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Morocco Week in Review
July 11, 2009
Kaplan is named envoy to Morocco.
By KEVIN DIAZ, Star Tribune . June 19, 2009 202-408-2753
The Minneapolis attorney is the second Minnesotan selected by the president for ambassadorial duties; Kaplan and his wife, Sylvia, DFL heavyweights, ranked among the president's leading campaign fundraisers.
WASHINGTON -- President Obama named Minneapolis attorney Sam Kaplan on Friday as ambassador to Morocco. Kaplan, a top cash "bundler" for Obama's 2008 campaign finance committee, had been widely vetted by White House officials in recent weeks. Friday's announcement came as Kaplan and his wife, Sylvia, who is also prominent in DFL politics, were in Washington for diplomatic training. Kaplan said he is "deeply honored" but prevented from saying more until he is confirmed by the Senate, where he will be formally introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota friend and political ally.
If confirmed, Kaplan would be the administration's second ambassador from Minnesota. Last month, the White House named Miguel Diaz, a Roman Catholic theologian from St. John's University and the College of St. Benedict in Collegeville, to serve as his envoy to the Vatican. Diaz, a 45-year-old adviser to the Obama campaign, would be the first Hispanic to serve as a Vatican diplomat since ties were established in 1984. Similarly, Kaplan, 72, would break barriers by serving as one of only a few American Jewish diplomats in the Arab world. Friends and associates said he and his wife are looking forward to the post in Rabat, Morocco's capital.
Morocco, a moderate Arab nation and U.S. ally, has a significant Jewish community amid a diverse population. Morocco could also play a key role in U.S. efforts to broker a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. Former Vice President Walter Mondale, a former ambassador to Japan, said the announcement of Kaplan's nomination signifies that the North African kingdom has already signed off. "It has a reputation as a moderate, Islamic, European-oriented country that is willing to work with us," he said. "Sam will be a star there.''
Kaplan's was among eight new foreign postings, including that of Internet media investor Matthew Barzun as ambassador to Sweden. "I am grateful that these fine individuals will serve in my administration, and I am confident that they will well represent our nation abroad and help strengthen our relationships within the international community," Obama said.
Sam and Sylvia Kaplan have long been major financiers and power players in DFL circles in Minnesota, where they helped launch the political career of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone. They raised between $100,000 and $200,000 for the Obama campaign, ranking them among the campaign's top 500 bundlers, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. (Bundling is the collection of donations from a number of contributors.) They were also among the biggest Minnesota fundraisers for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic nominee for president.
Kaplan is a founding member of Kaplan, Strangis and Kaplan, a Minneapolis law firm established in 1978. Clients include TCF Bank, the Minnesota Twins, Polaris Industries and Lupient Automotive Enterprises. He also has served for more than 25 years as general counsel for the Minnesota Wine and Spirits Association. Kaplan got his law and undergraduate degrees at the University of Minnesota, where he was president of the University of Minnesota Law Review. He served as an adjunct professor of law during the early years following law school graduation. He is often a visiting lecturer at law school classes and speaker at continuing legal education programs.
If confirmed, Kaplan and Diaz would be the first Minnesotans to serve as a U.S. ambassadors since Benson Whitney, who was appointed ambassador to Norway in 2005 by President George W. Bush. He still holds that post.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/48636357.html?elr=KArks:DCiU1OiP:DiiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
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USAID Mission Director for Morocco Sworn In.
WASHINGTON, July 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced today the swearing in of John Groarke as the Agency's new mission director for Morocco. Counselor to the Agency Lisa Chiles presided over the ceremony and administered the oath of office to Groarke. "His demonstrated leadership abilities, professional integrity, and analytical skills will be invaluable to him as he leads the Morocco program. I am confident that John will be highly successful as USAID mission director in his new assignment," said Chiles. As director, Groarke will manage programs focused on improving economic growth, access to education, and democratization and governance reforms.
