Morocco

The banks of Morocco rank among the largest on the continent, with a regional footprint matched only by South Africa’s biggest lenders. Recent years have seen these institutions deepen programmes for small and medium-sized enterprises and expand cashless transactions. The industry is not without challenges, however: having dealt with the issue of depressed liquidity levels several years ago,...

Although Morocco is set to see weaker GDP growth in 2016, due in large part to a poor agricultural harvest following low rainfall, a series of financial reforms and initiatives, and strong foreign investment, have positioned the country well for future gains. The kingdom has had success in its recent efforts to build up export-oriented manufacturing projects, which should take over from more...

At the north-west corner of Africa, just 15 km from Europe across the Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco has a strategically important location and for centuries has been a blend of cultures. It is North Africa’s only monarchy and has one of the region’s most stable and most inclusive political systems. The country’s long tradition as an international trading centre continues, with a relatively open...

Thanks to lower oil prices and improving conditions in its major export markets, Morocco’s trade deficit in 2014 shrank by 6.2% over the previous year and looks set to perform even better in 2015. Levels of foreign direct investment, especially from France, have grown substantially in recent years, boosted by investor incentives and good infrastructure, though they could be higher still if...

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