DR ‹ › The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has invested MAD 400 million in a landmark MAD 1 billion bond issuance by the Casablanca-Settat region, according to a press release published by the Bank on Friday. The bond will support the implementation of the region's 2022–2027 Regional Development Plan and help diversify its funding sources by tapping the debt capital market. The operation is also expected to catalyse Morocco's municipal bond market, as it represents only the second such issuance in the country and the first at the regional level. The EBRD's investment will enable the Casablanca-Settat region to join the Bank's Green Cities programme, under which it will develop a Green City Action Plan (GCAP) and launch a pilot mobility planning initiative to promote greener and more inclusive transport solutions. The investment is complemented by a €2 million (MAD 21 million) technical cooperation package, including support from the Netherlands through the High-Impact Partnership on Climate Action (HIPCA), as well as assistance aimed at improving the region's financial and operational performance, including a digital transformation framework. EBRD Morocco head Haytham Eissa said the transaction marks «an important step forward» for local capital markets and sustainable urban finance, while Casablanca-Settat regional president Abdellatif Maâzouz described it as an «innovative source of financing» aligned with national strategic orientations and reflecting investor confidence following the restructuring of the region's debt portfolio.
