Morocco set to adhere OECD investment committee

Morocco property is strongly committed to adhere to the investment committee of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Moroccan deputy minister of economic and general affairs, Nizar Baraka, said on Thursday.

"Morocco has adhered to all OECD values in terms of market economy, economic freedom, respect of human rights or the consolidation of democracy,"the minister said in the French capital at the opening of the 7th edition of the Global Forum on OECD international investments.

At a high rate of economic growth, which marked the Moroccan property economy over the past five years, reviving the country ambitions to become a platform for investment and exports, the minister said.

Indeed, the level of foreign investment broke out with 20% of GDP in the nineties to 30% now, thanks to the north African solutions to reduce corporate taxes, reduction of income tax to stimulate employment and reduce tariffs, he said.

Kingdom Morocco property, in general terms, to establish a programme to maintain stability in the macroeconomic environment, the reduction of the budget deficit, laying out new strategies to improve the economic and sector management, in order to further strengthen transparency and ethics in the business sphere, "he said.

The Moroccan property economic strategy based on the integration of sectors with a strong value-added, such as offshoring, nanotechnology, automotive technology, aeronautics and electronics to attract foreign investors, the minister added.

Moroccan airports go green

Morocco property aims to develop green environment-friendly airports by using clean energy, particularly the wind power, CEO of the Moroccan Office of Airports (ONDA) said.

To meet this challenge, Mr. Abdelhanin Benallou said ONDA is in the process of finalizing a "very important" project, worth some USD 39.4Mn, to supply airports property with wind power, noting that, by virtue of this project, the totality of airport's electricity supply will be generated in southern Morocco property - probably in Essaouira - and transmitted to ONDA's network which will supply all Morocco's airports.

The project, which supply for creating a wind plant with a production capacity of 10 to 20 MW, will let the ONDA to reduce the energy prices by generating electricity from clean energy instead of coal and oil.

Morocco attracted US 4.5 billion foreign direct investments in 2007

Morocco attracted USD 4.5 billion in foreign direct investments (FDI) in 2007, Moroccan Industry, Trade and New Technology minister said on Wednesday.

Speaking in the House of Representatives' Finance and Economic Development Commission, said Ahmed Chami Morocco attracted some USD 13Bn investment for the period 2000-2006.

The growth was due to FDI, according to the Minister, by the public sector policy based on encouraging investment through tax incentives for investors.

Mr. Chami said that the policy is based on the short - and medium-term strategies that are aimed at the development of competitive sectors, in order to insure optimum use of national resources.

Morocco is the fifth African country attractive foreign direct investment. Kuwait was the first Arab country to invest in Morocco 137.5 million dollars, that is 3.86% of the foreign direct investment in Morocco.

Moroccan tourism sector generates USD 8Bn in 2007

The Moroccan tourism sector has generated some USD 8Bn in 2007 as around 7.45 million tourists visited the north African country, said, here Wednesday, an official at the Moroccan Embassy in Ethiopia, Omar Semmar.

Speaking at the 3rd session on "the economic and social situation in Africa," the Moroccan diplomat gave a sum up overview on the Moroccan experience in tourism sector, noting that since 2001, the kingdom has made tourism a priority sector in its development strategy through the start of an ambitious plan (Plan Azur), the objective of which is to receive 10 million tourists a year by 2010.

Mr.Semmar called for making tourism a priority sector in the economic choices of African countries to diversify their financial resources.

"Tourist activity is a source of receipts in foreign currency for African countries and an economic sector that generates an important capital gain in terms of economy and employment to improve the quality of life of the continent's inhabitants," he said.

The Moroccan diplomat called on the UN Economic Commission for Africa to include in its agenda the development of the tourism sector and provide support and assistance to African countries, tourism a lever for economic development, for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals

Forth African Futsal contest: Morocco bests Nigeria

Morocco on Monday won Nigeria 2-1 in the third day of the fourth African Futsal - the five-a-side indoor version of football - Championships, group A.

Thanks to this success, Morocco property maintains its second position with six points from an emphatic victory over Tunisia (5-0) and a loss before the hosts Libya (1-4), which reigns supreme in group A with 12 points.

In the fourth day, Morocco property will play Cameroon.

