Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
February 5 2005

Knowledge for knowledge sake" lectures delivered in several Moroccan universities
Some 500,000 beggars in Morocco, survey
Moroccan banks support tourism promotion scheme
Morocco-US free trade agreement implemented
Morocco's economy achieved a growth rate of 3.5pc in 2004
Centre for e-business management to be created in Casablanca
Rural electrification reaches 72% in 2004
New web site for Moroccan civil society
Over 100 animals died in Rabat zoo in 2004
Morocco seeks to attract US investments
American business coalition satisfied at the conclusion of Moroccan-US FTA
Dams total fill reached 54 pc of capacity up to January 24
Regional development Harrouchi launches CPS
Europe Launches the Jean Monnet Project in Morocco
ISESCO launches prize for elimination of illiteracy in Arab countries in 2005
Moroccan GDP up 3.5% in 2004
Moroccan NGO launches campaign to help children in rural areas.
NGOs regroup to defend children's rights.
Children: Water pipes and families anxieties Water pipes, a foreign tradition in Morocco, are gaining ground among Moroccan children.

Knowledge for knowledge sake" lectures delivered in several Moroccan universities
Rabat, Jan 17

"Knowledge for knowledge sake" is the main goals of lectures and meetings of the popular universities started on Saturday in several university institutions throughout Morocco. The popular universities lectures are destined to those who could not, for various reasons, carry on their higher studies and to those who desire to acquire more knowledge and allow these people perfect their education, a communiqué of the youth state secretariat said.

The lectures were launched in the town of Marrakech, Oujda, Agadir, El Jadida, Mohammedia, Tetouan, Tangier, Casablanca and Fès. Other universities in the cities of Meknes, Safi, Temara and Rabat started the lectures on Sunday. Other institutions are scheduled to hold the lectures this Monday and on Wednesday.

The number of people attending the lectures is about 19,620, including 58 pc of women. 447 teachers are in charge of delivering the lectures, which range from sociology, history, law, philosophy, literature, communication, administration, to psychology... "Popular universities", a free of charge learning structure not leading to diplomas is a new creative initiative launched by the Moroccan secretariat of state for youth and sports to dispense "knowledge for knowledge sake". The program consists in creating a national network of such universities.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Some 500,000 beggars in Morocco, survey
Rabat, Jan.17

Some 500,000 persons are practicing beggary in Morocco in a permanent or occasional manner, says a survey on beggary among children aged below 12 in the region of Rabat. The survey was conducted by the Moroccan League for the protection of children, the Mutual help department and the health minister. It covers three samples of children: children aged less than 7 years and accompanied by an adult, the second sample includes 230 children in the 8-12 age bracket and the third sample covered 289 persons who are not beggars. It notes that the Moroccan government spends 37.6 million DH (US$ 4.1 million) annually in the fight against beggary and social exclusion.

According to the survey findings, adults accompanying children beggars aged below 7 are in majority women, and most of them are not single and are illiterate and only 6% have been to secondary school or more. A rate of 75% are not-seasonal beggars who ask for charity in groups near mosques (32%), streets (29%), markets and supermarkets (16%). A large portion collects less than 50 DH (about US$ 5) a day, while 25% pocket more than 100 DH daily. One third of these children are affected by a chronic disease, such as diabetes, hypertension, allergy, tuberculosis, anemia, rheumatism and ulcer. Over the half of these children (56 pc) are boys, says the survey which also finds that in most cases there is a family relationship between the child beggar and the adult accompanying him. Some 15% of the surveyed children beggars said they were "rented" for this activity at a weekly amount ranging between 50 to 100DH.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/spor3005.htm 
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Moroccan banks support tourism promotion scheme
Ouarzazate, Jan.15

Moroccan major banking institutions "Attijariwafa Bank" "Banque nationale populaire" and "BMCE" have decided to open credit lines to finance tourism projects, in support of the Azur plan that features the construction of 10 sea resorts along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. While "Attijariwafa Bank" said it was ready to set aside one billion DH (US$ 111 million) in 2005 in credits for the financing of these projects, the two other banks did not give specifics. The banks' initiative comes to support Morocco's scheme to attract 10 million tourists by 2010.

