AS FAR qualified for the final game after trashing Raja Aïn Harrouda 6-0, while USSB bested Raja Aït Iazza on penalties.

AS FAR had won the 2020-2021 Women's Throne Cup after beating Sporting Casablanca 5-0 in the final game.

"Arab trade integration requires several fundamental aspects, including the harmonization of standards," Mezzour said at the Arab Food Security Conference, held under the theme "Agri-food industries and their role in achieving food security".

The minister highlighted the importance of joint action between Arab countries in terms of price control, the exploration of investment and cooperation opportunities, in order to achieve the necessary flexibility of distribution chains in this region of the world, in addition to strengthen innovation and promote scientific research.

In the same vein, the minister emphasized the importance of the convergence of distribution chains and cooperation in the field of industry and processing.

Placed under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, the two-day Conference brings together researchers and experts from the Arab world which will address vital issues related to food security in Arab countries.

Organized by the Federation of Moroccan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the League of Arab Chambers, this meeting is an opportunity to compare, analyze experiences and explore the different levels of expertise of Arab countries.

Ambassador Mohamed Arrouchi, Morocco's Permanent Representative to the AU and the ECA-UN, addressed the gathering and emphasized Morocco's readiness to contribute to the AU's development goals. "I would like to confirm Morocco's readiness to share its experience and expertise in development financing, sustainable development goals (SDGs), and the aspirations of Agenda 2063."

The diplomat's remarks shed light on the financial challenges facing the AU, particularly the allocation of a significant portion of its budget to peace and security in previous years. This prompts a crucial evaluation of the effectiveness of this approach in achieving peace and security on the continent.

Ambassador Arrouchi pointed out that another part of the AU budget remains untapped, waiting to be allocated to address various development-related aspirations. He stressed the need for a shift in approach, stating that "the exclusively security-oriented approach has shown its limitations, a fact confirmed by the relevance of the Nexus approach: peace, security, and development."

The new approach advocated by Arrouchi would involve allocating a substantial percentage of peacekeeping operation budgets to essential development projects. These projects are deemed critical to ensuring stability and addressing the numerous factors that contribute to instability in Africa, including insufficient development, unemployment, food insecurity, and health issues.

The three-day Ministerial Retreat aims to foster discussions and strategic guidance on the outcomes of the Special Project for Agenda 2063. This initiative focuses on evaluating the First Ten-Year Plan and formulating the Second Ten-Year Plan for the implementation of Agenda 2063. Additionally, it addresses the classification of flagship projects and financing-related challenges.

Gross investment (gross fixed capital formation, change in inventories, and net acquisition of valuables) continues to record declines in its rate of increase, posting a 3.1% drop in Q2 2023 after an 8.4% decline in the same quarter last year, with a negative contribution to growth of 1.1 points, the HCP states in an information note on the national economic situation in Q2 2023.

Household final consumption expenditure, on the other hand, rose by 0.4% instead of 0.3%, with a contribution to growth of 0.2 points. Similarly, final consumption by the general government rose by 3.1% instead of 4.9%, with a contribution to growth of 0.6 points.

The HCP also reports that foreign trade in goods and services made a positive contribution to growth of 2.5 points, compared to 3.9 points in the same quarter of the previous year.

In this context, exports of goods and services rose by 6.5% in the second quarter of 2023, compared with 27.7% in the same period last year, with a contribution to growth of 3 points, compared with 9 points in the same period last year.

Imports of goods and services rose by 1% instead of 12.2%, with a negative contribution to growth of 0.5 points instead of 5.1 points a year earlier.

At the beginning of its proceedings, the Council will be briefed by Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, on preparations for the hosting of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, scheduled for October in Marrakech.

It will then examine three draft decrees. The first concerns the definition of the forms of State aid for housing and the procedures for granting it to purchasers of housing intended for the principal dwelling, while the second draft decree relates to the prevention and control of animal risks on airfields and surrounding areas, and the third focuses on the creation of the "Moroccan Youth Award", the statement stresses.

On the same occasion, the Council will study the protocols amending articles 50 (a) and 56 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed on October 6, 2016 in Montreal, as well as a bill approving these two protocols, before considering an agreement on the international road transport of passengers and goods, signed on July 10 in Dakhla between the Moroccan and Guinean governments, with a bill approving the said agreement, adds the same source.

At the end of its work, the Council will consider proposals for appointments to higher office, in accordance with the provisions of Article 92 of the Constitution, it concludes.
 

Non-agricultural activities posted an increase in volume of 2.1%, and those of the agricultural sector rose by 6.3%, says the HCP in an information note on the national economic situation in Q2-2023.

