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Rabat – As part of Morocco World News’ Women’s Award 2022, we look into the profile of Morocco’s inspiring Minister of the Economy, Nadia Fettah Alaoui.
The first woman to lead one of the country’s most important ministries, Fettah has rapidly made her name in both business and politics. She is a shining example for young women pursuing their ambitions in both the public and private sector.
Born and raised in Rabat, Nadia Fettah had big shoes to fill from a young age. Expectations were high for the daughter of the late Mohammed Fettah, who served as both Minister of Mines and Energy and Director General of Morocco’s largest company, OCP. Her background meant that hard work and education were valued heavily by her family.
Nadia Fettah completed her high school education at the Dar Essalam school operated by the French Lycée Descartes, before moving to France to study at the prestigious HEC Paris business school in Jouy-en-Josas.
After graduation, Fettah moved back to Morocco, where she joined the US accounting and consultancy firm Arthur Andersen in Casablanca. The renowned US firm employed Fettah for three years, before she made the first defining move in her career.
In 2000, Fettah took the risk of starting her own company, Maroc Invest Finances Group, where she would work as both founder and manager for five years. In 2005, she rejoined the corporate structure when she was asked to run the support and finance division of CNIA assurance, which had recently been purchased by Saham Group.
Her name quickly grew within the group, and she was promoted to become the Group’s Deputy CEO of Finance and Mergers and Acquisitions, before joining Saham Finance as Deputy CEO of Finance & Operations in the following year. She eventually rose to become chair of Saham’s board of directors in Morocco before stepping into politics in 2019.
Fettah had long remained neutral in Moroccan politics, but her exemplary career prompted her candidacy to head Morocco’s important Ministry of Tourism. Following her appointment to the Ministry, she chose to join the National Rally of Independents (RNI), led by former Minister of Agriculture, Aziz Achannouch.
Ever since, Nadia Fettah Alaoui has firmly established her presence among Morocco’s decision-makers. She served admirably as Minister of Tourism during some of the sector’s darkest days amid the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing her into the spotlight of Moroccan politics in an election that called for political change and economic development.
As a professional uniquely qualified in both business and politics, Fettah was asked to lead one of Morocco’s most important ministries, the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Against a highly turbulent economic backdrop, Nadia Fettah Alaoui has become the first woman to lead the Ministry of Economy and Finance, rapidly demonstrating her wisdom and vision for a stronger Moroccan economy.
Under Fettah’s leadership, the Ministry has introduced a number of key initiatives and policies that focus on rapidly growing foreign direct investment (FDI) in Morocco. Since then, the country has attracted the attention of international investors through noteworthy domestic investment brands such as Morocco Now and Morocco Tech.
Nadia Fettah, who regularly expresses herself in English online, oversaw the gradual prioritization of compelling English-language marketing expressions in the Ministry’s international investment pitches. Her attention to branding, image, and public events shows a renewed corporate approach to ministry operations since Fettah’s appointment.
Now, Morocco can feel confident it has one of its most talented citizens at the head of the economic ministry. Raised in a home where the joys and pitfalls of politics and business were evident in equal measure, she now faces a tough task that appears well-suited to her unique skillset.
Morocco’s economy currently faces intense pressure due to the geopolitical fallout of the Ukraine conflict, rising food and energy prices, a disrupted global supply chain, ongoing COVID-19 concerns, and severe drought. On top of managing all this, Fettah is spearheading Morocco’s international FDI pitch, including at the Dubai Expo, while helping to revive the country’s crucial tourism sector.
While the road ahead is difficult, Nadia Fettah Alaoui has shown herself to be more than capable at tackling tough challenges. Given her exemplary track record in both business and politics, Morocco appears to have placed a bright star at the head of its economy.
