Rabat – In just a few months, Morocco’s Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Aziz Akhannouch has once again managed to be named Morocco’s richest man, according to Forbes list of 2018 World’s Billionaires.
According to Forbes 2018’s list, Akhannouch’s fortune is now worth USD 2.2 billion. His wealth increased from USD to 2.1 billion in December 2017 to USD 2.2 billion in March 2018.
Morocco’s second richest man is renowned businessman Othmane Benjelloun, who was dethroned by Akhannouch on Forber’s March and December lists. Benjeloune’s fortune weighs in at USD 1.6 billion, according to Forbes.
In its December’s list, Forbes listed Akhannouch, who is also the Secretary-General of the National Rally of Independence Party, as Morocco’s first richest billionaire. The second place was taken by Benjelloun.
The increase mirrors the positive performance of Akhannouch’s projects: Akwa Group, a multibillion-dollar Moroccan conglomerate with interests in petroleum, gas and chemicals through, as well as his publicly-traded subsidiaries Afriquia Gas and Maghreb Oxygene.
Akhannouch’s fortune was boosted through his activities in media, real estate and in the field of hospitality. Forbes also highlighted his wife’s, Salwa Akhannouch, activities. Salwa, businesswoman and Aksal group founder, has launched earlier this year her new smart beauty and cosmetics store, Yan&One, in Casablanca’s Morocco Mall.
