Abdesslam Bouirig, new CEO of Wafacash
Abdesslam Bouirig has been appointed as the new CEO of Wafacash, replacing Mouawia Essekelli, who has been assigned to new functions within the Attijariwafa Bank Group.
After several years in consulting in France, Mr. Bouirig, 39, and a graduate of a business school, returned to Morocco and joined an international banking group where he spent over 11 years in various roles before being appointed Executive Director in charge of specialized businesses and synergies, according to a statement from Wafacash sent to MAP on Wednesday.
In his new role, his goal will be to deploy the 20-25 strategic plan developed as part of the Attijariwafa Bank Group’s “Ambitions 2025” strategy, the same source noted.
He will need to further consolidate Wafacash’s already strong international presence, which is supported by a pronounced local footprint, making it a major player in social, economic, and financial inclusion in Morocco.
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Source: https://www.mapbusiness.ma/a-la-une/abdesslam-bouirig-nouveau-directeur-general-de-wafacash
The weight of Moroccans around the world in the economy
Press Review: Active support for families, currency transfers, and investments of all kinds highlight the substantial impact of Moroccans living abroad (MRE) on the national economy. The upward trend is unlikely to reverse, with Morocco becoming a safe haven for our MREs. This article is based on a press review from the newspaper Les Inspirations Eco.
The figures are telling: MRE remittances have seen a remarkable growth of 46.3%, rising from 6.3 billion dirhams at the end of January 2022 to over 9.22 billion dirhams during the same period in 2023. This contribution is invaluable, and Les Inspirations Eco highlights it in their edition on Friday, August 11.
According to the newspaper, Karim Amor, president of the Moroccan Entrepreneurs of the World group (MeM) by CGEM (General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises), notes that a significant portion of these funds is allocated to family support, a deeply rooted tradition that has strengthened during times of crisis. Approximately 75% of these transfers serve to support relatives.
But that's not all. About 15% of these funds are saved in savings accounts, demonstrating MREs' concern for the preservation of their assets. "8% is dedicated to real estate acquisition, a sector that is fully benefiting from this investment. Only 2% of these funds are directly geared towards productive investments, but their impact should not be underestimated," writes Les Inspirations Eco.
Morocco is increasingly becoming an attractive destination for MRE investments, as they perceive their country of origin as a thriving land of opportunities. "The realism of the national economic situation, bolstered by the leadership of the king, encourages Moroccans abroad to invest more in their homeland to seize these opportunities," it states.
For many, Morocco is regarded as a "safe haven" where one can invest money and a place to live according to Moroccan cultural values without fear. It’s worth noting that the number of Moroccans residing abroad reached 5.4 million in 2020, with a total population living in Morocco of around 36.7 million. Their monetary transfers have seen significant and fairly consistent growth over the past twenty years, rising from 22.96 billion dirhams in 2000 to 93.67 billion dirhams in 2021.
Wafacash launches a range of inclusive insurance products.
Wafacash and Wafa Assurance held a press conference on Thursday to launch the "Taamine Wafacash" service, a new range of inclusive insurance products that aligns with the national financial inclusion strategy.
Wafacash has partnered with Wafa Assurance, both leaders in their respective sectors and key players in financial inclusion, to establish a distribution and management model for micro-insurance products benefiting the Moroccan population. Thus, Wafacash customers can now benefit from the Taamine Iktissadi concept, developed by Wafa Assurance since 2019.
This new service includes a complete range of inclusive insurance products: life insurance and personal insurance products (Taamine Al Janaza, Taamine Wladi, Taamine Al Walidine, Taamine Sahti), as well as property damage insurance products (Taamine Bayti, Taamine Mahali).
These products, with rates starting at 55 dirhams including tax annually, aim to protect both descendants and ascendants in the event of the insured's death, provide a daily indemnity in the case of the insured's hospitalization, and cover professional premises or housing against fire and water damage.
This range includes several innovations aimed at facilitating product understanding, simplifying subscription without conditions or formalities, and providing quick compensation. The marketing of life insurance and personal insurance products will be effective throughout the entire Wafacash network starting March 1. Property damage insurance products will be marketed at a later stage.
"Financial inclusion is seen as a catalyst for promoting economic development and reducing poverty in our country; it encourages us to provide equitable access to all individuals and businesses to formal financial products and services, suitable for their needs and means, while ensuring their rights are upheld," stated Abdesslam Bourig, general director of Wafacash.
For her part, Fatima-Ezzahra El Idrissi Chraibi, deputy general director of Wafa Assurance, expressed her satisfaction with this partnership established with Wafacash. "This is a continuation of what we have already achieved since 2013, and since 2019 with the launch of the Taamine Iktissadi range," adding that the goal of this alliance is to contribute to national objectives regarding the accessibility of formal financial services, consumer protection, and financial education.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ9qLlOPmoE
Source: https://www.lavieeco.com/videos/video-wafacash-lance-une-gamme-de-produits-dassurance-inclusive/