The announcement was made in Ouarzazate (southern Morocco) which hosted this January 13-15 the 3rd annual tourism convention. According to tourism minister, Adil Douiri, Attijariwafa Bank's credit line of one billion DH will be extended over 15 years at a fixed interest and reimbursements will be flexible in case of crisis. On its part, Banque centrale Populaire (BCP) is reportedly about to launch an even better offer. He also recalled that 150 state-subsidized land plots have been developed for the construction of hotels are still awaiting to be purchased. A "great conference" will be held in April to sell these plot lands, he announced.

Asked on weak promotion campaigns in Arab and East European markets, the minister explained that the Moroccan tourism office is focusing all its efforts and low budget which does not exceed 350 Million DH (US$ 38.8 million) on traditional markets like France, Spain, Great Britain and Italy. Assessing the 2004 achievements, Douiri said several strides were accomplished, particularly the concession of 4 sea resort stations to promoters, air transport liberalization, and inclusion of the Morocco-bound in several internationally-renowned travel agencies. Morocco attracted in 2005 over 5.5 million tourists. The Azur plan needs an annual four billion DH in investments
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_depmay26.htm 
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Morocco-US free trade agreement implemented
afrol News 31 January

Just two weeks ago, the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the United States and Morocco completed its last hurdle - approval by the Moroccan legislature. Today, the Moroccan Ambassador to the US, Aziz Mekouar, leads a delegation to Houston (Texas, US) to meet with business and industry leaders to promote the agreement. While in Houston, the Ambassador is meeting with local businesses to inform them about the details of the agreement and its potential benefits - including increased trade and investment opportunities, as well as job generation and closer ties between Houston and Morocco. In 2003, the exports of the US state of Texas to Morocco were the fifth-highest of any US state and had increased 12 percent from 2002.

Houston is home to some of the United States' most successful and prominent businesses, said Moroccan Ambassador Mekouar. "I look forward to forging a closer relationship between this world-class city and Morocco's business centres. Today's meetings are a critical step to that end." Ambassador Mekouar is making Houston his first stop in what the Moroccan-American Trade & Investment Council (MATIC) calls "an aggressive effort to encourage investment and increased trade." The tour, stopping in more than 10 US cities in the coming months, is sponsored and organised by the Council.

The Free Trade Agreement, deemed the "best market access package of any US free trade agreement with a developing country to date" by the Office of the US Trade Representative, eliminates tariffs on 95 percent of all bilateral trade between the US and Morocco. Because of Morocco's agreement with the European Union (EU), tariff reductions will also apply to US goods produced in Morocco and sold in Europe.

MATIC, which has charter members that include companies, trade associations and firms from both Morocco and the US, is set to sponsor and organise numerous activities across the US during the coming year to foster trans-Atlantic trade, the Council says in a statement released today. Several major US firms, including CMS Energy, Dell, Delphi, Oracle and Pfizer, had already "made significant investments in Morocco."

Moroccan-US trade is poised for a significant boost with this agreement, said Ted Smith, a US economist working as MATIC's managing director. "Bilateral trade in goods and services exceeded more than US$ 1 billion in 2003, and there are few obstacles to double-digit growth every year this decade," according to Mr Smith.

Primary US exports to Morocco include aircraft, cereals and machinery, while Morocco ships foodstuffs, processed goods and textiles to the US market. Morocco is also a popular destination for US tourists and filmmakers. According to the Council, Morocco's "competitive textile industry, skilled workforce, and access to European, African, and Middle East markets" makes the country "a highly advantageous site for American companies." By staff writer © afrol News http://www.afrol.com/articles/15449 
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Morocco's economy achieved a growth rate of 3.5pc in 2004
RABAT, Feb. 1 (MAP)

Moroccan Finance and Privatization Minister, Fathallah Oualalou, announced, here Monday, that the Moroccan economy achieved in 2004 a growth rate of 3.5pc. At a press conference on the temporary macro-economic results of 2004, Oualalou ascribed this growth to the performance of the agriculture sector, where grains production has reached 83 million quintals, to the sector of construction and public works, where banks support increased by 14.7pc up to November, and to the manufacturing industry, whose production index rose by 2.5pc in the first half of 2004.