A senior foreign service officer, Groarke joined the Agency in 1995 serving initially as the regional legal advisor (RLA) covering Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. He most recently served as the deputy mission director in Egypt from 2006 to 2009, overseeing the daily operations for a staff of almost 300. Groarke directed the mission's transition to a regional service center, and spent two prolonged periods as acting mission director during a very difficult period in U.S.-Egypt bilateral relations. Prior to this, Groarke served as the deputy mission director in Iraq from 2005 to 2006 where he managed the largest program in the Agency's history with a budget of $5 billion. During this time he oversaw the historical election of Iraq's first constitutional government. From 2002 to 2005, he was the senior RLA in Egypt and Iraq, and from 1999 to 2002 he covered Nigeria, Mali, and Senegal as an RLA.
Groarke earned his Bachelor of Arts from New York University and a Master of International Relations from the London School of Economics. He also holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania. For more information about USAID and its programs in Morocco, please visit: www.usaid.gov.
Public Information: 202-712-4810
http://sev.prnewswire.com/publishing-information-services/20090709/DC4435109072009-1.html
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Mohammed VI, Obama pledge common commitment to peace.
Naoufel Cherkaoui and Siham Ali 2009-07-06
The leaders of Morocco and the United States state their common goals regarding peace in the Middle East and resolution to the Western Sahara dispute. In recent letters, Moroccan King Mohammed VI and US President Barack Obama expressed their common desire to establish peace and stability in the world and to improve US-Muslim relations.
Responding to several letters in which the Moroccan monarch called on the US to support peace and to improve his country's policy towards the Middle East region, President Barack Obama sent a message to the Moroccan King on Friday (July 3rd), calling on Morocco to play a lead role in resolving the Middle East conflict, and affirming that Morocco and the US shared the same values of justice, progress and tolerance among humans.
The US President raised two topics in his message: Middle East peace and the dispute over Western Sahara.
Regarding the Middle East, Obama wrote: "In your capacity as head of the Al Quds Committee, you can contribute to making its members work in a constructive way for the aim of realising our common goals. I'm sure that we can work together to lay the foundation for fruitful negotiations for the benefit of the peoples of the region." He added, "As I said in Cairo, if we succeed, Jerusalem could become a permanent and secure home for Jews, Christians, and Muslims; a place where all the sons of Abraham can live together in peace."
Obama expressed his hope that "Morocco, as in the past, will be a leader in the promotion of reconciliation between Israel and the Arab world." As to the Western Sahara issue, he acknowledged its importance to the kingdom and to all the people who have suffered as a result of the conflict. "I share your commitment to the talks under the auspices of the United Nations as the appropriate framework to reach a mutually acceptable solution, and I hope that Christopher Ross, a seasoned diplomat with wide experience in the region, will promote a constructive dialogue between the parties," the president continued. "My government will work with yours and others in the region to achieve an outcome that meets the people's need for transparent governance, confidence in the rule of law, and equal administration of justice," he said.
King Mohammed VI addressed his own letter to the president on the occasion of US Independence Day on July 4th. The monarch expressed his nation's desire for productive co-operation with the United States, MAP reported. Morocco, the king wrote, endeavours "to work jointly with your friendly country towards establishing peace, security, and stability in the world and to contribute to the international efforts aimed at peacefully resolving conflicts, spreading the values of freedom, justice, and human rights, and fostering meaningful, fruitful inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue to face up to extremist tendencies." The king celebrated the "deep bonds of long-standing friendship" between the two nations, and said he welcomed Obama's "constructive ideas and positive vision with regard to relations between Islam and the West".
According to MAP, the king also commended the US president for his commitment to peace in the Middle East and his support for the Palestinian people's right to live side-by-side with Israel in security, concord and peace. Moroccan Communications Minister and government spokesman Khalid Naciri told Magharebia, "The Moroccan government received the contents of the US president's message with relief, as it praised the efforts made by Morocco in the field of tolerance, rejection of violence, and call for peace."
Youssef Belal, a professor of international relations, told Magharebia that Obama's letter "reflects the desire of President Obama to open a dialogue with Arab and Muslim countries for the purpose of creating a new vision in America's relations with the Arab world." Belal said the message represents an "improvement in US diplomacy towards the Palestinian issue".
