The 2023 Finance Bill was approved by 56 advisors, while 11 others opposed and with 6 abstentions, during a plenary session chaired by Upper House Speaker Enaam Mayara.

The main amendments approved by the House concern, among other things, the general tax code.

Regarding corporate income tax, an amendment was adopted concerning a 35% tax rate for companies whose net profit is greater than or equal to 100 million dirhams, with the exception of service companies that have acquired CFC status or benefit from the specified regime, and companies operating in industrial acceleration zones.

Speaking at a plenary session in the House dedicated to the general discussion of the Bill, Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah said that the government has taken a number of measures to cope with the price hike imposed by the current situation, pointing in this regard to the support of basic materials whose expenses are expected to MAD 40 billion during 2022.

He also stressed that the government has taken bold decisions to preserve purchasing power, especially in this exceptional situation marked by rising prices.

Moreover, he affirmed that our country has managed to successfully manage its public finances, as evidenced by the fact that Morocco has maintained its Standard & Poor's Global Ratings, which has ensured the stable outlook of the Kingdom's financial balances.

The match will not be easy, but the players are determined to achieve a positive result and qualify for the quarterfinals, Regragui told the pre-match press conference.

The group is ready to play a great game and continue with their momentum to surprise against one of the favorites of this World Cup, assured the national coach, affirming that the mission is difficult but not impossible.

"We know Spanish soccer well and we have players who play in Spain," he said, adding, "We will negotiate this match with the same anger and more ambition."

Referring to the Spanish national team, he pointed out that it is a developed school of soccer and a respectable team whose style of play, based on possession, puts their opponents in trouble.

The main thing is to play a good game, with concentration and efficiency, without thinking about anything else, especially because the round of 16 matches are different, said Regragui, who confesses that his ambition knows no bounds.

"Future prospects are promising, as the Republic of Djibouti and the Kingdom of Morocco are currently planning to expand and extend their cooperation to other sectors that could be profitable for both countries, such as renewable energies, agriculture, sea fishing, tourism," the Moroccan diplomat underlined in an interview published Monday by the Djiboutian daily "La Nation".

The policy outlined by the government of Djibouti, especially Vision 2035 and Djibouti ICI, is a great opportunity for Moroccan companies and enterprises, especially small and medium enterprises that offer more advantages in terms of employment for young Djiboutians, Haddaoui said in this regard.

The Moroccan diplomat, who recalled that the two countries have created a Business Council, said it is now up to the two sides to organize an economic forum, to define the needs, opportunities and advantages offered by the economy of each country.

In this context, Haddaoui stressed the importance of the recent signing between the two countries of an agreement on the reciprocal promotion and protection of investments and another on the non-double taxation and the fight against tax evasion, currently under negotiation.

The handicraft sector employs about 22% of the working population, contributes to 7% of GDP, while its sales generate about MAD 140 billion, added Akhannouch in a speech read on his behalf, at the opening of the 7th National Week of Crafts (SNA), by Government Spokesman Mustapha Baïtas.

The Head of Government continued that these actions are an important fact, which can encourage the Government to give more interest to this sector, and to provide training to young people in the field, with a view to revitalize this ancestral legacy and this, by adopting a battery of measures.

Akhannouch, making use of figures, stressed that the handicrafts sector has enabled exports of the order of MAD 820 million at the end of last October, with a growth rate of 23% compared to 2019 and a rate of 16% compared to 2021.

He estimated, according to forecasts, that this sector is expected to generate more than one billion dirhams of exports, taking into account its very close link with the tourism sector (more than 10% of the total expenditure made by tourists during their stay in the Kingdom correspond to handicraft products).

"The handicraft sector will help to make Morocco better known internationally and to convey our values of peace, tolerance and openness," said the Head of Government, recalling that Moroccan handicraft products are exported to the five continents, especially since international customers recognize both the quality and the richness of national products.

They also recognize the ability of Moroccan craftsmen and their genius to show a high degree of adaptability to new changes and market requirements, while preserving the identity and authenticity of national craftsmanship, said the Head of Government.

The professional skills inherited from the ancestors, and the hard work of the new generations, as well as the quality and originality of their products, the adoption of the Moroccan National Handicraft Seal "Morocco Handmade" for the benefit of the units of the sector, he continued.

He continued that craftsmanship creates a local economy how much essential, in the sense that "it represents life, land and ancestors" as evidenced by UNESCO's permanent encouragement of Moroccan craftsmen among the most competent and experienced while describing them as "human treasures".

Craftsmanship is therefore an important lever for the preservation of the wealth of tangible and intangible heritage, said Akhannouch, noting that Moroccan craftsmen have inherited a unique expertise, handed down from generation to generation for centuries, by managing to craft by hand with precision, items of various materials, which constitutes an "unprecedented enrichment" of our ancestral Moroccan culture.

According to a statement released by the lower house, the Uruguayan delegation, composed of members of both Chambers of the Uruguayan Congress, heads of various government departments and economic and commercial operators, will participate in the Economic Forum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean for the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf region, to be organized by the Upper House on December 7 and 8 in Marrakech.