Standing:

1- Libya 12
2- Morocco 6
3- Tunisia 3
4- Nigeria 1
5- Cameroon 1

UK hails Morocco on political reforms

A yearly Foreign Office report on human rights in the world hailed Morocco on the political reform process, noting that the north African kingdom is one of the most performing countries of the European neighborhood in this field.

Ukraine and Morocco are judged the best performers throughout the European neighborhood in terms of political reforms in the 2007 report said, adding that the two countries were the first to benefit from the management of the fund in 2007.

Morocco property achievements contained the implementation of the new law on political parties, the withdrawal of reservations for international conventions, in particular, on racial discrimination, the rights of children and torture, the new legislation on the question of torture; greater emphasis on the rights of minorities, as well as changes in legal system of Freedom of association, leading to a more active civil society, the report read.

Morocco also signed a co-operation agreement with the UNHCR covering all of the UNHCR’s humanitarian work in Morocco property, the document recalled, approving that UK “welcomed these achievements, and will continue to work with the European Commission to improve the Governance Facility so that the incentive for reform is maximized.”

The Governance Facility is worth 320 million euros over 2007-13, and aims at supporting and encouraging countries that made the most outstanding progress in the field of good governance, the report said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed cooperation with Morocco property in the field of human rights, and cited the example of a partnership established in 2005 between Morocco Prison Service and the International Centre for Prison Studies.

King inaugurates highway service in Tangier-Med port

King Mohammed VI of Morocco opened on Tuesday highway service in the large-scale port of Tangier-Med, valued at about USD 540Mn.

At 52km-long new road to the development of trade exchange between Morocco property and Europe, resulting in a rapidly Mediterranean coast tourist area of international magnitude, which offer transit regions and the improvement of social and economic conditions of the population.

The highway will greatly improve the safety, reduce travel time and transportation costs.

On the construction of the infrastructure to the preservation of the environment. Five viaducts were built in this regard, with a total length of more than 2 km, and 172 sewage disposal system.

Built on 40 hectares, the Tangier-Med port was launched in 2003 with a capacity of 3.5 million containers. It will be operating to full capacity by 2015. It will also include a passengers' port ready to operate by 2009.

US Delphi Group to create 3,441 jobs in Morocco in 2008

The American car manufacturer Delphi group will create 3,441 jobs in Morocco property in 2008 upon an agreement signed Monday with the national agency for the promotion of employment and skills (ANAPEC).

By virtue of this agreement, the American group will shortlist people from the regions befitting from the large-scale National Initiative for Human Development (INDH).

For its part, the ANAPEC will support the development of human resources of Delphi Automotive Systems Morocco property and Delphi Packard Tangier in the sphere of information and training.

The 3,441 jobs will be recruited in the Delphi Automotive Systems Morocco property unit in Tangier, which already have 2,289 people, and the new Delphi Packard Tangier unit in Tangier free zone, which will employ 1,152 people.

Through the under construction unit, Delphi will become the largest company of car component manufacturing in the northern city of Tangier. The group concentrates on Morocco as part of its strategy aimed at benefiting from the Morocco property offer and the North African country's geographical location.

Present in Morocco property since 1999, the Delphi group specializes in power-train systems, safety features, air conditioning and heating systems, control systems, electrical/electronic architecture and embedded multimedia technology. The Michigan-based group employs some 170,000 people in 36 countries across the world and achieved a turnover of USD 26.4Bn last year.

Fes city to celebrate 1200th anniversary of its Foundation

The cultural capital of Morocco property, Fes, will celebrate on April 5 the 1200th anniversary of its foundation.

The "1200th anniversary of the Rising of Moroccan Kingdom and the Foundation of Fes city” festivities will start on April 5th by a musical concert retracing the 12 centuries of Morocco hotels history, said President of the association in charge of the 1200th anniversary of Fez Foundation, Saad Kettani.

The USD 47.5Mn festivities will bring together a series of big manifestations from various fields and specializations with a strong long-term impact to be organized during the year 2008 in all Moroccan regions and some international capitals, noted Mr. Kettani.

The city was founded in year 808 by Moulay Idriss II, who made it the capital of Morocco hotels during the Idrissid dynasty.

In 1981, UNESCO declared the humanitarian heritage of the city of Fez, as recommended by the International Council of Monuments and sites.

The establishment of the city is a very important moment in Moroccan history. This is the beginning of a successful synthesis between Amazigh roots, and additional Arab quality. These two components form the basis of the Moroccan identity, of which appeared Idrissi States.