Political Science Professor Fouad Zahidi said that the US president "needs an Arab state that is engaged in the Palestinian question in an objective manner, and which can serve as an effective mediator to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict". http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/07/06/feature-01
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How do Moroccans living in the United States feel about investing in Morocco? A research team led by Dr. Tjai M. Nielsen and Dr. Liesl Riddle at The George Washington University is conducting a multi-year study to examine homeland investment interest among different communities, such as the Moroccan Diaspora in the United States.
The George Washington University is collaborating with the 361 Degrees Institute, a Moroccan American think-tank for Demographic Research & Development based in the United States, to encourage Moroccan-American community response to the attached survey. By participating in this study, you can benefit in two key ways. First, by completing this survey, you will help identify how the Diaspora feels about investing in Morocco. Second, if you choose, you can gain access to a written or Internet-based report summarizing survey results.
As you will see, there are different sections of questions in the following survey, each with specific directions. Each section is different, so please take a few minutes to read the instructions before proceeding to the next one. It is important that all sections are completed so that we acquire full and complete data for each participant.
The information that you provide will be used for research purposes by The George Washington University only and will not be revealed to others. At the completion of this project, we will destroy the names of all participants. If you would like to receive a summary of study findings, or if you have any questions or concerns about this survey, please contact either Dr. Tjai M. Nielsen (tnielsen@gwu.edu; 202.994.6976) or Dr. Liesl Riddle (lriddle@gwu.edu; 202.994.1217)
Your participation in this study is voluntary, and we thank you in advance for your time.
Dr. Tjai M. Nielsen and Dr. Liesl Riddle
The George Washington University
START SURVEY
https://www.surveymk.com/s.aspx?sm=Sam3oFixrssnPuzWO_2brmGQ_3d_3d
The 361 Degrees Institute
A member of Center for Association Leadership’s industry and market research
The 361 Degrees Institute is the first Moroccan American think-tank for Demographic Research & Development based in the United States. www.361degrees.org info@361degrees.org
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USAID, Morocco pleased with ALEF education project.
By Sarah Touahri 2009-07-07
A successful pilot educational project with positive initial results has Moroccan officials looking to possibly roll it out across the country. Five years after Morocco opened special boarding schools to give girls from the most isolated areas in the Kingdom access to educational opportunities, the ground-breaking ALEF project ended in June. Initial results are so positive that officials now want to expand the initiative nationwide.
In 2005, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Morocco's Entraide Nationale and the National Federation of Charity Associations (FNAB) partnered in the ALEF project to improve the quality and relevance of education in Morocco. Although the outcomes are still being evaluated, initial results show that pupil and teacher absenteeism and dropout rates fell in most ALEF pilot institutions. Children's exam performance improved, and the involvement of external school partners such as parents, NGOs, and the private sector increased.
The programme focused on a number of aspects of the Moroccan education system, including relevance, choice in education and entrepreneurship, clubs and extra-curricular activities, girls' dormitories, the use of technology, and literacy training for women. At a press conference on June 26th, Secretary of State for School Education Latifa Abdida said that she had visited schools involved in the ALEF project and had seen for herself a new state of mind and a new approach among the pupils and project stakeholders.
Abdida noted that the project, which was implemented in four different regions – the urban area surrounding Casablanca, the Meknes-Tafilalet region, the Chaouia region, and the eastern regions of Morocco – had given valuable and concrete support to the national education system. She added that her department intends to explore all possible ways of ensuring that the scheme is rolled out across the country and made permanent. USAID said that work on the front lines involved over 3,300 teachers and 260,000 pupils since 2005, as well as inspectors and headmasters at more than 400 schools.
"The implementation of the ALEF project," said USAID Mission Director Monica Stein-Olson, "demonstrated that the use of a package of flexible but rigorous strategies, with adequate support and scope for innovation, can enable Moroccan schools to help young people in their care to thrive, even in isolated and deprived areas, despite the lack of material resources available to them."
Joshua Muskin, ALEF project director, agreed. He believes that if the quality and relevance of education are to be improved, it is essential to try out new strategies that involve all stakeholders. The beneficiaries also expressed satisfaction with the programme. Meriem, who attends middle school in Casablanca, said that the entrepreneurship programme helped her by encouraging her to better communicate and take initiative. "As well as learning to read and write, I was also able to find out what my rights and responsibilities in society are," commented Fatima, 52.
