In a press conference, HCP chief Ahmed Lahlimi Alami reviewed the main macroeconomic indicators in 2017 and 2018, highlighting some factors that still hamper the potential of the Moroccan economy, and reiterating his recommendations for improving the competitiveness and diversification of the Moroccan economy through reforms, reports MAP news agency. Lahlimi said that the value added of the primary sector will decline by 1.3% in 2018 against a rise of 13.6% in 2017. According to HCP forecasts, the growth rate of non-agricultural activities would witness a «slight rise» from 2.8% in 2017 to 2.9% in 2018. Regarding inflation, reflected by the general level of prices, Lahlimi emphasized that it is expected to post an increase from 0.2% in 2017 to 1.5% in 2018. The HCP also expected that the trade deficit will remain high, jumping from 17.8% of GDP in 2017 to 18.2% in 2018.