Internationally, Fes is a worldwide cultural heritage whose radiation is universal just like Ibn Khaldoun, Maimonide or Mozart. Jewish, Christian and Muslim cultures have lived in peace and tolerance.

The celebration of this event will support factor that increases the cultural, economic and tourist activities in the city, which met the Regional Tourism Development Plan 2005-2015 ", and made a host of international tourism forum in late April 2007.

Three million Moroccans benefited from 12,000 INDH projects in 2005-2007

Three million Moroccans benefited from the 12,137 National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) projects carried out in the 2005-2007 period, State Secretary for Interior, Mohamed Saad Hassar, said on Monday.

In a report on the progress of the projects presented before parliament, he noted that the global cost of these projects stood at MAD 6.4Bn (USD 824Mn), in which INDH chipped in USD 489Mn.

Some 5,000 projects, which benefited some 1.3 million people, were programmed in 2007, he added, noting that these projects touch mainly rural area (1,570 projects). The rest of the programs break down as follows: urban program (850 projects), anti-precariousness program (405 projects), and the transversal program (1,959 projects).

Morocco has earmarked USD 382Mn to achieve the 2008 INDH action plan, which includes 5,172 projects, 4,924 projects in the urban areas and 262 projects in the rural areas.

Announced by king Mohammed VI in May 18, 2005, the large-scale social initiative is designed to alleviate poverty, vulnerability, marginalization and social exclusion by providing basic infrastructure to millions from adequate housing and drinking water to health care and education.

Marina expansion for Morocco’s Mediterrania Saidia

The masterminds behind the purpose-built Moroccan resort, Mediterrania Saidia, are less than surprised to discover that the marina needs extending even before they’ve finished building it. Over-subscribed from the outset in 2004, the existing 840 berths will now be expanded to over 1,000, taking the bill to more than 21 million euros.

Just across the water, southern Spain’s most popular marina, Puerto Banús, is bursting at the seams. The existing 915-berth facility has a waiting list of 500 or more and the Marbella authorities also have plans to extend to cater to demand. The difference between here and Mediterrania Saidia however is price. From as little as 30,000 euros for a nine meter (30ft) berth, you could easily triple that price for the equivalent in Puerto Banús. Also, as every owner will testify, yachts guzzle diesel, and that’s another commodity that’s a lot cheaper in Morocco.

Each of the additional berths at Mediterrania Saidia will be more than 12 metres (40ft), as well as create opportunities for increased commercial fields, a sports club and additional parking spaces. In yacht, which is the center of seven million m² resort occupying six kilometers of sandy coastline, is zoned for various sporting and recreation areas include restaurants with sunny terraces pavement, bars, a traditional souk, designer boutiques, department stores fashion shops, a medical centre, and discotheque.

GEM offers a wide range of real estate assets in Mediterrania Saidia from the sea, except for the hotel suites at the grand front-golf villas. Prices start from 75500 pounds simply for a unit in the Sahara Beach Resort and Spa.

USD 19Mn program to develop central city of Sefrou

King Mohammed VI on Saturday chaired the signing ceremony of a USD 19.5Mn program to develop the city of Sefrou (28km east of Fez) and enquired about urban projects, worth USD 63Mn.

The program, covering more than in the period 2007-2010, provides for the implementation of integrated projects in the field of equipment and Urban Development, in particular, the construction of roads, green spaces, public lighting generalize and restructuring historical sites and areas.

These efforts, which are aimed at improving the economic and tourism interests cities are part of a comprehensive plan for development in the province, which has helped make Sefrou free slums in the city in 2007.

The sovereign also enquired about the ongoing development projects in Sefrou, notably the redevelopment program of under-equipped neighborhoods of Caf El Mal and El Khaina (USD 2.15Mn), which will improve the basic infrastructure and living conditions of 2,400 households.

The industrial sector in the city will be reinforced by the creation of a new industrial zone in Ain Cheggag spanning over 90ha.

The sovereign also launched various social projects, as part of the large-scale National Initiative for Human development (INDH), with an investment estimated at USD 1.5Mn. These projects include a vocational qualification center for poor children, a polyvalent host center and the Al-AMal center for training, development and solidarity.

