Latest news with #Akhannouch
Morocco World
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Morocco World
Stellantis Strengthens Presence in Morocco with €1.2 Billion Project
Morocco has taken a new step in its industrial push with the inauguration of the expanded Stellantis plant in Kenitra. Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch presided over the ceremony on Wednesday and described the project as part of the country's long-term ambition to grow a competitive, integrated, and value-driven economy. The €1.2 billion investment includes €702 million dedicated to developing local suppliers. It will double the plant's production capacity and raise the local integration rate to 75% by 2030. The expansion is also set to create 3,100 direct jobs and strengthen Morocco's position as a key player in the global automotive industry. Akhannouch said the project reflects the goals of the New Investment Charter and Morocco´s industrial roadmap. It transcends numbers and output, he noted, pointing to a wider effort to build a resilient industrial fabric rooted in national production. Minister of Industry Ryad Mezzour emphasized the scale of the achievement, saying Morocco now stands among the few countries with an annual automotive production capacity exceeding one million vehicles. He called the project a result of shared confidence between Morocco and Stellantis, and a sign of growing technological independence that offers skilled opportunities for young Moroccans. Samir Cherfan, Stellantis' Chief Operating Officer for the Middle East and Africa, said the Kenitra project has already exceeded expectations. Since its launch in 2016, the factory has progressed more quickly than planned. Its production reached 200,000 vehicles per year by the end of 2020, three years ahead of schedule. Stellantis plans to produce 350,000 engines annually at the site. The first phase began in May 2025 with the assembly of a new Mild Hybrid generation. A second phase focused on machining is set to begin in November 2026. The group has also expanded its micromobility operations. Since January 2025, annual production of Citroën Ami, Opel Rocks-e, and Fiat Topolino models increased from 20,000 to 70,000 units. In July 2025, the site will launch new fully electric three-wheeled vehicles and start producing electric charging stations with a projected output of 204,000 units. Tags: automobile industryMoroccoMorocco economyStellantis
Morocco World
7 days ago
- Health
- Morocco World
Morocco Expands Social Protection Coverage to Over 11 Million Citizens
Rabat — More than 11.4 million Moroccan citizens now receive basic mandatory health insurance for people unable to pay contributions, Morocco's head of government Aziz Akhannouch announced Tuesday. Speaking during an oral questions session at the House of Advisors Akhannouch said that over 4 million households — representing more than 11.4 million people — benefit from the AMO-Tadamon program as of June 2025. The program provides free healthcare and hospitalization at public facilities, and the same services offered by the National Social Security Fund when households choose private establishments. The government covers contribution payments for these households at MAD 9.5 billion ($ 1.05 billion) annually to ensure the program's sustainability. Health insurance coverage among Moroccans jumped from 42.2% before the program launched to 88% currently. The prime minister also reported that nearly 4 million households received direct social aid by the end of April, covering 12 million people. He outlined that recipients include 5.5 million children, over one million people aged 60 and above, and more than 420,000 widows, including nearly 340,000 without children. Total aid distributed through the program exceeds MAD 34 billion ($ 3.75 billion) since its launch. Speaking of social protection spending, Akhannouch said it will reach MAD 39 billion ($ 4.3 billion) in 2025 and over MAD 41 billion ($ 4.53 billion) in 2026, up from approximately MAD 32 billion ($ 3.53 billion) in 2024. The government expanded retirement plan enrollment to guarantee professional and social futures for active workers and will implement unemployment compensation for employed workers before the end of this year to ensure their social and economic stability, he noted. Healthcare and education investments Morocco launched comprehensive health system reforms to strengthen sector efficiency and improve medical care nationwide. The health budget increased 65% from MAD 19.7 billion ($ 2.17 billion) in 2021 to MAD 32.6 billion ($ 3.6 billion) in 2025, the head of government said. For education, the government is implementing the 2022-2026 education reform roadmap, allocating over MAD 85 billion ($ 9.39 billion) for 2025 with an additional MAD 9.5 billion ($ 1.04 billion) planned annually through 2027, he noted. Wage increases The government approved significant salary increases for approximately 4.25 million citizens — 1.25 million civil servants and 3 million private sector employees — at a total cost exceeding MAD 45 billion ($ 4.97 billion) through 2026. The increases include a general salary raise of MAD 1,000 ($ 110.5)net monthly in two stages, a 15% increase in the minimum wage for non-agricultural activities, and higher minimum wages for agricultural workers. Akhannouch stressed that strengthening social state foundations represents a political and strategic choice the government prioritized from the beginning of its mandate, reflecting King Mohammed VI's ambitious social project for a modern social state that guarantees all Moroccans' right to decent living. Tags: health insuranceMoroccoSocial coverage protection