Atili Lhoucine, a technology teacher, said that the creation of a multimedia room in the school where he teaches has had a positive effect on both the pupils and the teachers, who were given on-site training. The aim of the ALEF programme was to improve the quality of education by training teachers and developing modules and tools to bring education into line with society's needs. Another goal was to encourage the active and strategic participation of parents, civil society, and various sectors of the economy in the process of improving education.
The ALEF project's positive results and the experience of working with USAID had encouraged Moroccan officials to turn schooling for girls - particularly in rural areas – into a priority for the government. Entraide Nationale is planning to roll the programme out across its 774 social security establishments across the country.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/07/07/feature-01
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Morocco: Coming together to strengthen the AIDS response in the workplace.
The world of work is a key arena for successfully challenging the AIDS epidemic, which affects the most economically active in every population. The majority of those living with the virus across the globe are workers. To promote this challenge in Morocco, the Ministry of Employment, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNAIDS, hosted a two-day national workshop on HIV workplace programmes in Casablanca at the end of June.
Bringing together actors from a number of sectors, the meeting included representatives from trade unions, government ministries, employers and businesses, NGOs, people living with HIV, medical officers and experts. It is the first of this scale and reach to be held and over 60 discussion topics were explored. The initiative of developing a sectoral plan on HIV workplace programmes by the Ministry of Employment makesMorocco a pioneer country among other low prevalence countries.
Dr Moucharafou Idohou, ILO/AIDS National Project Coordinator
The main aim of the workshop was to progress towards the development of a strategic AIDS plan. This three-pronged plan would include: HIV prevention in the workplace; care and support for people living with the virus and tacking stigma and discrimination; and management and coordination of the challenge to AIDS.
In order to arrive at this goal, the first day of the meeting was devoted to exploring the country's AIDS response in the world of work to date, which included a high-level discussion on challenges and lessons learned in developing HIV programmes in this sector. The principles and guidelines of the ILO, with emphasis on its Code of Practice on HIV and the world of work, adopted in 2001, were also examined.
It was noted that a great deal of good work had already been achieved by a number of individuals and organizations, including the Association Marocaine de Lutte contre le Sida (Moroccan Association for the Fight against AIDS - ALCS), AIDS Entreprises Morocco (a national network of companies working on HIV and STI programmes in the workplace), as well as trade unions and occupational physicians. However, all still face a number of constraints in integrating the AIDS response into the world of work.
Dr Moucharafou Idohou, the ILO National Project Coordinator in Benin, attended the Conference to present core ILO policy tools and share experience of workplace action in Francophone West Africa. He said he was pleased at progress made so far. "I congratulate the Moroccan authorities on their commitment to the AIDS response on the basis of a multi-sectoral approach and for including the workplace in this response. The initiative of developing a sectoral plan on HIV workplace programmes by the Ministry of Employment makes Morocco a pioneer country among other low prevalence countries."
The challenge to AIDS in the workplace is a key opportunity on the road to achieving universal access. We must pay special attention to the workers who are most at risk in terms of HIV infection and to the informal sector.
Dr Kamal Alami, UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Morocco
While working towards the development of the strategic plan, participants took a number of areas into consideration. They debated how to move towards implementing a programme aimed at the most vulnerable, i.e. informal and mobile workers.
Also necessary would be strengthening the capacity of employers’ organizations, unions and other business institutions, while mobilizing their resources for HIV prevention and education activities and challenging stigma and discrimination. How to continue raising awareness of the human rights aspect of HIV and its impact on companies, and setting a legal framework which could serve as a basis for national AIDS programmes responding to HIV in the world of work, were also discussed.
There were a number of conclusions emerging from the workshop. The delegates recommended:
The government of Morocco, through the Ministry of Employment, reiterated its commitment and willingness to work with its partners to effectively implement a national plan to respond to HIV and STIs in the workplace.
According to UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Morocco, Dr Kamal Alami, “The challenge to AIDS in the workplace is a key opportunity on the road to achieving universal access. We must pay special attention to the workers who are most at risk in terms of HIV infection and to the informal sector."
http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/FeatureStories/archive/2009/20090708_ILO.asp
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German association donates $373 K equipment benefiting children with heart diseases.
