FOM Newsletter February 2002
FOM Newsletter February 2002 Index
Morocco Week in Review February 9, 2002
 

Consuelo Moreno, a 110-year old women who was born in Morocco and lived there until 1965, has celebrated her 110th anniversary with her family members. She usually leads a routine life by last January 31 was anything but routine for one of America's oldest naturalized citizens. It was "Consuelo Moreno Day," as proclaimed by the mayor. She was celebrated with the performance of an 86-year-old flamenco dancer and surrounded by several generations of family members at a party in her honor at Sentara Nursing Center-Virginia Beach. She has two surviving children, two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild who were either born in the U.S.A. or had become naturalized Americans.  Family was one reason why she Moreno, born to Spanish parents in Tangiers in 1892, decided to become a U.S. citizen five years ago. Her father drowned when she was 15, and she helped support her family by becoming a seamstress. She kept sewing, mostly for spending money, after she got married. Her son moved from Tangier to Washington, D.C., in the late 1950s, and Moreno and Sanchez left Morocco for Virginia Beach soon afterward.

US Luxury Jewels stores, Tiffany & Co., has opened a US$ 2-million franchise in Casablanca.  The Casablanca franchise is Tiffany's first in North Africa and fourth in the Arab world after those of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. Other Boutiques will be opened in Rabat and Marrakesh. The New-York based Tiffany & Co. designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fine jewelry, timepieces, sterling silver goods, china, crystal, stationery, writing instruments, fragrances and personal accessories. The Company is the parent corporation of Tiffany and Company (Tiffany). The Company operates its business in three segments, which include United States Retail, International Retail and Direct Marketing. The Company offers an extensive selection of Tiffany & Co. brand jewelry at a wide range of prices. Products are primarily sold in more than 100 Tiffany & Co. stores and boutiques in key markets around the world.

Some 23,000 young girls are working as housemaids in the region of Casablanca, according to findings of a survey conducted by the ministry of economic forecasts and planning, the UNICEF and the FNUAP.The survey shows that most of these girls (86.8%) come from rural areas, 59.2 % are aged less than 15 and 82.2% have never been to school. The majority belongs to large families of an average of 8 persons and supported by a person working in agriculture. A percentage of 8% of these girls started to work when they were between 5 and 7 years of age. These girls work between 12 and 16 hours daily and are paid between 220 Dirhams for girls aged between 7 and 10 and 500 DH for girls aged between 15 and 17. They stay an average of 8 months with the same family and cite ill-treatments and work load as the main reasons for departure to another family. 65% of housemaids said their relatives visit them. 70% say their relatives visit them to take the salary while another 30% say their relatives visit them to inquire about their situation. The same survey found that 81% of employers know nothing about their employee problems as only 57% of housemaids sit with them at the same table for meals. More than half (55%) have already been victims of bodily sanctions and punishments and 4.2% were already victims of sexual abuses. Regarding the chief of the employer-family, the survey said 85% of them are men aged over 40, of which 50% have a higher education level. 35% of them live in villas, 35% in flats and 31.2% in other types of lodgings.

conference on energy and natural resources in the Community of Sahel-Saharian States (CEN-SAD). Opening the conference Thursday, Moroccan Premier, Abderrahmane Youssouf, said the Moroccan new code of hydrocarbons adopted by Morocco has started attracting numerous investors in oil prospecting and that the use of natural gas and renewable energies will in the mid-term diversify energy resources. By 2010, he said, renewable energies will contribute 10 percent to Morocco's energy consumption.  CEN-SAD musters 16 member countries, namely Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, Djibouti, Eritrea, Gambia, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic and Somalia. It was established in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, in February 1998 for the promotion of peace and stability as well as for rural, social and economic development of the whole region.

Exports of citrus fruits and early vegetables and fruits posts significant progress.

Morocco's exports of citrus fruits and early fruits and vegetables have posted a considerable progress of 40% and 15% between the start of the season and January 24, compared to the same period of last year. A statement of the ministry of agriculture, rural development, water and forests says exports of citrus fruits, reached 213,000 tons compared to 152,000 tons in the previous season. The Souss region (south of El Jadida) contributed 56% of the exported volume. Exports of early fruits and vegetables reached 148,000 tons compared to 129,000 in the precedent season. A total of 104,000 tons of tomatoes were exported, against 38,000 tons for fruits and vegetables.

Morocco, guest of honor at the Paris international exhibition of water quality and protection, dedicated its pavilion displaying products and services by Moroccan public and private operators The third exhibition called "Thermalies-Aqua-Expo," held in Paris from February 6 through 10, is the only event of the kind open to the public.  Moroccan participants are displaying the kingdom's strategy in water resources and both public and private water-related facilities. Morocco was the only country deserving most to be guest of honor at the exhibition, given its endeavors to have a modern and healthy water-supply network and its good sea environment, says the exhibition commissioner, Bruno Soubiron. Morocco's minister of sea fisheries, Said Chbaatou, who dedicated the pavilion, said it is a pride for Morocco to be a guest of honor at the event, adding that several water-related actions and programs have been carried out while others are being conducted to promote a better and rational use of water resources. A conference on "Morocco and water challenge" is also feature. It will address issues related to generalizing drinking water supply, mobilization of water resources through dams construction, cleaning industrial waste water and the impact of water resources quality on health in Morocco. Organizers say the event seeks to answer questions by the French population on the quality of water they are drinking as a poll conducted last year showed that 73% of the polled people requested more information on the water used. The exhibition will also address wrong ideas about water regarding contents of lead, radioactivity, minerals and diseases.

