FOM Newsletter August 2001
Morocco Week in Review
 August 25,  2001

The second Moroccan-German show on the protection of environment "EnviroMaroc 2001" will be held in Casablanca next October 8 through 10.  Some 20 German and 10 Moroccan specialized enterprises, operating in the sectors of drinking water, water treatment, waste management, treatment and recycling, air quality control, soil protection and renewable energies will take part in the show. Executive from these enterprises will also make presentations, innovations and research on the protection of environment, give counseling on specific needs of local communities and industries and present lasting, alternative solutions for a better management of public service.

Casablanca host 1st international invention and enterprise exhibition.

Casablanca will be hosting next December the 1st international invention and enterprise exhibition.  The encounter will bring together more than one hundred participants from Cameroon, Canada, the USA, France, Senegal and Syria.  The Union of Moroccan inventors and innovators, which is sponsoring the event, was set up in July 2000 to encourage the culture of invention and innovation and set up companies born from partnership between inventors and enterprises.

US ambassador: Washington will support Morocco in conducting reforms and initiatives announced in royal throne speech.

 Morocco-USA,

The United States of America will support Morocco in undertaking reforms and initiatives announced by King Mohammed VI in the throne speech (July 30), said US ambassador to Morocco, Margaret Tutwiller.  Our appreciation of US relations with Morocco has not changed since the era of George Washington, Tutwiller told Moroccan daily "Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb," stressing that regardless of the party in power, the US presidents continue to follow the path traced by the first US president. After she voiced admiration for the series of reforms and initiatives announced by the sovereign in his throne speech, on the occasion of the second anniversary of his enthronement, the diplomat stressed Washington's readiness to help Morocco overcome problems. She added that she was grateful to King Mohammed VI who, after receiving here credentials, received her in an audience. The US diplomat promised she will be doing her utmost and bring her contribution to settle all issues broached up during the audience. I was received in an audience by HM the king, in a generous and solicitude gesture in view of the sovereign's busy agenda, she went on stressing that Morocco-US relations are excellent, forged by over two centuries of friendship and cooperation. 

Asked on the major axes of her action as US ambassador in Morocco, she explained that her priority mission is two fold: representing the USA and defending its interests and consolidating US-Morocco ties. She went on that she will be endeavoring to initiate and promote programs in various cultural, political, economic and social fields. Regarding economic cooperation, and financial and tourist flows, she stressed that she found out that Morocco and the USA have maintained close and solid economic ties both between the private sectors and the public sectors, pointing out to the existence of other opportunities. She went on the USA is keen on helping countries which encourage and respect the freedom of speech, human rights and other values and principles which make up the foundations of the USA. Of the situation in the Middle East and the US stance, she recalled that US president, George W. Bush, in a recent interview with CNN, castigated the use of violence and invited the two sides to return to the negotiation table and abide by recommendations of the Mitchell report.

A young Moroccan, Said EL Maliji, has developed two pre-paid cards for commercial transactions worldwide, trough the Internet, and for money transfers. El Maliji, who presented to king Mohammed VI his invention during the second young Moroccans forum festival, said the pre-paid card for commercial dealings through the internet allows for a safe and rapid payment system. The electronic pre-paid card does not bear the owner's name nor banking account number. The second pre-paid card, which he called cash-cash, could be of great help to expatriates and solve recurrent difficulties they face when they want to transfer money to their home country. The cash-transfer card enables them to conduct this operation in seconds. The new electronic system can also be operated through mobile phones, numeric TVs or internet. Said EL Maliji, born in 1967 in Tangiers, is looking forward to marketing his new product worldwide. He is presently working as a telecommunications officer at a Belgian ministerial department.

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