The talks between the two sides focused on the level of bilateral relations between the two countries, the role of parliamentary diplomacy in the clarification of visions and positions and the opening of a new page between Morocco and Uruguay on the basis of respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of States, the same source said, adding that the two sides also stressed the importance of Morocco for Uruguay as a gateway to Africa and Uruguay for Morocco as a gateway to South America.

On this occasion, Talbi Alami welcomed the visit of the vice-president of the Uruguayan Senate and the delegation accompanying him, saying that it can bring points of view closer, consolidate parliamentary dialogue and clarify visions and positions.

He also highlighted Morocco's achievements in various fields under the wise leadership of HM King Mohammed VI and gave a broad overview of the latest developments on the issue of territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the regional and international support it enjoys, as well as the development projects in the southern provinces, which have become a reference in several vital sectors.

For its part, the Uruguayan delegation expressed its warm thanks to the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the welcome and the open and efficient dialogue, adding that the formation of the delegation reflects the firm will to write a new page in the history of relations between the two countries and consolidate them at the political, economic and parliamentary levels.

Moreover, the members of the Uruguayan delegation stressed the need to build new relations based on cooperation and mutual respect for the sovereignty and integrity of States.

They also indicated that they will work during this and the following visits, and through the parliamentary friendship group, to build new relations between the two countries, holding talks and working sessions and organizing visits that will allow them to learn more about the Kingdom of Morocco and its development model, and to identify the facts regarding the territorial integrity and development of the southern provinces.

It should be noted that the House of Representatives has the status of "observer member" in the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO) and maintains close ties with the Parliament of Mercosur (PARLASUR), which constitutes an additional opportunity for dialogue and consultation between the parliamentarians of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Uruguay.

With this verdict, the British justice confirms the validity of the partnership agreement between Morocco and the United Kingdom, which fully benefits the populations and the development of all the regions of the Kingdom, from north to south, without exception.

This judgment thus inflicts a new setback on the enemies of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom, who are trying to hide their repeated failures by trying in vain to convince the British justice to re-examine the post-Brexit trade agreement, signed and supported by the two Kingdoms.

As soon as the verdict became known, the British government reaffirmed its commitment to continue the partnership with Morocco.

"We welcome today's verdict. We will continue to work closely with Morocco to maximize the £2.7 billion of trade between our countries," said a spokesperson for the UK Department for International Trade.

"We look forward to continuing our exchanges with our Moroccan counterparts through the Association Council next year," he assured.

The Morocco-UK Association Agreement, signed in London on October 26, 2019, entered into force on January 1, 2021.

The Agreement restores, within the framework of bilateral relations, all the effects that the two countries granted each other under the Morocco-EU Association Agreement. It thus ensures the continuity of trade exchanges between Morocco and the United Kingdom after December 31, 2020.

By allowing the two Kingdoms to settle definitively in a structured strategic partnership, endowed with operational and institutionalized cooperation instruments, and driven by a common ambition, the Agreement constitutes a guarantee for Moroccan and British companies undertaking economic and trade relations in all sectors of cooperation and covering the whole of the Kingdom.

The audience, held in the presence of HM the King's Ambassador to Nigeria, Moha Ou Ali Tagma, focused on relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Morocco, as well as bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The audience was also attended by Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zubairu Dada, the President's Chief of Staff Ibrahim Gambari and Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva.

Nigeria is a very important strategic partner of the Kingdom of Morocco. Relations between the two countries have registered a strong momentum since the visit of His Majesty the King to Nigeria in 2016.

During the Sovereign's visit to Nigeria in December 2016 and that of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to Morocco in June 2018, the two countries had signed several agreements aimed at strengthening their relations and cooperation, including in the economic, energy, cultural and religious fields.

Inaugurated by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, representing the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, Governor of the AfDB Group for Morocco, and Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the AfDB Group, this meeting provides an opportunity to deepen the discussion on issues facing low-income African countries, including climate finance and adaptation and sustainable debt management.

During these conversations, parties will discuss policy and financial directions and approaches to address them. The process will result in a financing package for the three-year ADF-16 cycle (2023-2025).

At this fourth replenishment meeting, the ADF-16 report, funding levels and replenishment terms will also be approved.

This year has been marked by a series of consultations between ADF Management and donor countries on the sixteenth replenishment of the AfDB Group's concessional lending window.

A few minutes after the opening, the MSI 20, which includes the 20 most liquid stocks, rose 0.33% to 893.02 pts, and the Casablanca ESG 10, a thematic index that calculates the performance of socially responsible companies, took 0.63% to 831 pts.

"Thanks to the great efforts made by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), FIFA has dedicated 5,000 tickets to Moroccan fans, in anticipation of the match between Morocco and Spain, next Tuesday at the Education City stadium in Al Rayyan," wrote the FRMF on Sunday in a statement published on its social networks.

According to the same source, the tickets will be put on sale on the website of FIFA.

The Atlas Lions qualified for the round of 16 of the World Cup, after finishing at the top of Group F with 7 points obtained in a draw against Croatia (0-0) and two wins against Belgium (2-0) and Canada (2-1).

Spain took the second place in Group E with 4 points, obtained in a victory against Costa Rica (7-0), a draw against Germany (1-1) and a defeat against Japan (1-2).