Driven by external demand, this growth was achieved against a backdrop of high inflation and an improvement in the national economy's financing capacity, the same source points out.

In detail, seasonally-adjusted primary sector value added in volume terms rose by 6% in Q2 2023, following a 6.3% increase in agricultural activity and a slowdown in fishing growth to 0.5%.

Value added in the secondary sector fell by 2.8%, compared with 0.1% in the second quarter of the previous year. This decline was due to a fall in value added in the mining industry of 9.4% instead of 7.5%, in building and public works of 2.8% instead of 1%, in processing industries of 2.1% instead of 1.8%, and in electricity and water of 1.4% instead of 1.5%.

Value added in the tertiary sector slowed to 4.4%, marked by a 2.3% rise in real estate services and a slowdown in accommodation and catering (31.2%), transport and warehousing (5.3%), education, health and social services (5, 1%, general public administration and social security services at 4.8%, research and development and business services at 2.2%, information and communication at 2%, financial services and insurance at 1.2% and vehicle trade and repair at 1%.

On Wednesday, the MASI ended up 0.1%.

The Kingdom is represented at the two-day meeting, held under the theme "Innovation for sustainable energy", by director general of the Institute for Research in Solar Energy and Renewable Energies (IRESEN), Samir Rachidi, and vice-president of the Africa Commission at the Moroccan Employers' Association (CGEM), Ali Zerouli, who is also co-chairman of the Green H2 Cluster and head of development at HIF Global for the Africa and Middle East region.

Organized in cooperation with the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESQWA), the forum, which brings together government officials, heads of national and regional organizations and international experts, focuses on the role of innovation in developing the energy sector and promoting sustainable energy in the Arab region, against the backdrop of the latest developments in the electricity market in the Arab world.

The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) has congratulated the Kingdom of Morocco on winning the bid to host AFCON-2025, reported the Gambian media outlet "The Standard."

The decision was announced on Wednesday by the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the Executive Committee of the continental football governing body voted in favor of the North African country during its meeting held in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, recalled the media outlet.

GFF President Lamin Kabba Bajo described the news as a very positive and well-deserved development, according to the publication. He added that with its high-quality infrastructure, no country was more deserving of hosting the 2025 edition.

Bajo paid tribute to Morocco's pan-African gesture, which has continued to open its country and facilities to African national teams, including The Gambia, for many years, the same source added.

"Morocco's various national teams continue to perform exceptionally well at international football tournaments, most recently the Atlas Lions, who became the first African country to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar. This is the result of the investments they have made over the years and continue to make," highlighted Bajo.

He also referred to the bilateral cooperation between Morocco and Gambia, among others, in Africa, saying it's time the continent also gave the Moroccan people reasons to smile.

"I have no doubt that they will organize an exceptional and extraordinary football mega-event," Bajo said, quoted by the media.

Morocco has been awarded the 2025 African Cup of Nations to replace Guinea, which had the right to host the tournament withdrawn last year. The rights for 2027 have also been awarded to a joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

During a PSC meeting of the AU held via video conference on Saturday, dedicated to reviewing the Somali Federal Government's request for a technical pause in the withdrawal of ATMIS's Phase II, the Moroccan delegation pointed out that this request arises from the urgent need to address significant challenges revealed by the joint technical assessment report, which has deep implications for security transition in Somalia.

Somalia's requested suspension of withdrawal is necessary to provide the essential time to devise solutions to the challenges outlined in the joint technical assessment report, thus ensuring a smoother and safer security transition, contributing to the long-term peace, stability, and prosperity of Somalia, emphasized the Moroccan delegation.

Morocco takes this opportunity to express its support for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, aimed at assisting the Somali Federal Government in implementing the Somali transition plan and gradually transferring security responsibilities from ATMIS to the Somali national security forces, with the goal of enabling Somalia to assume full responsibility for its own security, including accelerating operational efforts in combating insecurity and instability factors, added the Moroccan delegation.

The Kingdom also calls on the international community to support Somalia, allowing this brotherly country to regain its rightful place at the regional, continental, and international levels by providing international and bilateral funding to Somalia for training, equipping, and capacity-building of the Somali security forces.

These measures will enable a gradual and effective transfer of responsibilities from ATMIS to Somali security forces and institutions, thus preventing a security vacuum from developing in Somalia, with all the potential repercussions it would have on the country, the sub-region, and the continent, asserted the Moroccan delegation.

On September 14th, the AU PSC had decided, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, to withdraw 3,000 ATMIS soldiers by the end of the same month in a fair manner.

The PSC had also decided, in accordance with the directives of the Somali Federal Government, to withdraw 851 police personnel from ATMIS.