Nizar Baraka (born 6 February 1964) is a Moroccan politician and businessman of the Istiqlal Party.

[2][3] Baraka holds a PhD in econometrics from Aix-Marseille University in France.

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.

[4] 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.