IMF official highlights Morocco’s economic resilience amid global uncertainty

15:03

By: Azzat Manal

IMF official highlights Morocco’s economic resilience amid global uncertainty

Morocco’s economy continues to demonstrate resilience despite heightened global uncertainty, according to Taline Koranchelian, Deputy Director of the International Monetary Fund’s Middle East and Central Asia Department. Speaking in Bangkok on Thursday, October 15, on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, she described the country’s economic outlook as positive, supported by institutional strength, investment and prudent policymaking.

In comments to Morocco’s official news agency, Koranchelian said the country had strengthened its ability to withstand external shocks through policies designed to preserve economic stability and expand productive capacity. She pointed to the role of public and private investment, as well as the resilience of key sectors, in supporting economic activity despite an unpredictable international environment.

Morocco’s growth remained solid during the first half of 2026, driven in part by improved agricultural output, continued strength in services and ongoing investment in infrastructure, according to the IMF official. These factors have helped sustain domestic economic activity at a time when geopolitical tensions, energy-price pressures and uncertainty over the global outlook continue to challenge many economies.

The IMF expects Morocco’s real gross domestic product to grow by 4.5% in 2026 before moderating to 4.2% in 2027. The projections point to continued expansion, although sustaining that momentum will depend on the country’s ability to maintain investment, improve productivity and address structural challenges in the labor market.

Looking beyond the immediate growth outlook, Koranchelian stressed the importance of building on recent economic gains to accelerate human capital development and generate more employment opportunities, particularly for young people. Creating sufficient jobs remains a central challenge for Morocco, where improving the transition from education to employment is essential to ensuring that economic growth translates into broader social benefits.

She noted that Moroccan authorities have already begun implementing significant reforms, while emphasizing the need to continue efforts to improve the education system. Better alignment between educational outcomes and labor-market requirements could help employers find workers with the skills they need while improving young people’s access to stable employment.

Such reforms could also strengthen Morocco’s long-term growth potential by supporting productivity, encouraging innovation and enabling a larger share of the population to participate in economic activity. Continued progress will require coordination between education policy, investment priorities and employment initiatives.

The IMF and World Bank annual meetings are taking place against a challenging international backdrop marked by geopolitical tensions, energy-market pressures, rising public debt burdens and the economic transformation associated with the growing use of artificial intelligence. For Morocco, maintaining macroeconomic stability while investing in skills, infrastructure and job creation will be important to preserving resilience and turning current growth into more inclusive and sustainable development.