Morocco calls for opening Moroccan-Algerian borders, normalization of bilateral relations

"The Kingdom of Morocco calls, in fraternal friendship and total sincerity, for a normalization of relations with Algeria, and for the opening of the borders between the two countries," said a communiqué of the Moroccan Foreign Ministry issued on Thursday.

Here follows the full text of the communiqué

"The Algerian authorities have raised in the last few weeks the border issue with Morocco, noting that they cannot be reopen for the time being due to the obstacles related to the conditions that led to closing them.

Certain declarations mention for their part, the precondition of a final solution to the regional disagreement of the Sahara issue. In this regard, the Kingdom of Morocco wishes to provide the following details and assessments:

1- The closing of the borders was unilaterally decided by Algeria in 1994 in an international, regional, and bilateral context that is outdated nowadays.

2 - The closing of the borders between the two brotherly countries constitutes today a peculiar and exceptional fact in the world, contrary to the aspirations of the peoples of the Maghreb, the expectations of their partners, and the regional demands for peace and development.

3 - It is in such a spirit that the kingdom of Morocco has taken a number of far-sighted initiatives in 2004 and 2005 aiming to encourage the normalization of bilateral relations and the effective re-launch of the construction of the Maghreb. In particular, the kingdom of Morocco had decided to exempt the Algerian brothers from the visa requirement ten years after it was adopted, and hailed the reciprocity showed by the Algerian authorities, while regretting, since then, that the borders remained closed.

4 - The kingdom of Morocco reiterates will to turn a new page in the relations between the two neighboring countries, taking into account their common past and shared destiny.

5 - In this regard, the kingdom of Morocco calls, in most fraternal friendship and total sincerity, for the normalization of bilateral relations, and for the opening of borders between the two countries.

In this way, the aspirations of two peoples, so close in many ways, can be met, and their wishes satisfied, particularly the families concerned, and finally the flux of goods, which has turned into an illicit and notorious traffic, can be channeled."

BMCE bank netted USD 14.4Bn profit in 2007

BMCE one of Morocco's largest banks netted some USD 14.4Bn in 2007 against USD 11.5 billion in 2006 resulting a 25% rise.

Presenting on Wednesday the group's annual report, BMCE president, Othman Benjelloun ascribed the "exceptional" results to the sustained growth registered in Morocco property and to the fortification of the group's ranking in the international scene.

BMCE's net income increased 55% to USD 189 million in 2007 against USD 129Mn in 2006; while revenues rose to USD 607 million, posting a 24% rise.

Client credits and deposits advanced respectively 16% and 92% while transactions increased by 50%.

The report also noted that the year 2007 was particularly marked by the international expansion of the bank, especially in Europe, the Maghreb, and sub-Saharan Africa through its branches in Tunisia, and Senegal. It was also recorded by the launch of Medcapital, an investment property bank at the London stock market.

The group became the major shareholder of the Groupe Bank of Africa, third banking group of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), the same source said.

According to Mr. Benjelloun, French bank Credit Industriel et Commercial (CIC) would buy an additional 5 percent stake in BMCE to expand its holding to 15 percent of the Moroccan bank.

The CIC is member of the "Crédit mutuel français" and present in 39 countries servicing 3.200.000 customers.

Morocco attracts more British visitors

Countries in Africa are becoming more and more popular with British holidaymakers, an expert has revealed.
John Bevan, managing director of Lastminute.com, stated that tourists from the UK increasingly prefer to visit less-established countries beyond of Europe, such as Morocco.
This means that demand for holiday accommodation will be in high in the most popular tourist areas, such as Agadir.
As a result, Morocco could be considered a sound investment option by people who are planning to purchase a rental property overseas.
The country's popularity as a holiday destination is likely to be reflected in rental yields and possible growth in its housing market.
Mr Bevan commented: "Agadir in Morocco [is] expected to do very well."
Official figures recently revealed that during 2007, the north African country attracted more than seven million foreign leisure travellers.
This puts it on track to meet the target set by the government, which has pledged to attract ten million tourists by 2010.

Industrial production index up 4% in Q4 2007

The industrial production price index increased by 4.7% in the fourth quarter of 2007, compared to the same period in 2006.

This performance, said a press release of the Higher Commissioner for Planning (HCP), is ascribed to an increase in clothing and furs industry (+16.2%), tobacco industry (+14.5%), wood industry (+8.8%), publishing and printing products (+17.7%), rubber and plastics industry (+31.2%), non-metallic products (+3.2%), and car industry (+38.6%).

