Latest news with #MinisterialDialogue
Maroc
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Maroc
Morocco Advances Democratization of Cultural Access Under HM the King Enlightened Leadership
Morocco is working, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to democratize access to culture, through reinforcing infrastructure, reducing disparities and promoting training in cultural professions, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid said on Monday in Abu Dhabi. Speaking at the ministerial session on "The impact of artificial intelligence on culture and human creativity", held as part of the Ministerial Dialogue of the 7th Abu Dhabi Culture Summit, Bensaid pointed out that culture is a lever for individual fulfillment, a driver of social cohesion and a major source of employment. At the end of the session, attended by several ministers of culture from around the world, the Minister reaffirmed Morocco's commitment to placing culture at the heart of its development project, emphasizing artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool to be put at the service of mankind. He also highlighted the Kingdom's efforts to integrate AI into strategic sectors such as culture and creative industries, pointing out that these technologies help enhance the country's historical heritage, boost its attractiveness to tourists and educators, and create new job opportunities for young people. Bensaid then spoke of adopting a proactive approach to the challenges of digital transformation, calling for continued international debate on the protection of copyright in the digital age, in order to keep pace with technological progress while preserving creators' rights. The Ministerial Dialogue was co-chaired by Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak and Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO Ernesto Ottone. Bensaid, in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab States Regional Consultations for Mondiacult 2025, also took part in the second meeting of the regional consultations held on the sidelines of the Summit. MAP: 28 avril 2025
Express Tribune
26-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
FinMin meets global rating agencies' teams, IMF
Listen to article Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, met with the Fitch Ratings team in Washington, DC, on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Spring Meetings. According to a press statement released on Friday, the finance minister expressed gratitude to Fitch Ratings for upgrading Pakistan's sovereign credit rating from CCC+ to B-, describing it as a reflection of the country's improving macroeconomic outlook and fiscal discipline. He explained that this positive revision would pave the way for Pakistan's return to international financial markets. During the meeting, Aurangzeb also updated the Fitch team on the government's structural reform agenda, especially in the areas of energy, taxation, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), public finance, and debt management. The engagement included detailed responses to Fitch's inquiries regarding ongoing tariff reforms, tax administration improvements, and broader revenue mobilisation strategies. On the same sidelines, the finance minister met with representatives from Moody's, where he reiterated the government's commitment to a structural reform agenda aimed at ensuring Pakistan is firmly set on the trajectory of long-term economic stability. He cited positive economic indicators including low inflation, current and primary account surpluses, exchange rate stability, and record-high remittance inflows as evidence of Pakistan's steady economic footing. Aurangzeb highlighted a comprehensive tax reform initiative currently underway, aimed at expanding and deepening the tax base through improved processes, technology integration, and personnel development. Regarding tariff reforms, he expressed the government's readiness to engage constructively with the United States administration. In another significant engagement, the finance minister met with Jihad Azour, Director for the Middle East and Central Asia at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He reiterated Pakistan's commitment to stay the course on reforms and to build on the achievements of the past eighteen months. As per the statement, Aurangzeb described the credit rating upgrade by Fitch as an external validation of the reform programme's success, and a critical boost to investor confidence in Pakistan's economic trajectory. Speaking at the Vulnerable 20 (V20) Ministerial Dialogue on "Enabling Climate Prosperity," Aurangzeb also outlined Pakistan's Climate Financial Strategy. He said the country was working on a Climate Prosperity Plan and had reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on a new RSF arrangement.