Morocco World
7 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Plans $3.9 Billion in Social Protection Spending for 2025
Rabat – Spending on social protection in Morocco will reach MAD 39 billion ($3.9 billion) in 2025 and is expected to exceed MAD 41 billion ($4.1 billion) in 2026. In 2024, the government devoted around MAD 32 billion ($3.2 billion) to this effort. Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch shared these projections on Tuesday during a plenary session at the House of Councillors dedicated to questions on general policy. Akhannouch said the government fulfilled its commitment to expand access to social protection. Basic mandatory health insurance now covers a wider population, and the newly launched direct social assistance program supports vulnerable groups. Additionally, retirement systems have been extended to include more categories of workers. Authorities also plan to generalize unemployment benefits before the end of this year to strengthen job stability and provide social and economic security for workers. The Head of Government described the effort as a deliberate and strategic choice made from the beginning of the current mandate. He said the government's direction responds not only to national and global challenges but also to the country's broader ambition to reshape its social model. Akhannouch referred to the project as part of an ongoing transformation that gives all Moroccans the right to a decent life and prepares the country to meet future demands with confidence and resilience. In healthcare, Akhannouch said the government launched a comprehensive reform to improve the national system. Public funding for the health sector in Morocco is set to reach MAD 32.6 billion ($3.3 billion) in 2025, up from MAD 19.7 billion ($2 billion) in 2021. On education, the government has advanced the 2022 to 2026 reform roadmap. The plan draws on the framework law for education, training, and research. Akhannouch confirmed that over MAD 85 billion ($8.6 billion) has been allocated for 2025, with an additional MAD 9.5 billion ($960 million) to be mobilized each year through 2027. The Head of Government also pointed to the activation of the National Charter for institutionalizing social dialogue. This effort led to major salary increases for 4.25 million people, including 1.25 million public sector employees and 3 million private sector workers. The total cost of these raises will exceed MAD 45 billion ($4.5 billion) by 2026. Under the new agreement, workers will receive a general salary increase of MAD 1,000 ($100) per month in two stages. The government also raised the legal minimum wage, with a 15% increase for non-agricultural sectors and a separate rise for agricultural workers. Despite the scale of investment required for these reforms, Akhannouch said the government remains focused on restoring fiscal balance. Since the beginning of the mandate, he said, authorities have worked to rebuild public finances and create the budgetary space needed to support both social and economic progress. While the government's social protection efforts have been commended for their scale and ambition, they remain far from reflecting the daily reality many Moroccans endure. Despite increased funding, millions still face persistent economic insecurity, limited access to quality healthcare, and precarious job conditions. The official narrative, though optimistic, risks overlooking the depth of hardship that continues to define life for much of the population. Tags: akhannouchhealth careMoroccosocial protection
Morocco World
11-07-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Post-Earthquake Reconstruction: Over 46,000 Families Restore Homes in Al Haouz
Rabat – More than 46,000 families have now rebuilt or rehabilitated their homes in the earthquake-hit province of Al Haouz. According to new figures shared after a government commission meeting held Thursday in Rabat, the total amount of financial support allocated for reconstruction has exceeded MAD 4.2 billion ($425 million), while emergency aid payments, set at MAD 2,500 per household per month, have reached over MAD 2.4 billion ($243 million). These numbers reflect the scale of the national response launched in the wake of last year's disaster. Chaired by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, the meeting brought together members of the Interministerial Commission overseeing the program. In addition to the thousands of homes now restored, the commission noted the near-complete dismantling of temporary shelters. From a peak of 129,000 tents, only 47 remain in place, with plans for full removal by September. Local task forces have also found on-the-ground solutions for 4,895 houses in isolated mountainous areas. At the start of the meeting, Akhannouch acknowledged the pace of the work and called on all departments and agencies to intensify their efforts to complete the remaining