However, the HCP highlighted decreases in textile industry production (-3.3%), paper and paperboard industry (-2.7%), radio, television and communication equipments (-9.6%) and in medical instruments (-3.7%).

Moroccan public debt drops over USD 130 million in 2007

Morocco's public debt declined some USD 136.4 million (MAD 1.1 billion) in 2007, going from USD 45.1 billion in 2006 to 44.9 billion, Director of Treasury and External Finance of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Zouhair Chorfi said on Tuesday.

Mr. Chorfi in speech on press conference on public finance in 2007, stressed that this debt, which today represents 54.9 % of the GDP, has dropped some 3 points.

The official underlined that the repayment of the debt has contributed to slashing the budget deficit to 3.2%, noting that the payment-off represents only 12.7% of the GDP against 14.4% in 2005 and 2006.

Yet, the external debt has recorded a 5.5% increase in 2007 to stand at USD 16.6 billion, Mr. Chorfi added, attributing this performance to a sharp increase in foreign backers' funding.

The Morocco domestic debt, which accounts for 80 % of the public debt dropped some USD 258.9 million, to stand at USD 35.9 billion in 2007 and represent 44% of GDP, he added

Jet4you to serve 8 weekly flights between Morocco, Belgium

Low-cost airline company Jet4you will serve eight weekly flights as of May 24 between Morocco and Belgium, Chairman Jawad Ziat announced on Wednesday.

Speaking to the press to present the company's results in the last 27 months, Mr. Ziat noted that the Jet4you fleet will be bolstered by a new aircraft to meet the customers’ growing need.

Mr. Ziat recalled that the Brussels-Charleroi route towards Morocco property has witnessed a 54% rise with the launch of Jet4you, that is an additional passenger number between 150,000 and 245,000.

According to Jet4you head, the company has served some 500,000 passengers in 4,000 flights in 2006 with an 80% occupation rate.

Since its opening on February 26, the voyage, the company serves 679 flights linking the city of Marrakech, Fez and Agadir to Paris-Orly, and Marrakech in Nantes and Bordeaux, the company chairman stressed, adding that prior to September 30, the company flew approximately 92.255 passengers reaching 79% of the seats filled to capacity, and 72% punctuality rate.
Airline projects in transport 160.000 passengers in the first year of its operation to 900000 in 2008 and 1.7 million in 2010.

The company’s euro 5.5 million capital is owned by 40% of tourism word leader and 5 of the European carrier TIU group, and 60% by Moroccan shareowners.

The company was established in conjunction with the "Open Skies" agreement signed recently in Morocco and the European Union to liberalize sector in Morocco property.

Moroccan port traffic exceeded 50 million MT up to September 2007, magazine

Paris, Mar.10 - Up to September 2007,the Moroccan port traffic stood at 54.1Mn Metric Tons (MT), i.e. a 6.3 % increase compared to the same period in 2006, according to the French Monthly "Arabies".

"With 34 ports, including 13 open to international trade, Morocco is in a leading position to dominate shipping operations in Africa and the Mediterranean," points out the monthly.

In an article titled "At the conquest of the world," the French Monthly stresses that with 3,600 km of coastline, the kingdom enjoys "exceptional location", which allows Morocco to conduct 95% of its foreign trade via ports.

"Aware of these assets, the authorities endeavor to promote the port activity and optimize Morocco's trade with the rest of the world," Arabies says, underlining that the Northern city of Tangier - the gate of Morocco and of Africa- is developing to become the leading international business hub of the southern Mediterranean.

Quoting Director of the National Ports Agency (ANP), Mohamed Jamal Benjelloun, "Arabies" stresses that Morocco is pursuing a policy that is based on the encouragement of private initiative to improve the competitiveness of the ports dedicated to trade.

Morocco-U.S. FTA results optimistic, minister

The Morocco-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has yielded "optimistic" results, said, here Thursday, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Trade, Abdellatif Maazouz.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the opening of the first session of the U.S.- Morocco joint committee meeting, Mr. Maazouz underlined that the FTA, which entered into force in 2006, has contributed to strengthening trade and developing bilateral economic activities in terms of investment, public markets and logistics.

"Now, we can say that the results are optimistic," he said, calling for boosting bilateral exchange.