Casablanca
German association, Ein Herz fur Kinder (a heart for children), donated, here on Friday, medical equipment, worth 3 million dirhams (some 373 thousand dollars) benefiting the Moroccan Association "Les Bonnes oeuvres du c œur", which endeavours to help children with heart diseases. The donation includes notably apparatuses for artificial respiration, echocardiography and endurance tests, in addition to other devices needed for the treatment of heart diseases.
Speaking at the donation ceremony, Social Development, Family and Solidarity Minister, Nouzha Skalli, highlighted the civil society's role in supporting the government’s social development efforts. In this respect, she underscored the major projects carried out as part of Morocco's anti-poverty program, the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), calling on all parties to further reinforce partnerships in this direction.
On the same occasion, German Ambassador to Morocco, Ulf-Dieter Klemm, said the initiative is meant to save the lives of under-privileged babies and children suffering from heart diseases, adding that the donation shows Germany's commitment and interest in fostering partnerships with Morocco. Thanks to this humanitarian aid, the Moroccan association would increase the number of its beneficiaries to 800 children per year, Les Bonnes oeuvres du c œur association Chairman, Said Ejjennane, underlined.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/german_association_d/view
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Morocco takes up new strategy against child abuse.
By Naoufel Cherkaoui 2009-07-07
The government begins consultations with child advocacy groups to develop a national strategy for combating the phenomenon of sexual abuse, which some believe is spreading in Morocco. The Moroccan government is making new efforts to combat sexual assault against children. On the heels of a recent report on child abuse by the association "Touche pas à mon enfant" (Don't Touch My Child), the Ministry of Social Development, Family, and Solidarity is working with child protection and advocacy groups to come up with a common strategy to prevent the spread of the phenomenon.
The "Touche pas à mon enfant" report, issued May 19th, counts 306 reported cases of paedophilia across Morocco. Association President Najat Anwar said the figure points to an "alarming spread", claiming it constitutes an increase of 536% over previous years. Anwar also suggested that sexual abuse has become "structural", due to an overlap between the tourism industry that is vital to the Moroccan economy and "related networks and criminal organisations that have made a business out of child prostitution".
Officials from the Ministry of Social Development, Family, and Solidarity met with civil society groups on June 29th to exchange ideas on how best to address the issue. "The national policy for the protection of children depends on a joint vision between the different sides in order to create a suitable environment for the protection of childhood," said Family and Solidarity Minister Nouzha Skelli at the meeting. She also stressed the importance of creating a "tracking cell" to oversee the implementation of the strategy and identify new directions as needed. "The cell can [also] prepare a guide on the procedures for taking care of children who have been victims of sexual abuse," she said.
Civil society groups offered other contributions. "During the meeting, we presented several proposals... such as observance of some legal rules that are not applied in courts," Najia Adib, president of Moroccan NGO "Touche pas à mes enfants" (Don't Touch My Children), told Magharebia. "Victims don't have to attend public court hearings, which we deem another sort of violence." She added: "We have also called for exempting the victims from paying a court fee estimated at 500 dirhams, and from paying the medical experts' fees prescribed by the court."
Another demand is the acceleration of the judicial process; there are some cases still awaiting resolution after five years.
Experts also requested that judges specialising in children's' issues be appointed, and that victims' defence attorneys be permitted to attend investigation hearings. Current law only allows the accused, his lawyer, and the victim to attend such hearings. Adib also called for compulsory sexual education in schools, to teach children to identify suspicious treatment or behaviour. Said Al Raji of the National Observatory for Children's Rights told Magharebia that incidents of sexual abuse are likely not increasing. Instead, he suggested that awareness and reporting are becoming more common.
"In the past, the issue was taboo," he said. "Now, people have become more aware about their rights, and the number of legal actions has increased, which gives the impression that there is an increase in the number of cases." Khadija Al-Riyadi, President of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, advocates stricter penalties for offenders."In addition, we must raise and prepare children not to be victims of violence," she told Magharebia. "We also need to shed light on the phenomenon of incest." http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/07/07/feature-02
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Underage female housemaids raise concerns in Morocco.