It is also due to the mining sector, electricity consumption that increased by 7.1pc, and to the tourism sector that registered a progress of 18pc in guest nights, he said. Oualalou noted that inflation reached a rate inferior to 2pc, that is the average rate registered in 1998, and that unemployment rate has dropped from 12.3pc in the third quarter of 2003 to 10.9pc in the same period in 2004.

On foreign exchanges, Oualalou said tourists receipts increased by 10pc (3.1 billion Dhs- around US $364 million) compared to 2003, while transfers made by Moroccan expatriates rose by 7.1pc (37.1 billion Dhs- around US $ 4.36 billion). According to the minister, trade exchanges have been marked by an increase of the trade deficit to nearly 34pc because of the upsurge of imports (+14.1pc/155.3 billion Dhs- around US $18.2 billion) and a slow progress of exports (+2pc/ 85.5 billion Dhs - around US $10.05 billion). Oualalou said focus in 2005 will be made on the institution of economic (finance, tourism, transport), social (housing, justice, education, health, rural zones development and fighting poverty...) and administration reforms.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/Juan_carlos3.htm    
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Centre for e-business management to be created in Casablanca
Rabat, Jan 27

A skills centre for e-business management will be created soon in the city of Casablanca at the initiative of the Ifrane-based Al Akhawayn university and the e-Business management school (ISUFI-university) based in Lecce, Italy. The new centre, which will have an advanced studies department, a research department, is part of the Moroccan-Italian cooperation in education, a communiqué of the Al Akhawayn University said.

The institution will be open to students from Maghreban and Mediterranean countries and will play a paramount role in knowledge and information sharing. The partnership accord for the creation of the centre was initialled on the occasion of the second conference on the creation of the Euro-Mediterranean space that wound up on January 19 in Catane
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_depMufti.htm 
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Rural electrification reaches 72% in 2004
Rabat, Jan.26

The rate of rural electrification in Morocco has reached 72% by the end of 2004 and is scheduled to be brought to 81% this year, said the Moroccan power office (ONE). In a statement released at the end of the annual meeting of its administrative board held in Rabat under the chairmanship of prime minister, Driss Jettou, ONE says 187,000 households in rural areas were connected to the electric grid in 2004. The office projects to raise this number to 222,000 households in 2005.

A strong demand was recorded in 2004 (+7%), says ONE which also reports a balance of its accounts despite the rise in world coal prices and the drop in electricity prices. Up to 56.4% of this demand was met by the production of plants conceded to private operators, 35% by ONE-operated plants and 8.6% by imports through the connection with Spain. In 2004, water-generated electricity reached 1,591 giga-watts, a rise of 10.4% compared to 2003.

Meanwhile, ONE customers increased by 10,6% to exceed 2.6 million subscribers, in addition to 2.02 million subscribers of other public and private companies. The total of electricity subscribers nationwide is estimated at 4.672.000 customers by end 2004. The office reports 2003 investments to be worth some 4.2 billion MAD (around US$ 466 million), posting a rise by 23% compared to 2003. It projects to invest 4.7 billion MAD (US$ 522 million) in 2004 as part of a program of 30 billion DH (US$ 3.3 billion) extending between 2005 and 2010.

ONE also reports that the new combined-cycle power plant of Tahaddart in northern Morocco and the pumped storage hydroelectric facility in Afourar, central Morocco, will be operational in 2005 while construction of a wind-generated power plant in Essaouira (southern Atlantic city) will start, the procurement for the building of a thermo-solar plant in Ain Beni Mathar (north-eastern) will be awarded and the tender for a wind-generated electricity plant in Tangiers will be launched in the same year.