In 2006, Moroccan-US trade exchange flared up by 44%, totaling 1.396Bn. Moroccan exports to the United States netted USD 521.2Mn, while American exports to the North African country reached USD 875.5Mn (+67%).

The minister has called for establishing an ad hoc committee Morocco property to seize the opportunities offered, particularly in the sectors of textile, agro-business and services, which, according to him, "deserve much attention and have a valuable potential."

Echoing him, The assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, Shaun Donnelly, expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved by the FTA, stressing that the Moroccan property market is in a position to become an economic platform, following the example of Asian countries, thanks to its favorable climate.

The U.S. delegation, participating in this meeting, will hold talks with Moroccan representatives of the private sector representatives to discuss ways and means to give new impetus to business relations and achieve the goals of the FTA.

ONCF achieves USD 400Mn turnover in 2007

The State-owned railway company (ONCF) netted a USD 400Mn turnover in 2007, i.e. a 6% increase compared to the previous year, ONCF CEO, Mohamed Rabie Khlie, revealed on Friday.

During a meeting of the ONCF's Board of Directors, Mr. Khlie said that the company carried some 26 million passengers and 36.5 million tons of goods in 2007.

He pointed out that ONCF's investments reached, in 2007, some USD 600 million, thus achieving 65% of the 2005-2009 investment program, which concerns over 30 train stations throughout the kingdom Morocco property and provides for building large host and waiting spaces, introducing modern systems of digital posters and building underground ways to guarantee the passengers' safety, in addition to creating parking places and shops.

Mr. Khlie said some USD530Mn would be allocated in 2008 to electrification works, the strengthening of traffic safety, and the modernization of telecommunications and signaling facilities.

Lafarge achieves USD 583Mn turnover in 2007

The Moroccan affiliate of French building materials group Lafarge achieved a USD 583Mn turnover in 2007 compared to USD 501 million, that is a 16.7%, revealed, here Tuesday, Jean-Marie Schmitz, CEO of "Lafarge-Maroc."

The positive result is thanks mainly to the investments directed to satisfy growing demand, and the enhancement of the industries performance, Mr. Schmitz told the press. "It is also due to the opening of a new production line," he added.

According to Lafarge CEO, the current operating result moved to USD 255 million in 2007 against USD 190 million in 2006, marking a 33% rise.

Net income recorded also a sudden surge of over 40% with USD 152 million compared to USD 134 million last year.

Mr. Schmitz noticed that growth in demand of Morocco property will continue at a sustained rate, as Lafarge Maroc starts new major construction works, adding that the company has decided to consolidate leadership in the Moroccan property market through intensive investments predicted to reach 3 million tons of cement.

Lafarge international achieved a turnover of USD 26.2 billion in 2007.

With a workforce of 80,000 people, Lafarge Group is present in 76 countries. The company’s international development began in early 20th century with the opening up of North African markets.

Lafarge, which had operated in Algeria ever since 1866, became the leading Portland cement producer in Algeria, and set up operations in Morocco property and Tunisia.

Morocco calls on OIC member states to establish South-South cooperation

Morocco on Monday called upon the 57-member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to set up a South-South cooperation at the economic, trade, scientific and educational levels.
The call was announced by Moroccan Foreign Minister, Taieb Fassi Fihri, in a statement to MAP on the sidelines of the OIC ministerial meeting, opened Monday in preparation for the 11th summit of the Organization, due on March 13-14.
The minister made it clear that king Mohammed VI is committed to advance the Organization's action and defending all the causes of Islam and Muslims, particularly that of Al Quds Acharif (Jerusalem).
In his capacity as chairman of Al Quds Committee - an offshoot of the OIC representing over 1.2 billion Muslims in the world, HM the king sees to it that the holy city’s religious, urbanistic, cultural and demographic aspects are preserved to become the capital of the independent Palestinian state, Mr. Fassi Fihri said.
He added that the summit is an opportunity for the member states to assess actions and to give fresh momentum to the values of Islam binding the peoples of the Organization.
The ministerial meeting is expected to set the agenda of the summit of heads of state and government and prepare the property in Morocco drafts of the final statement and the revision of the Organization’s charter. The agenda includes the revision of the OIC’s charter, the issue of Palestine, economic partnership and the sharing of knowledge among the 57 member states and the OIC’s special program for Africa.