By Sarah Touahri 2009-07-09
Morocco faces a lingering problem of underage girls forced to work as domestic servants. NGOs and government officials are joining forces to solve the crisis by proposing criminal liability. The employment of girls as housemaids is still a worrisome problem in Morocco, despite numerous public awareness campaigns. Four NGOs joined forces on Saturday (July 4th) in Rabat to begin work on eradicating a phenomenon they consider a type of slavery.
The East-West Foundation, the INSAF (National Institute for Solidarity with Women in Distress), Amnesty International and the Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH) agree that work done by girls is a form of slavery, as it involves trade in human beings. They held their first forum with governmental representatives to set up a legal framework to criminalise the employment of girls as housemaids.
"New legislation is now proving more necessary than ever, and must be backed by mechanisms for implementation that clearly set out the responsibilities of those involved," said East-West Foundation chief Yasmina Filali. Participants in the meeting agreed that the employment of young girls less than fifteen years of age must be severely punished.
The forum also recommended that failing to declare the employment of a young girl should be a criminal offence. Intermediary networks and employers must be prosecuted, and a structure should be set up to care for victims and provide them with psychological support and education. The collective is aware that legislation alone is not enough, and must be backed by an effective public awareness strategy. This would involve starting a public debate about the issue to stir consciences, inform public opinion, and involve the press both nationally and internationally.
"Everyone's efforts must be pooled to put an end to this scourge that is ravaging Morocco,” said Filali. The East-West Foundation has been working with INSAF for over three years in the Chichaoua area, original home to many of the endangered girls. INSAF and the East-West Foundation have been raising the awareness of parents and of children in schools about the full extent of the problem.
INSAF Director Nabila Tber said that her organisation, with its educational reintegration programme, has been seeking to change mindsets among parents who believe that they benefit from sending their daughters to work. The organisation also hopes to create a relationship of trust between schools and families. The ministry for social development, families, and solidarity has encouraged this kind of initiative, as it goes along government action. Minister Nouzha Skelli has set a target of eradicating the problem of young maids by 2010. This, she said, depends on all partners working together.
A draft bill aimed at putting an end to child labour is currently being studied by the government's general secretariat. If child labour is not eradicated, stated the ministry, it will not be possible to achieve universal school education."The government and charities must consider strict legislation if they are to manage to change mindsets among a great many Moroccans, who do not see the employment of girls under fifteen years of age as a crime against humanity," said sociologist Naïma Mourabiti. "We've had plenty of public awareness campaigns. What's needed is for those who employ young girls to realise that their actions are a crime punishable by law." http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/07/09/feature-02
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Agriculture in Morocco: time for a new plan .
ZAK ETTAMYMY
Morocco has submerged itself in what some economists call it passive economical output. Since the end of the colonization and to benefit the super powers it was lead to believe that agriculture economy is the best solution for this bright newly independent nation; yet this idea was deceiving and plain misleading morocco was France’s farm for products it couldn’t replicate and a good and cheap source of fish for the big brothers in Europe
Almost 60 years have passed and the country is still trapped in this farce, claiming that the agriculture is the future of Morocco. The only real successful agricultural country in the world is the USA and only because it is a much advanced farming economy as well as supported by a strong strategy of political and cultural world reach and markets at its mercy
The farming practices in morocco are archaic and can t compete internationally “even locally, Moroccans love Apples from Chili and raisins from Italy” it can t even achieve self-sufficiency. For this field to continue its 60 years of failure is a sign of poor government policies and absent strategic planning; it is a shame to keep feeding this failing enterprise hard-earned Moroccan money; anything less than full reshuffling of the country planning for new agriculture will be a continuation of failed policy and Moroccans ought to know that it is not wise or smart to literally pour water in the sand
A new plan should include the following steps
Shrinking the size of the Moroccan agriculture especially the heavily subsidized sectors
Modernizing the new agriculture
Developing new and profitable products
Producing locally but thinking globally: find world markets in need of Moroccan products
Producing smart and producing quality
Water management
Cultivating the farmer, the Moroccan farmer is still illiterate and ignores many techniques of modern farming
Sometimes it is better to shrink an enterprise to expand it later, the Moroccan agriculture is unregulated and is left to amateur practices that drain resources rather than produce results, the government is called upon to address these issues to face the new challenges. It is safe to say that the old feudal methods are a thing of the pass
Israel is a small country by all norms but it has an efficient agriculture it feeds all Israelis and its products are all over Europe and American supermarkets
Soudan is a large country capable of feeding the entire planet but due to its poor and amateurial farming practices ends up importing 45% of it needs in food. The difference is management and strategy planning.
