Nizar Baraka (born 6 February 1964) is a Moroccan politician and businessman of the Istiqlal Party. He is the grandson of nationalist Allal Al Fassi.

Nizar Baraka
Nizar Baraka at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East, North Africa and Eurasia in 2012
Minister of Equipment and Water
Assumed office
7 October 2021
MonarchMohammed VI of Morocco
Prime MinisterAziz Akhannouch
Preceded byAziz Rabbah
Secretary-General of the Istiqlal Party
Assumed office
7 October 2017
Preceded byHamid Chabat
Leader of the Opposition
In office
7 October 2017 – 7 October 2021
Prime MinisterSaadeddine Othmani
Preceded byHamid Chabat
Succeeded byAbdellatif Ouahbi
Minister of Economy and Finance
In office
3 January 2012 – 20 August 2013
MonarchMohammed VI of Morocco
Prime MinisterAbdelilah Benkirane
Preceded bySalaheddine Mezouar
Succeeded byAziz Akhenouch
(interim)
Idriss Azami Al Idrissi
Minister delegate attached to the Prime Minister for general affairs and Economy
In office
14 November 2010 – 3 January 2012
Prime MinisterAbbas el Fassi
Succeeded byNajib Boulif
Personal details
Born (1964-02-06) 6 February 1964 (age 60)
Rabat, Morocco
Political partyIstiqlal Party
Alma materAix-Marseille University (PhD)
OccupationPolitician

He was Minister of Economy and Finance in the government of Abdelilah Benkirane.[1][2]

Education

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Baraka holds a PhD in econometrics from Aix-Marseille University in France.

Career

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He taught at the University of Rabat and the National Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics, then he joined the Ministry of Finance in 1996 where he held a variety of positions, including that of Deputy Director of the Department of Studies and Financial Forecasts. In 2007, Baraka was appointed Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister for Economic and General Affairs (2007-2012) then Minister of Economy and Finance (2012-2013).[3] He was named Finance Minister of the Year 2013 for Middle East and North Africa by “Emerging Markets” (The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund) and Best Finance Minister for the MENA region for 2012 and Minister of Finance of the year 2012 by The Banker, (the Financial Times press group).

In April 2013, Hamid Chabat, secretary-general of the Istiqlal Party, announced his intentions to leave the coalition that forms the cabinet of Abdelilah Benkirane. Consequently, a resignation request was submitted on 9 July 2013 for all the Party's ministers.
On 21 August 2013 he was appointed to head the CESE. He was also the president of the scientific committee of Cop22, chair of the Economic Working Group of the U.S.-Morocco Strategic Dialogue and member of the Averroès Committee, charged with strengthening cooperation between Morocco and Spain.

On October 7, 2017, Baraka was elected secretary-general of the Istiqlal party, by 924 votes against 230 votes for his rival and outgoing secretary-general Hamid Chabat.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Official Bio" (PDF). Government of Morocco. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  2. ^ MAP (2011-04-18). "Nizar Baraka s'entretient avec Sylvia Solf". Le MATIN. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  3. ^ MEF - Royaume du Maroc. "Nos anciens ministres". www.finances.gov.ma.
  4. ^ "Nizar Baraka Elected Secretary-General of Istiqlal Party". Maroc.ma. 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
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