Rabat – The global level of public investments in Morocco increased by 18.4% between 2011 and 2020, reaching MAD 198 billion at the end of 2019, announced the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Administration Reform, on Monday, December 30.
The growth in investments was accompanied by a sustained budget execution that reduced reported debts to MAD 12 billion in 2018 from MAD 18 billion in 2014, notes the ministry.
Investment budget execution has also increased from 70% in 2014 to 79% in 2018, adds the ministry’s report.
The report focused on the regional allocation of investments in Morocco.
In 2019, a budget of MAD 6.58 billion aimed to reduce territorial disparities and improve the socio-economic condition of Moroccans, especially in rural areas. The budget has allowed building 5,000 kilometers of roads and rural tracks. It also covered building or renovating 200 health facilities and 800 schools, along with linking 300 villages to electricity.
A total of MAD 80 billion went to development projects in Morocco’s southern regions in 2019, including MAD 44.7 billion to the region of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, MAD 22.8 billion for Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, MAD 11 billion for Guelmim-Oued Noun, and MAD 1.3 billion for interregional projects.
The projects concerned mainly the fields of health care, electricity, and renewable energy, according to the ministry.
The report noted the major infrastructure projects in 2019. A budget of MAD 4.5 billion went to linking the new Nador West Med port to the highway and to the train network. It also contributed to the construction of Casablanca’s bypass highway over 31.5 kilometers.
The document concludes by shedding light on the regional disparities in terms of public investments. According to the ministry’s study, six Moroccan regions monopolize around 67% of Morocco’s investment budget, despite progressing at a rate below the national average between 2001 and 2017.
