 0.5% of GDP compared to 2023. She also recalled the government's success in creating fiscal space to finance social protection programs.
The financial strategy has generated MAD 15 billion through reforms in over 100 social programs, alongside MAD 11 billion mobilized through tax revenues. In addition, more than MAD 71 billion from the public budget (2023-2025) have been allocated to expanding social security and direct financial support programs.
Savings from subsidy reform have also played a key role in strengthening the Social Protection and Social Cohesion Fund as it helped finance key social initiatives, Fettah added.
Hassan Boubrik, Director General of the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), reported significant growth in social security coverage. By the end of 2024, 24.7 million Moroccans were covered, with daily claims submissions reaching 110,719.
To accommodate the growing number of insured individuals, the CNSS has introduced measures to improve service efficiency and digitization. Processing times for claims now average nine days, and an electronic medical card system is set to be launched to enhance healthcare accessibility. Tags: Budget deficitbudget deficit in Morocco
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Morocco World
12 hours ago
- Morocco World
NARSA Calls Out Driving Schools for Unfair Practices, Misleading Ads
Rabat – The National Road Safety Agency (NARSA) recently exposed troubling practices within some driving schools, warning that misleading advertisements and undervalued training fees threaten the integrity of the driving education sector. These practices besmirch the reputation of the profession, disrupt fair competition, and ultimately harm both learners and reputable institutions. In an official statement published this week, NARSA reminded the public that the fees for theoretical and practical training are strictly regulated by Ministerial Decision No. 1673.18, issued by the Ministry of Equipment and Transport. The decision sets reference prices for the different categories of driving licenses to ensure consistency and quality among all the training providers. For instance, the training fees for Class A and A1 licenses are set at MAD 2,100, while Class B and E(B) licenses require a fee of MAD 2,250. More advanced categories, such as Class C and D, carry fees of MAD 4,150, and the higher categories E(C) and D(E) require MAD 4,550. These tariffs are the standard, and NARSA requires all driving schools to follow these rates so that the rights of both learners and schools are protected. Read also: Driving Exam: Moroccan Road Safety Agency Reports Surge in Success Rates The agency confirmed it will take firm action against establishments that fail to comply with these regulations. NARSA plans to use all available legal and administrative tools to sanction offenders and ensure the sector operates under fair and transparent conditions. NARSA also lamented unapproved online content relating to driver's education. Some websites have been sharing inaccurate and unofficial information that could mislead candidates preparing for their driving tests. In response, the agency has initiated legal proceedings against the owners of these sites to halt the spread of such misinformation. Mohamed Ait Arjdal, head of NARSA's driving education sector, explained that these measures aim not only to enforce rules but also to safeguard fairness in the industry. He pointed out that undervaluing training fees and disregarding contractual obligations undermine trust and reduce the overall quality of driver education. 'This effort guarantees equal opportunities for candidates and maintains a fair environment for schools that follow the law,' Ait Arjdal told SNRTnews. He urged learner drivers to be wary of unrealistically low prices and misleading ads, stressing the importance of choosing schools that adhere to official norms to be well prepared and pass the driving license examination. Tags: driving licensedriving license examMorocco driving licenseNARSA


Morocco World
18 hours ago
- Morocco World
Agriculture: Moroccan Growers Struggle to Find Manpower Despite High Unemployment
Rabat — Moroccan farmers are reportedly struggling to find agricultural workers, despite high unemployment affecting all sectors, including the agricultural industry. Hortdaily shed light on the struggles faced by Moroccan growers, stressing that the issue is a new and different kind of scarcity that has emerged. 'Moroccan growers are struggling to mobilize manpower and sound the alarm about an imminent crisis, the first signs of which are already present,' the same source said, quoting growers' concerns. One of the speakers described the situation as a 'labor scarcity' that affects all regions across the country, impacting the profitability of different sectors. Othmane Michbal, the deputy general manager of Domaines Zniber, described the situation as 'so dire today that labor is sourced anywhere from 100 to 150 kilometers away from production sites at a high cost.' Laraisse Esserhini, director of the Moroccan Association of Fruit and Vegetable Exporting Producers, echoed the same concerns, noting that the shortage of workers is extending to all production zones across the country. Immigration is one of the factors behind