The administrative council gave the green light for a combined-cycle plant near the Al-Wahda dam in the northern region of Ouezzane, to be operational between 2008 and 2009 as well as the extension of the Tahaddart plant through a second unit of 400 Megawatts.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/forum_powel.htm 
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New web site for Moroccan civil society
Rabat, Feb. 2

A web site for Moroccan civil society will be created by "Morocco Trade and Development Services" (MTDS) to strengthen the institutional capacity of Moroccan NGOs. A press release of the US embassy, sent to MAP on Tuesday, said that this web site will be an interactive electronic space where NGOs can exchange information and inquire about up-to-date development news. The web site will allow civil society members and moneylenders to enter into alliance with the public and private sectors, the press release went on. This move is part of the "Middle East Partnership Initiative" (MEPI) standing program which is a Presidential initiative that "supports economic, political, and educational reform efforts in the Middle East and offers more opportunities for all the peoples of the region, especially women and youth".
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/general/would-immi.htm 
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Over 100 animals died in Rabat zoo in 2004
Rabat, Feb.1

Some 140 animals, including giraffes, elephants, monkeys, tigers and raptors, died in 2004 in the zoo of Temara, some 20 km south of Rabat, said Director of the zoo, Brahim Heddane. The death of these animals is mainly due to incidents, and many others were killed as a result of inappropriate behaviors of visitors he said. In the same year, thieves stole an eagle last summer. A hyena, a macaw (a Latin American parrot) and ostrich eggs were also stolen in 1983, 1988 and 2000, he went on.

According to the source, 400,000 persons visited the 50 hectare-wide zoo in 2004, which brought 3.7 mln dhs (370,000 euro) to the zoo, he pointed out. Meanwhile, 154 animals left the zoo in 2004; some of them were sent to other zoos in Germany and France or sold to individuals. Thanks to these sales, authorized by the High Commissioner for Water and Forests, the zoo has earned 273,000 dhs (27,300 Euro).

The zoo official complained that the facility, opened in 1969, faces many problems especially lack of staff and subsidies. The zoo has to develop other activities such as renting animals to individuals, creating a mobile zoo and amusement centres in the park. The zoo hosts 2,000 animals (1,200 birds, 750 mammals and 50 reptiles), representing five continents faunas. Beside its zoological importance, the zoo is a leisure attraction for national and international visitors.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/general/gen-2m.htm 
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Morocco seeks to attract US investments
WASHINGTON, Feb. 02

Morocco has launched a campaign in the United States to attract more American investments and inform entrepreneurs on business opportunities in the north African country. The two countries have signed last June a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that is expected to boost two-way trade and promote bilateral exchanges.

A Moroccan delegation representing the private and public sectors is currently touring several American cities to meet local economic operators and shed light on the progress achieved in Morocco with regard to the liberalization and economy overture. The delegation, led by Morocco's ambassador to the US, Aziz Mekouar, highlighted the diversity of the Moroccan economy, as well as the country's potentials and human resources.

Director of the Moroccan-American Trade Council, Ted Smith, recalled that Morocco-US exchanges in goods and services exceeded US $1 billion in 2003. He noted that the FTA will give a strong impetus to Moroccan-US investment flows. More than 95% of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products will become duty-free upon entry into force of the agreement. Morocco is the first African country and second Arab State to conclude such an agreement with the United States.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/h_deplocusts.htm 
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American business coalition satisfied at the conclusion of Moroccan-US FTA
Washington, Jan 27

The support coalition for the Middle East-American free trade zone voiced satisfaction at the conclusion of the FTA by Morocco and the United states. A press release of the American businessmen coalition said Morocco is a key ally of the United States, adding the passage of the FTA in both Moroccan parliamentary chambers is an important step in the enforcement of the accord.

Bill Reinsch, chairman of the American council for external trade, said the coalition, created last year, will keep on cooperating with the governments of the two countries to ensure the implementation of the Moroccan-US FTA. The council said the number of American companies contemplating to do business in Morocco is growing owing to the stability of the North African country, to its strategic location, openness and the reforms it introduced to shore up the private sector. The FTA is the start of a strategic economic partnership "with a key ally in the Middle east", said Jeffrey Donald, vice president of the business council for international entente.

