Morocco sees better economy in 2017

RABAT, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's economy grew 3.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017, up from 1 percent in 2016, the official High Commission for Planning said Tuesday.

The planning commission said this growth was mainly due to the 14.2 percent sharp rise in agricultural output, compared to a 13.7 percent drop last year.

The Moroccan economy was hit hard by a severe drought in the autumn of 2015, which compromised the 2016 agricultural production. Helped by heavy rainfall in late 2016, the economy greatly improved in 2017.

Apart from the agriculture sector, which accounts for more than 15 percent of the country's economy, the non-agricultural sector grew 2.6 percent, the commission noted.