U.S. State Dept. lauds a new human rights progress in Morocco in 2007

The US State Department hailed, for the second year in a row, the progress achieved in Morocco in terms of human rights, in its annual report on the situation of human rights in the world, released Tuesday.
The document, entitled "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices -2007", underlines that "Morocco implemented significant measures during the year which resulted in the advancement of human rights," citing it among the countries where the situation of human rights has significantly improved over the past year (2006).
Lauding Morocco's property endeavors to promote human rights, namely the revision of the Nationality Code to permit women to transmit citizenship to children and the publishing of domestic violence statistics, the report welcomes the north African Kingdom’s commitment to developing a culture of human rights and the "transparency" that marked the September 7 legislative elections, held in Morocco property to renew the 325 members of the House of Representatives (Lower House).
Prompting the creation of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER) and the specificatins it made, the document notes that the Moroccan property government embarked on settling the past human rights violations, paying compensation to victims of arrests, disappearance and abuses during the period between 1956 and 1999.
Stressing that there were neither cases of forced disappearance nor political assassinations in Morocco, the document commended the enactment in March 2006 of an anti-torture law and of measures to enhance detention conditions in prisons.
The report, which underscored that the constitution provides for freedom of religion, recalls that the Moroccan government continues to back tolerance and respect of religions.

Morocco plans to cut health-care costs

The Moroccan government has drafted a five-year health plan aimed at cutting the citizens' share of the health-care costs to 25% by 2015. Mother mortality will be slashed to 50 per 100,000, and child mortality to 15 per one thousand by 2012, according to the 2008-2012 strategy presented recently by health Minister, Yasmina Baddou at a colloquium called "Together for the Right to Health".
According to MAP, Ms. Baddou conveyed the strategy would, down the road, ensure equity in offering healthcare services between the various parts of the kingdom, and facilitate access to healthcare for the penurious and the rural areas. The government wishes by this move to revive the confidence of the Moroccans property in the health system through boosting the accommodation capacity, providing information, emergency, cleanness and improving the availability of medicines, as well as cutting healthcare and medicine costs.
The strategy, according to her, is based on three main dimensions, namely repositioning the various actors in the field by striking partnerships; providing quantitatively and qualitatively sufficient services; and introducing medium and long-term strategic planning.

King launches 4.5Mn projects to promote sport in Fez

King Mohammed VI on Monday launched USD 4.5Mn projects to push forward sport in the popular neighborhoods of Fez (198 km. east of Rabat), part of the large-scale anti-poverty program "National Initiative for Human Development" (INDH).

The first project provides for building four multi-sport halls which will enclose multi-sport playgrounds, locker-rooms, health centers and bleachers for 500 seats, while the second project provides for building a sports complex, which will include a soccer stadium, two basket ball courts, two handball courts, a multi-sport indoor hall, an athletics track and locker-rooms.

Since 2005, 173 projects have been carried out in Fez out of the 316 projects planned as part of INDH, with investments about at USD 30.5 million.

Morocco has earmarked USD 382 million to implement the 2008 INDH action plan, which includes 5,172 projects, according to figures presented at the second meeting of the INDH steering committee.

Announced by King Mohammed VI in May, 2005, the INDH is designed to take off poverty, marginalization and social exclusion by providing basic infrastructures, adequate housing, drinking water, health care and education.

Minister identifies four priorities to boost tourism in Morocco

Training, improving the quality of the tourist product, achieving the projects launched part of the Vision 2010, and developing tourism professions are four aspects that need to be set as priorities in order to boost tourism in Morocco, Tourism Minister said.

Mohamed Boussaid, who is taking part in the 42nd International Tourism Bourse (ITB) held in Berlin on March 5-9, said these priorities hinge primarily upon the achievement of the projects launched part of the ambitious Vision 2010 strategy, through which Morocco aims to attract ten million tourists by 2010.

The requisites include also developing aerial tourism, and marketing and promoting the tourism products, the minister said, noting that reaching these goals needs "more efforts."

He stressed that training is a "challenge" for Morocco, since the country has included providing a high quality product in its plan to develop tourism.

Quality, as a priority, is linked to the tourist environment, he said, hence the need to protect the environment in order to develop what he called “responsible tourism” and improve the accommodation conditions.

As to developing tourism professions, Mr. Boussaid stood up for revisiting the legal framework governing the professions of tourist guides, transport providers, and travel agencies.