Rabat and Washington signed last June the FTA to reinforce partnership between the United States and Morocco. Morocco is the second Arab country after Jordan and the first African country to conclude an FTA with the USA.
The agreement will immediately eliminate tariffs on 95 percent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products, with all remaining tariffs to be eliminated within nine years.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Dams total fill reached 54 pc of capacity up to January 24
Rabat, Jan.26

The total water reserves in Moroccan dams for farming use, up to January 24, are about 7 billion cubic meters, which is 54 pc of the dams capacity, a communiqué of the agriculture ministry said. The communiqué recalled water reserves for the same period of last year were 8.4 billion cubic meters, or 64 pc of capacity. Dams in the Haouz region, Centre-South, filled to 58 pc of capacity, in the Gharb, North-west, the rate is 67 pc, Loukkos, North, 62 pc and Moulouya, North-East, 59 pc. Other dams in the South did not fare so well, for in the Southern region of Ourzazate the rate was below 38 pc, Doukkala 32 pc, Souss-Massa 25 pc and Tafilelt 15 pc. The total average rain fall was 128 millimetres compared to 191 mm last year. The ministry said alternation of rainy and sunny days since last fall has been favourable to winter cultures, adding rain fall plus morning dew are enough to water feed the main agricultural regions of the country.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_depmay26.htm 
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Regional development Harrouchi launches CPS .
27/01/2005

Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity Abderrahim Harrouchi, and Secretary of State to the Minister of Social Development, Yasmina Baddou, launched yesterday the 2005-2010 "Social Programme Contract" (CPS), reported MAP. "The CPS aims at creating a lasting social development dynamic with strong institutional roots [...]. It will make it possible to elaborate a social development strategy based on an analysis of the needs, and a detailed diagnosis of the local social problems," said Harrouchi.

He added, "Until now, social development activities have been characterised by institutional dispersion at the level of action and programmes. This showed the need for a social development plan to be developed in order to generate a lasting social development trend." Harouchi also said that the CPS will help develop new institutional mechanisms and organisational arrangements to improve the spatial and temporal coherency of social development interventions reported MAP. He insisted on the need to take advantage of these organisational arrangements to implicate all the institutional and associative partners in a five year social and territorial development plan. In addition, explained Harouchi, the fact that the city of El Hajeb was chosen to launch the CPS was not a coincidence, since that city's poverty rate (people earning less than 3,500 DH a year) was as high as 25.7%, while economic vulnerability (people spending less than 15 DH a day) reached 52.1%).
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=11&id=2978 
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Europe Launches the Jean Monnet Project in Morocco.

The European Commission has launched an educational programme called the Jean Monnet Project to help academic institutions and universities in Morocco and worldwide promote studies on the European Integration.
This offer is addressed to all universities interested worldwide. Their programmes must include: the establishment of a Jean Monnet chair for full time courses on the European integration; the organisation of communication initiatives to establish transnational research groups; the assistance for the creation of university networks; the assistance to young researchers and for actions that aim to promote information and research on the European Union, including the organisation of conferences, seminaries, and the publication of studies on the European Integration.

Grants will range between EUR 15,000 and EUR 120,000 and will not exceed 50 to 70% of the total cost of the actions programmed by the interested institutions and universities. The projects must be submitted directly to Brussels before March 31, 2005.
For more information, visit:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/ajm/calls/index_fr.html
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?id=3139 
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ISESCO launches prize for elimination of illiteracy in Arab countries in 2005
Rabat, Feb.02

The Islamic Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (Isesco) announced, Tuesday, the launching of its 2005 prize for the elimination of illiteracy in Arab countries. This prize is awarded by the Rabat-based organization to associations fighting against illiteracy in the Arab, French-speaking African and English-speaking Asian countries. It aims at sustaining Member States' efforts related to illiteracy elimination, encouraging NGOs pioneer experiences in this field and presenting efficient means to fight against this phenomenon, says the ISESCO, an offshoot of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). A financial award and an honorary certificate will be granted to the winning association to be announced on September 8th on the occasion of the international literacy Day.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Moroccan GDP up 3.5% in 2004.

