Morocco

2020 saw an extraordinary level of European Investment Bank (EIB) activity in Morocco, with €617 million (almost MAD 6.7 billion) in signatures – double the 2019 figure. The Bank took wide-ranging action under the Team Europe initiative to quickly provide urgent support to the Kingdom of Morocco to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. It provided immediate funding and exceptionally accelerated disbursements for previously signed loans to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Bank's total disbursements in 2020 reached €516 million, three times more than in 2018. This acceleration made it possible to provide decisive support to project promoters facing liquidity constraints.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Société Nationale des Autoroutes du Maroc (ADM), which is responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of Morocco’s motorways, have announced the signature of an €85 million finance contract (approximately MAD 925 million) to accelerate the digitalisation of motorway infrastructure in the country. This project will help improve the flow of traffic through the digitalisation of payment systems and the installation of electronic toll systems. It will help reduce travel times and costs and enhance the safety of road users while providing new customised services. This operation also includes the deployment of a traffic monitoring and management system that will provide real-time access to traffic information across the motorway network.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and JAÏDA, a lender to microfinance institutions, have announced the signing of a loan agreement worth €10 million (over MAD 108 million) to support income-generating activities in Morocco. This agreement strengthens JAÏDA’s ability to lend to the country’s microfinance institutions, while underpinning its work in the areas of financial inclusion and social development. This funding will be used exclusively to finance microloans of less than €25 000 (approximately MAD 270 000) to promote income-generating activities and help maintain jobs at micro- and small enterprises with fewer than 10 employees in urban and rural areas, as well as to assist self-employed workers, individual entrepreneurs and micro-entrepreneurs.