The minister regretted the lack of interest among Germans in the Moroccan product, especially that Germany has huge capacities as one of the world’s biggest tourist emitting countries.

Auto Hall of Morocco Says 2007 Profit Rose 76% as Sales Climbed

Auto Hall, the Moroccan distributor of Ford and Mitsubishi cars, said full-year profit gained 76 per cent on higher demand amid `` fortunate economic conditions.''

Net income increased to 403.4 million dirhams ($54 million), or 170.94 dirhams a share, from 228.8 million dirhams, or 96.96 dirhams a share in 2006, the Casablanca-located company said in a statement published in L'Economiste newspaper today. Sales jumped 44 percent to 2.69 billion dirhams, lifting operating profit by 75 percent to 571 million dirhams.

A dividend of 60 dirhams per share will be approved for shareholder approval on April 24, the statement said.

Auto Hall, which has gained 14 per cent this year, were unchanged at 2,740 dirhams as of 10:52 a.m. in Casablanca.

Morocco arms move may hit Sahara talks-Polisario

Morocco has launched an arms buildup in a worrying move that could hurt U.N.-backed talks on the Western Sahara, Algeria's APS news agency quoted the territory's independence movement as saying.

Polisario Front President Mohamed Abdelaziz added that people in the disputed territory were concerned about Morocco's "aggressive impulse" because they did not want a return to conflict, the official agency reported late on Saturday.

"It's an arms race is a significant worry for the Saharawi people, at a time when Moroccan-Saharan conflict lies in the hands of the United Nations," APS quoted him as saying. "The intention to do harm is the basis of current policies Morocco receipt of all weapons and the redeployment of troops in the territory of Western Sahara," he said.

A fourth round of U.N.-brokered talks between Morocco and Polisario to settle the status of the phosphate-rich desert territory of 260,000 will start on March 16 near New York.

Peacekeepers have watched over Western Sahara since 1991 when the United Nations brokered a ceasefire to end a guerrilla war between Polisario and Morocco, which annexed the northwest African territory in 1975.

Morocco poured money and people in this area, bounded on the west by the Atlantic, and to the east in the sand defensive wall protected tens of thousands of troops and reinforced by mines. No country formally recognizes that the rule of Morocco over Western Sahara and the UN Security Council is more than a solution.

Morocco's Meditel 2007 profit more than doubles

Morocco's second-biggest telecoms company Meditel said its net income increased more than two times, last year as its client base grew 29 percent, in spite of tough competition from leading player Maroc Telecom.

Meditel's gross sales grew 13 percent to 6.8 billion dirhams ($912 million) while net profit leaped 132 percent on a comparable basis to 541 million dirhams, said the company, a 50-50 joint venture between Spain's Telefonica and Portugal Telecom PTEL.LS.

Meditel revenues have soared during the past two years during heavy network investments have paid off and its subscriber base expands.

The operator said the latest results were boosted by strong demand for pre-paid services. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 12 percent and represented 46 percent of net sales, up from 44 percent in 2006.

"These results position Meditel as one of the best-performing subsidiaries of the Telefonica and Portugal Telecom groups," Meditel said in the statement emailed on Thursday, which was dated March 4.

Maroc Telecom said last month that the use of mobile phones in the north African country grew by 30 percent in 2007, despite a severe drought that low incomes, and airtime prices near 25 per cent.

Morocco has resources that enable the country to become a producer of new energies, particularly wind, hydro, thermal and solar energies, American Ass

Morocco can produce renewable energies and become an important actor in the sector, Mr. Karsner said at a meeting on Morocco's strategies to promote renewable energies, held by Morocco's embassy in Washington on the sidelines of Washington International Renewable Energy Conference, WIREC 2008.
The United States official stressed that in the north African country is in a position to become an energy exporter, mainly in Europe, stressing that such exports will have a greater impact on the country's receipts, the trade balance deficit reduction and prosperity.
While expressing his country's readiness to accompany this activity in the kingdom, he urged the American private sector to invest in Morocco to take most of the major opportunities.
Moroccan Minister of Energy, Amina Benkhadra, who attended the meeting, said that Morocco is seeking to make profitable use of its natural resources, and opportunities for partnership in the framework of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States to increase investment in the country. In an FTA between the two countries, entered into force on 1 January 2006.