Cairo - The European Union and Morocco signed a bilateral financial agreement providing the North African state with EUR 425 million (USD 367.7 million) worth of aid up until 2004. The London-based Arabic newspaper, Al Hayat, explains that the funds will be directed towards tourism, textiles, technology, transportation, communication, and public administration, in addition to supporting the private sector. It is worth mentioning that a disagreement on the renewal of a fishing agreement has reduced aid from EUR 630 million (USD 545.1 million) during the period from 1996 to 1999 to its current level. Moroccan-European trade totals EUR 18.5 billion (USD 16 billion) per year, with a EUR 4.6 billion (USD 4 billion) surplus for the European Union.

King Mohammed stresses role of tourism in conveying image of Morocco as open country.

Morocco's King Mohammed VI stressed in a message to the opening session of the international forum of the World Association for Hospitality and Tourism Training, held here this Feb.8-11, the role of tourism in conveying the image of Morocco as an open and tolerant country. The royal message, read out by advisor to the sovereign Mohamed Moatassim, underscores that Morocco does not regard tourism as a mere driving force for development and economic advancement but rather as a means for a country to convey its image. "Our strategic approach did not stem merely from the notion that tourism is a driving force for development and economic advancement, but rather from the fact that tourism is basically a civilization choice which makes it possible for our country to express its age-old traditions of mutual understanding and interaction between cultures and among peoples, and also to convey its openness, its tolerance and its longstanding, generous hospitality. Thus the nation conveys a unique genius which has enabled it to remain, over the centuries, a cross-road for civilisational interaction, a peace haven and a safe destination for visitors from everywhere," the sovereign says in his message. 

The King also recalled how Morocco has been successful in mitigating post-September 11 effects, as most international events scheduled to be hosted by Morocco was maintained and it continued to be an attractive destination for tourists. "We have adopted a strategy based on an open civilisational approach, a clear visibility in the long run, well-defined targets and commitments, and fruitful partnership between the state and the private sector, with the support induced by professionalism, coherence and efficiency," says the sovereign adding "Morocco has successfully managed the adverse impact of the Sept.11 tragic events on the tourism influx, thus enhancing the repute and the trust it enjoys as a safe and stable country and as a shining civilisational beacon spreading the values of peace, democracy, moderation and respect for human life in all its manifestations." "Thus Morocco has continued to enjoy the trust of the international community, governments, organizations and civil society alike. Notwithstanding the difficult world juncture, it has hosted a score of international conferences, as scheduled initially. This tends to confirm its stature as an exemplary venue for international events, and as an attractive destination for tourists who are confident about the country's potentialities and about the safe and stable environment it provides." 

He also cited the very fact that the World Association for Hospitality and Tourism Training is convening for the first time an international forum in an African country as additional evidence to the trust of prominent personalities scholars and experts, who are attending this international forum. The royal message further expresses Morocco's resolve to get its share from the rise in the flow of tourists whose number is expected to reach over one billion, world-wide, a quarter of which in the Mediterranean region alone, on the basis of the core of potentialities which cater for the quality and competitiveness of its touristic product, in addition to its identity as an open civilization.  Listing Morocco's assets, the sovereign cited geographical position in the heart of major tourism destinations, the diversity of its nature which allows tourism activities on the coast and in the mountains as well as in the desert, specific features for each region and highly attractive landscapes and scenery, an age-old and varied cultural heritage, including imperial cities and Kasbahs which have been listed as part of the cultural heritage of humanity, various manifestations of the Moroccan civilization, including a wide range of popular arts, fine architecture, cooking and costumes which are unique, authentic, age-old and attractive, in addition to the new accommodation facilities, such as guest-houses and country-side lodgings. 

Of Morocco's tourism policy, the sovereign says the strategy implemented involves institutional, financial, real estate and fiscal dimensions, with the aim of attracting by 2010 an annual number of 10 million tourists, increase accommodation capacity by some 80,000 additional rooms and create 600,000 new jobs in addition to raising the tourism share in GDP to 20%. In addition, the royal message goes on, Morocco has a renovated, decentralized development policy, which warrants coherent interaction between the public and the private sectors and in which the Hassan II Economic and Social Development Fund is playing an efficient role in stimulating tourism investment activities, through development and equipment of tourism resorts. This policy also provides for Regional Investment Centers to play a key role as single investment desks, which boost and facilitate implementation of projects undertaken by tourism developers. However, the sovereign insists, only proper training of human resources will determine how much Morocco has succeeded in its endeavors. In this regard, the sovereign recommends the allocation of a significant part of the curricula to socio-cultural training, along with the fast-changing technical aspects. "The aim is to provide tourism actors in the field, with the ability to respond to the tourist's need for rest and leisure and, at the same time, to meet the requirements of "cultural exception" in its positive meaning, which calls for the respect of identities and for the preservation of authenticity as well as of environmental and socio-cultural diversity, which is regarded as a key booster for tourism," the message goes. "We appreciate the efforts being made in this direction, by you, the participants, and by the World Tourism Organization. We consider that your forum provides a valuable opportunity for all of us to share experiences in the hotel and tourism industry. We are all convinced that it is not merely a matter of teaching the techniques of the tourism trade, but rather fostering a whole culture and the art of human interaction. This is what tourism activity is all about. It is its very ultimate purpose," the king stresses.

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