Rabat- Latifa Larousni
Morocco’s moves to end corruption are contributing to the country’s development said Morocco’s Head of Government, Saad Eddine El Othmani.
“The success of the anti-corruption efforts contributes to the achievement of the expected development and to the improvement of the investment and business climate, as well as the living standards of citizens,” said Othmani, speaking at the House of Councillors in Rabat on Tuesday.
The government is “strongly committed” to fighting corruption, he said.
During the monthly accountability session, which was devoted to the results of the national strategy to fight corruption, Othmani stated that corruption is a complicated issue, but that there has been no diminution in corruption indicators in Morocco.
Morocco achieved a qualitative leap in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), by improving its standing 17 ranks and 6 points in two years, ranking 73 out of 180 countries in 2019, after it was 90 in 2017. It ranks the first among North African countries and sixth in the Arab world.
Rabat has also improved in the Doing Business report issued annually by the World Bank, by jumping seven positions in 2019 to occupy, for the first time, the rank of 53 out of 190 countries covered in the report.
Morocco is on the verge of becoming among the top 50 economies in the world.
The country maintained its top position in North Africa, the second in the Middle East and North Africa, and the third in the African continent, added Othmani.
The Prime Minister reviewed a number of measures that were taken to counter corruption, including improving and digitizing administrative operations, as well as reducing bureaucracy in various fields to increase the level of transparency and integrity.
Consultants said that most of the policies and measures taken by the government to fight corruption are important, yet have limited and weak impact.