the shortage, as many Moroccan agricultural workers prefer to go to European countries on seasonal or permanent contracts to seek better opportunities. On an annual basis, dozens of agricultural workers flock to Spain in different seasons, including for strawberry collection campaigns. Unemployment or low pay rates are among the major reasons why Moroccans seek to leave the country for Europe or beyond. Recent data from the Moroccan High Commission for Planning (HCP) showed in November last year that the unemployment rate climbed to 13.6% in the third quarter of 2024. This means that unemployment inched up from 13.5% to 13.6%, showing a continuous trend in the lack of job opportunities, both in rural and urban areas. The statistics showed that unemployment shows the largest rise in the construction sector. The challenges also extend to the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors. Climate crisis affects the sector In addition to labor scarcity, Morocco is also facing other challenges driven by climate change. The North African country is enduring a seventh dry season due to the lack of rainfall and limited water reserves. Recent statistics from government sources show that the country has a capacity of one and a half years of potable drinking water. Water scarcity concerns led to several cautious measures, including the cancellation of the Eid Al Adha sacrifice ritual this year, as well as rational water use recommendations from the government. However, these concerns come amid the continuous production of water-thirsty crops, including watermelon and avocados. Recent reports showed that Morocco claimed a new place among the world's key avocado exporters. It has crossed the 100,000-ton mark in avocado exports, EastFruit reported. Parliament Member Fatima Tamni, who spoke to Morocco World News (MWN), condemned the lack of restrictions on the production of water-thirsty crops amid drought. 'The government is not fulfilling its role; it has not reduced exports or decreased the quantities of crops grown, all of which deplete water resources,' she told MWN, noting that the focus should first be on self-sufficiency and food security so that Morocco can support purchasing power and curb inflation. 'The government has not considered reducing the vegetables and fruits directed for export, including avocados, export is possible but not at the expense of Morocco's food security due to rising prices,' she added. Tags: agriculture exportincrease of unemployment


Morocco World
3 days ago
- Morocco World
Morocco Launches Repartition Process for Women Held in Syria
Moroccan authorities have reportedly initiated an administrative process requiring families to complete repatriation forms for their relatives held in northeastern Syrian camps. These include the infamous Al-Roj and Al-Hol camps, which are under Kurdish control and currently host around 8,000 people from 55 different countries—mostly families of former ISIS fighters. Currently, at least 476 Moroccans remain stranded in Syria, including 103 women and 285 children. This long-neglected issue is resurfacing in the wake of a major diplomatic shift between Morocco and Syria following the ousting of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December. This development offers long-awaited hope for women and children who have been trapped in these camps under dire humanitarian conditions. Families and human rights advocates have lamented Moroccan authorities for years of inaction with many calling for a phased repatriation process that prioritizes the most vulnerable. While some activists urged for a security-focused, case-by-case assessment—citing concerns about extremist affiliations—others argued that women and children should be approached differently, recognizing that many were coerced or manipulated into joining ISIS or living in exile. Signs of deepening Morocco-Syria normalization The renewed ties between Morocco and Syria have been marked by significant diplomatic gestures, including the closure of the Polisario Front's office in Damascus and King Mohammed VI's decision to reopen Morocco's embassy there after nearly 13 years. The embassy's reopening was officially announced in May, signaling a major foreign policy realignment. Mohammed VI conveyed the decision in a letter to Syria's interim President, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, which was read by Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita during the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad. The letter reaffirmed Morocco's solidarity with Syria's territorial integrity and national sovereignty, while expressing support for the Syrian people's aspirations for freedom, security and stability. This diplomatic thaw has brought renewed attention to unresolved humanitarian concerns—chief among them, the repatriation of Moroccan nationals held in Syrian camps and prisons. According to a report by the Tetouan-based North Observatory of Human Rights, 38% of Moroccan jihadists who joined ISIS in 2015 were women. The report also emphasized how ISIS often targeted Moroccan women with emotionally manipulative messages, aiming to recruit them alongside their husbands and children, seizing the strategic role women have played in persuading entire families to join the group.