projects with urgency and efficiency. The commission also reviewed progress on essential infrastructure. Work on four sections of the RN7 highway currently stands between 25% and 65% completion. Meanwhile, construction crews have launched projects covering 165 kilometers of roads and 29 engineering structures, backed by a budget of MAD 920 million ($93 million). In the education sector, 269 schools have completed reconstruction or repair. In healthcare, rehabilitation has finished in 70 health centers. Authorities expect to finalize work on 35 additional centers by August 2025, and 14 more by October of the same year. In rural areas, the government has distributed livestock and barley to farmers, while also restoring agricultural infrastructure. Repair works on 43 damaged hydrological stations have concluded, and water networks have been reconnected in multiple douars. Tourism, another pillar of local life, has seen 229 establishments benefit from the first round of financial aid, totaling MAD 61.1 million ($6.2 million). A second round brought support to 95 more businesses, with an additional MAD 30 million ($3 million) disbursed. The meeting also addressed support for small merchants. A total of 1,600 shop owners who lost their places of business in the earthquake have received direct assistance. Despite the commendable scale of reconstruction and financial support, these efforts still fall short of addressing the immense and lasting consequences left by the Al Haouz earthquake. The sheer number of affected families and the extent of damage to infrastructure, homes, and livelihoods demand more sustained and comprehensive intervention. Many communities, especially in remote and mountainous areas, continue to face significant challenges in access to basic services and economic recovery. While crucial, emergency aid offers only temporary relief, and the pace of rebuilding essential public facilities such as schools and health centers remains slow, given the urgent needs. Moreover, the allocation of funds, though substantial on paper, struggles to keep up with inflation, rising construction costs, and the complex logistics of rebuilding in difficult terrain. The long-term social and economic scars require a strategy that goes beyond immediate reconstruction and focuses instead on resilience, sustainable development, and support for local economies to truly restore stability and hope for the people of Al Haouz. Tags: Al HaouzAl Haouz EarthquakeEarthquakeMorocco
Morocco World
07-07-2025
- Health
- Morocco World
Morocco Places Health Reform at the Heart of Development Strategy
Morocco's Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, has reaffirmed that overhauling the national health system stands as a strategic pillar in the country's push for socio-economic transformation. During a plenary session in the House of Representatives on Monday, he described the health sector as a foundation for the long-term vision, rather than a simple sectoral reform. The session focused on the state of the national health system, examining recent developments and long-term ambitions. According to Akhannouch, the government's current approach reflects a clear political choice to initiate structural change in how healthcare operates across the country. This reform, he explained, goes beyond superficial adjustments and seeks to reconstruct the system through bold legislative, administrative, and financial decisions. At the core of the effort is a framework law that now underpins Morocco's health policy. It outlines four main axes: improving governance with a stronger regional structure, developing and supporting human resources in healthcare, expanding and upgrading medical services, and integrating digital technologies into the sector. The scale of the reform is also reflected in the budget. Since 2021, public spending on health has risen significantly, from MAD 19.7 billion ($1.9 billion) to a projected MAD 32.6 billion ($3.2 billion) in 2025, an increase of more than 65% during the current government's term. One of the most significant outcomes so far is the expansion of medical coverage. What was once limited to salaried employees and civil servants now extends to the entire population. The government considers this shift essential to ensuring equitable access to healthcare and sees it as a turning point in public service delivery. Health security has emerged as a strategic tool to support the broader project of universal coverage, in line with royal directives. The government has linked this goal with its larger plans for national development, treating health not as an isolated sector but as a central part of Morocco's social and economic future. The reform's ambition lies in its scope and direction. It seeks to change how healthcare is delivered, how it is governed, and how citizens interact with the system. However, despite the government's ambitious agenda, many Moroccans continue to face serious challenges in accessing quality healthcare. Pensioners, in particular, often struggle with long wait times, shortages of medical staff, and limited services in public hospitals. For large segments of the population, especially in rural areas, the promised improvements remain very distant from Moroccans' daily reality. Tags: akhannouchHealthhealth reformMorocco
