Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
March 4 , 2006

Over USD 330,000 center to receive needy cancer patients in Agadir.
Divorce down by over 15k in 2005, Minister.
Morocco eager to reduce digital divide.
Morocco counts over 11Mn mobile phone subscribers, minister.

Over USD 330,000 center to receive needy cancer patients in Agadir.
Agadir (southwest), Mar. 3

Princess Lalla, spouse of king Mohammed VI, has laid, here Friday, the first stone of a MAD 3Mn (USD 330,000) center for the temporary reception of needy cancer-stricken patients and their close relatives. Maison de Vie (house of life), part of the city's Hassan II hospital, is equipped with 40 beds distributed on 20 rooms. It will be built on an area of 2,430 sq meters within a deadline of six months.

Lalla Salma also presided over the signing ceremony of a convention between the Lalla Salma Association to fight cancer and France's national institute of cancer. The convention provides mainly for participation in the medical and paramedical training of the actors in the fight against cancer, and the promotion of information campaigns among the professionals and the public.

The princess also oversaw the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between the association, the health ministry and the south's foundation for development and solidarity, and the region's council to build Maison de Vie. The center will provide housing for needy cancer patients and for their close relatives. Chaired by the Princess, and mustering 15 members elected in a general assembly, the Association, created in November 2005, aims at fighting cancer through assisting patients and relatives, providing information and prevention, providing support to the medical staff and clinical and operational research, and backing the creation and equipment of oncology centers.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/over_usd_330000_cen/view 
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Divorce down by over 15k in 2005, Minister.
Rabat, Mar. 3

The number of divorce contracts plummeted by 15,154 in 2005 to stand at 29,668 cases in 2005, compared to 44,922 in 2003, revealed on Friday secretary of state in charge of family, children and disabled persons, Yasmina Badou. Speaking at the opening ceremony of a meeting on the Family Code after two years of experience, she noted that the implementation of the new Family Code has had a positive impact on the Moroccan society. In January 2004, Morocco introduced important amendments on the family code that enhance women and children rights, and reinforce family ties. Justice Minister, Mohamed Bouzoubaa had revealed in February that marriage of adult girls increased 49% and divorce at the wife's request 10%, while polygamy dropped 7%.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_social/divorce_down_by_over/view 
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Morocco eager to reduce digital divide.
By Bachir Niah, 3/2/2006

The Moroccan national ICT strategy aims at reducing the digital divide and finding a position for the kingdom among the leaders of the digital society, said on Wednesday the Minister in Charge of Economic and General Affairs, Talbi El-Alami. Opening the International Forum of Investment and Strategy for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), organised under the auspices of HM Mohammed VI in Marrakech, El Alami explained that the main objective is to provide Morocco with an avant-garde plan to universalise internet access, strengthen basic infrastructure and boost the GDP by creating some 100,000 new jobs in ICT by 2010. He underlined that currently Morocco counts more than 11 million mobile phone subscribers and 4.5 million of internet users.

In the same vein, the minister underlined that this strategy, based mainly on human resources, has brought about a positive competition, stressing that the world is at the dawn of a new era, which is characterised by a massive flow of ICT. He thereby called for multiplying efforts to overcome the difficulties that developing countries encounter, "to take part in this race against time so as not to stay in the margins of this domain, where competitiveness is ferocious." El Alami also urged participating countries to redefine their priorities and concentrate their efforts on lucrative and competitive domains.

Earlier this year, The Ministry-Delegate in charge of General and Economic Affairs had published the first document on 'e-Maroc' (e-Morocco) strategy, which is part of a communication package aiming to give a clear vision on the future objectives and perspectives of the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Kingdom. This strategy, first introduced in 1994 by, the then Secretariat of State of Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology, aims at bridging the digital divide and finding a position for Morocco at the international level. The development of ICT in Morocco has gained increasing importance as both the public and private sectors have realised its importance in building a strong economic infrastructure.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/Paper/article.asp?idr=2&id=13239
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Morocco counts over 11Mn mobile phone subscribers, minister.
Marrakech, Mar. 01

Morocco counts over 11 million mobile phone subscribers and 4.5 million internet users, revealed on Wednesday minister in charge of economic and general affairs, Rachid Talbi El Alami. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Forum of ICT Strategies and Investment, El Alami said the national ICT strategy aims to reduce the digital gap and bring Morocco among the digital world leaders. He noted that Morocco aims to generalize access to internet, consolidate basic infrastructures and increase GDP through creating 100,000 new job opportunities in ICT sector up to 2010.

On the fringes of this forum, El Alami and the Italian minister of Technology and Innovation, Lucio Stanca signed two agreements that provide for setting up a computer-based system in Moroccan public administration to promote the administration services and management. The forum, which will wrap up on Friday, tackles several issues notably ICT development strategy, ICT evolution and its impact and ICT projects and investment opportunities.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/morocco_counts_over_1/view 
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