The Moroccan economy grew at 3.5% in 2004, according to the preliminary figures released on Monday by the Ministry of Economy and Privatization. This performance is a stark contrast to the good 5.2% growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recorded in 2003.
In a press conference organized in Rabat to unveil the figures, the Minister of Economy and Privatization, Fathallah Oualaalou, was pleased with the Moroccan macro-economic indicators. Unemployment rate reached 10.9% in the fourth quarter of 2004, down from the 12.3% of last year and the number of employed people is estimated to be 11.5 million.

Inflation rate averaged 2% and the budget deficit reached 3.2% of GDP. Excluding revenues generated by privatizations, the budget deficit amounted to 4.4% while the 2004 state-budget expected 5.7% deficit. Total annual cereal production for 2004 topped 8.3 million tons, total investments for the year reached 24% of GDP and savings 25.3%.

Revenues generated by tourism were up 10% to MAD 34.1 billion, and financial transfers of Moroccans living abroad totaled a record MAD 37.1 billion, up 7.1% in comparison with last year. These good figures had a positive impact on the balance of payments current account which recorded a surplus of 1.3% of GDP. Nevertheless, the trade account deficit widened a whopping 34% because of an increase in imports to MAD 155.3 billion (+14.1%) in comparison with stable exports of MAD 85.5 billion (+2%).
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=5&id=3235 
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Moroccan NGO launches campaign to help children in rural areas.
Morocco Times 01/02/2005

The Moroccan Network for Solidarity and Development (RMSD) is launching a national and international campaign to collect 100,000 bicycles. They will be distributed to destitute children living in regions difficult to access in order to prevent them from abandoning school. Distances in rural areas are among the main reasons why children living in rural areas abandon school.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?id=3154 
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NGOs regroup to defend children's rights.
Morocco TIMES 02/02/2005

A joint association has been created to defend children's rights, said a communiqué from Espace Associatif. This group is composed of a series of others associations, organisms and well-known figures. Its aim is to defend children's rights and coordinate the efforts of civil society actors in order to establish children's rights as a national priority in Morocco. To do so, a 14-strong coordination committee has been created to supervise the association's action plan. A national colloquium will also be organized to determine the association's actions. The decision to create this joint group is particularly important since several actions planned both by the government and the civil society have suffered from a lack of coordination. In September this year, for example, destitute children in certain areas were distributed several bags containing school items, while others were not given anything.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?id=3237 
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Children: Water pipes and families anxieties Water pipes, a foreign tradition in Morocco, are gaining ground among Moroccan children.
By Amina Koundi. 29/01/2005

Despite the spread of this Eastern tradition in many coffees and restaurants, over the last few years, it is still perceived as a foreign habit in the Moroccan society, and many people associate smoking water pipes with what they saw in some Arabic films. Surprisingly however, despite denials by the Ministry of Education, it seems that more and more youngsters are using water pipes with some of them inviting each other to try flavours such as "apple" or "strawberry".

Since the composition of the tobacco used in water pipes is not known, it is quite understandable that parents might worry that their children smoke water pipes, especially as this Eastern tradition is often associated with the use of drugs. A study led in 1998 revealed that 20% of university students use drugs occasionally and only 5% continuously. As for school children, about 10% of them use drugs occasionally and 2% others use them continuously. However, the study also revealed that parents themselves were responsible for the fact that their children use water pipes.

Ahmed, a father who lets his son use the water pipe, argues that he does not see any inconvenient in that since water-pipes are less dangerous than cigarettes or drugs. In addition, his son could stop using the water pipe easily, while he would have great difficulties to do so with cigarettes or drugs. Fatima, a mother whose children do not use the "water-pipe" disagrees with Ahmed. The water pipe, she says, is a first step towards delinquency. Furthermore, children in general like to go through experiences without asking for their parents' opinion and, as a result, face big problems. Fatima is not an exception among the many Moroccan parents who are totally against the use of water pipes in Morocco, a habit which should be fought.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=11&id=3066 

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