African Finance Minister of the Year: Morocco’s Benchaâboun Honored for COVID-19 Response

This distinction took place during the prestigious awards ceremony organized by the "African Banker Awards," on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB). They celebrate the successes of finance leaders and pay tribute to the achievements of African bankers.

The national treasurer was named Finance Minister of the Year "in recognition of the exemplary response of his ministry to the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic," according to the ABA press release.

On this occasion, the happy recipient emphasized, in his speech, the efforts made by the State to cope with the financial ravages of the health crisis, recalling the establishment of the Covid-19 fund for the management of the pandemic. "This fund has sparked a wave of solidarity, bringing together more than $4 billion in a matter of weeks, thanks to the contribution of public and private institutional operators," Benchaâboun said, adding that this has provided Morocco with the necessary means to assist the affected people.

On the occasion, the minister did not fail to recall the actions taken by the Economic Monitoring Committee (CVE) which brought together representatives of the government, the private sector and the banking sector. "More than 100,000 guaranteed loans have been granted, covering $8 billion," he specified, explaining that five million households have benefited from social assistance measures.

In addition, the Moroccan bank Attijariwafa Bank was also designated Best Regional Bank in North Africa.