Mr. Fouzi LEKJAA, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of the budget, and Mr. Achraf Tarsim, Resident Representative of the African Development Bank's National Office in Rabat, signed, Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., at the headquarters of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the following financing agreements with the African Development Bank:
- The agreement to finance the Transformation Support Program for a Digital, Entrepreneurial and Inclusive Moroccan University, worth 120 million Euros, or around 1.28 billion Dirhams;
- The agreement for the financing of the Results-Based Program for the Improvement of Territorial Competitiveness in Morocco, in the amount of 200.31 million Euros, or approximately 2.143 billion Dirhams;
- The agreement to finance the Support program for the inclusive and sustainable development of forest areas, in the amount of 84 million Euros, or around 898 million Dirhams; and
- The agreement for the financing of the Guercif - Nador Motorway Project, worth 200 million Euros, or around 2.14 billion Dirhams.
The aim of the Transformation Support Program for a Digital, Entrepreneurial and Inclusive Moroccan University is to help improve the quality of human capital and empower young people, through inclusive access to excellent, innovative higher education in synergy with the local ecosystem.
The aim of the Results-Based Program for the Improvement of Territorial Competitiveness in Morocco is to contribute to the improvement of territorial competitiveness in order to attract investors, create jobs and improve socio-economic inclusion.
Concerning the Support program for the inclusive and sustainable development of forest areas, it aims to contribute to the development of key forestry sectors and the organization of interprofessions, the promotion of female and youth forestry and aquaculture entrepreneurship, the development of ecotourism, the promotion of PPP and south-south cooperation, and support for the digital transformation of the forestry sector.
As for the Guercif - Nador Motorway Project, its objectives are to contribute to the reinforcement of transport infrastructures in the Oriental region, and to promote the region's economy by providing a high-capacity road link to the country's national motorway network. Thus, the Nador West Med port complex and the associated business park will be served by this motorway project, which will significantly improve the profitability of the port complex and facilitate its operation.
On this occasion, the Minister praised the level and quality of cooperation relations between Morocco and the African Development Bank, and thanked this institution, in the person of Mr. Achraf Tarsim, for the invaluable and constant support it provides to Morocco for the implementation of essential structural reforms and technical assistance in various fields.