While Israel created kibbutz with self reliance and encouragement to produce extra for external markets achieved substantial gains while Soudan kept a feudal system that created a gap between poor and rich and ruined the country’s chances of being the agricultural nation by excellence.
Morocco can learn from these examples, unfortunately it didn’t not so far, Sudan on the other hand is learning that it needs industry despite all its vast fertile land and abundance of water, Sudan now makes planes and some agricultural machinery.
The irony is the fact that industrial countries achieved enough development, modernized their infrastructure and benefited not only their factories but also their farms they invented machines products and strategies for all sectors most industrial nation achieved self efficiency and those who relied on agriculture ended up in the low ranking income and lost their chances
Consider the fact that one Microsoft Office Enterprise CD "full legal copy" costs the same as one ton of potatoes. Commodities are important in world trade but their price is dictated and imposed by companies and banks that set unfair rules on poor countries. Oil is cheaper than diet Pepsi!
While morocco awaits rain every year, China continues to transform its economy which is 100 times bigger than morocco’s to an industrial miracle from a feudal failure
For Morocco to defy the norms and declare itself an agricultural country with real and genuine desire for progress is foolish and plain absurd. Agriculture does not create wealth, it makes the feudals rich such as the AL AMRANI and IRAKI families because they own over a million hectare of land each and this does not mean that the other 34,999,998 Moroccans are getting a nickel from this wealth
For Morocco to achieve a sustained development in the magnitude of countries such as Turkey, Iran, Vietnam and others it needs a modern agriculture yet supported by an industrial sector worthy of its name the development that the Moroccan citizen can benefit from, not the beautiful hotels, the 5star residences and the marinas that he will not set a foot in.
The choices are clear, Morocco can’t make it with the current agricultural policy, and Morocco will fail at the first draught session, more efforts and know-how need to be implemented in an agro-industrial ministry, why not one minster for both sectors, Agriculture and industry are at least complimentary; it is much better than minister of Interior and Communication (Driss Basri). The agriculture Tsar will concentrate on making it one effort one policy and both sectors will need to go hand in hand. Smaller agriculture a diverse agriculture and mainly industrial support.
It is doubtful that the current prime minister of Morocco has any clue on how to tackle a complete change in Morocco’s output and how to introduce a clear and thorough program, detailed step by step on how to get Morocco out of this passive economy, it is highly doubtful that MR Prime Minister can come up with a plan to save Morocco and guarantee a real development independently of tourism and the expatriates « RME » and present it to the King for consideration. Not one minister is capable of detaching him or herself from the safety belt they all attached themselves with and not one minister would take a chance on changing wrong policies. They all play it safe so they can be chosen for future assignments, Morocco needs courageous people who can be innovative and who take the initiative to better the lives of Moroccans
Moroccans, Morocco and the king of Morocco will be better served by someone with these traits than an obeying minister.
http://www.moroccoboard.com/viewpoint/55-zak-ettamymy/576-agriculture-in-morocco-time-for-a-new-plan
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EIB loans Morocco € 200 mln.
Brussels
The European Investment Bank (EIB) loaned Morocco 200 million Euros to fund the 2009-2012 emergency programme to promote education. The loan was signed, Tuesday in Brussels, by Moroccan Economy Minister, Salaheddine Mezouar and EIB Vice President for the Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership facility (FEMIP), Philippe de Fontaine Vive.
Mezouar told MAP that the loan, which will complete other sources of financing, is meant to spur the initiative and excellence at schools, and strengthen the quality and capacities of Morocco's educational system. Praising cooperation relations between the EIB and the north African country, the minister hailed the mobilization of several donors for "this ambitious programme which is in line with their priorities in terms of financing and is part of the large-scale reforms undertaken by the kingdom."
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/eib_loans_morocco/view
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