FOM Newsletter March 2002
FOM Newsletter March 2002
Morocco Week in Review March 9, 2002 

The UN Development Program (UNDP) and the Moroccan Zakoura Fondation signed in Rabat this Thursday an agreement related to the extension of micro-loans to poor rural women in the central region of Al-Haouz. Under the agreement, the Arab Gulf Fund for the support of UN organizations (AGFUND) and the UNDP representation in Morocco will extend the Zakoura Micro credit foundation a financial assistance worth US $82,971 dollars as well as technical assistance. The assistance will help the Zakoura foundation implement a 24-month program to benefit more than 900 rural women. The program also provides for the training of staff to be in charge of the foundation section in Al-Haouz region. The staff will promote the micro-credit formula, identify potential recipients, assess their activities, manage and follow-up the credits and promote savings.The accord was signed by the acting UNDP resident representative in Morocco, Olivier Ranaivandrambola, and Zakoura Foundation chairman, Nourredine Ayouch.

RABAT, Mar.05- Morocco said it will post an economic growth rate of 6.5 percent of the GDP in 2002 thanks to the positive performance of several sectors of economic activity. Tourism is one of the sectors that recorded a strong recovery in 2001 despite the adverse effects of the terror attacks perpetrated last September 11 against the USA. Tourism receipts reached 27.8 billion Dirhams (nearly US$ 2.41 billion) in 2001, a record amount that is 28.3 percent higher compared to 2000, Moroccan minister of economy, finance, tourism and privatization, Fathallah Oualalou, said at a press conference in Rabat Monday. "Morocco posted a good receipt of hard currency despite the adverse effects of the September 11 events," he said.  The remittances of Moroccan expatriates also jumped by 57.5 percent in 2001 to stand at 36.2 billion dirhams, nearly US$3.14 billion, he said.

Chicago, Mar 04, 2002 (ODJ via COMTEX) -- (OsterDowJones) - Conditions for winter grains have worsened after two months of very dry weather, with Morocco, western Algeria and central Algeria seeing the worst, according to information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service web site, released today. During the weekend of March 1-3, light rains spread through Morocco (including southern areas) as a low pressure system moved across the region. This precipitation, and any more that may fall across northwest Africa, would greatly benefit winter wheat (currently at the jointing stage). Timely, occasional rain is needed in order to reverse the recent drying trend, as well as the long-term drought that has persisted for several years. The critical reproduction period for Northwest Africa's winter wheat, the time in which it demands substantial moisture, occurs during March and April. Given the current lack of sufficient soil moisture, occasional spring rains will be critical for the continued development of the crop. January : During January, Morocco received less than 10 percent of normal precipitation. Across the border, western Algeria fared no better, receiving just trace amounts. The "wettest" areas were in eastern Algeria and adjacent areas of western Tunisia, where rainfall approached 50 percent of normal during January. Normal January precipitation in Marrakech, in southern Morocco, is 30 mm; in Casablanca, central Morocco, it is 70 mm; in Algiers, central Algeria, it is 69 mm; and in Tunis, Tunisia, it is 70 mm. February: A dry weather pattern persisted over Northwest Africa through February, virtually identical to January. Tunisia received about 50 percent of normal precipitation for the month of February. Showers did fall in southern Morocco during the middle of the month, dampening soils and boosting February precipitation totals to two thirds of normal for the month. Northern and central Morocco received only one third of normal February precipitation. Western Algeria received 25 percent of its normal February precipitation, while central Algeria received 75 percent and eastern Algeria was actually slightly above average for the month. Normal February precipitation in Marrakech, southern Morocco is 36 mm, in Casablanca, central Morocco is 54 mm, in Algiers, central Algeria it is 74 mm, and in Tunis, Tunisia it is 58 mm.

All of Morocco has had very little rainfall since the heavy, late-arriving planting rains ended around Jan. 1. At the start of January all areas in Morocco were at average precipitation levels for the season; however rainfall soon severely declined. Western Algeria started the season well, and when rains ended at the start of January, precipitation to date was above average. Since then, however, it has fallen well below average.  Reservoir levels may be higher in Western Algeria, as a deluge in November gave the area improved soil moisture at the start of the growing season. However, the severity of the storm likely prohibited soils from retaining and storing much moisture. Perhaps the most serious problem area is Central Algeria. Central Algeria's total precipitation has been below average since the start of the season back in November, and it has increased very little since. Precipitation in central Algeria is averaging only 100 mm (4 inches) for the season, when normally it should be at 350 mm (14 inches) by March 1. The eastern areas of Northwest Africa including Tunisia, but especially eastern Algeria, have seen re-occurring showers during the season. While these areas remain below average in precipitation, the marginal showers have occasionally moistened the eastern region, benefiting the vegetative winter crops. (C) Copyright 2002 ODJ

Parties of the government majority announced plans to institute the minimum 20% quota system, as part of a set of measures meant to set in place the appropriate mechanisms likely to ensure an effective representation of women in the coming elections. The parties, in a statement released on the occasion of the international women day (March 8), say their efforts are mobilized to this end after the government decided recently to allocate 30 parliamentary seats to women. In their statement, the parties also pledge to use all material and human means to guarantee a wide participation of women in elections. They deemed that the poll should improve the situation of women mainly by breaking with past traditions which excluded women from elected bodies and denied them their political and constitutional rights.

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020307/2002030731.html

Morocco's King Mohammed VI chaired Monday a meeting of the governing board of the Mohammed V Solidarity Foundation. The king also chaired the signing ceremony of a partnership convention between the Foundation and the ministry of Habous (endowments) and Islamic Affairs and the ministry of the Interior on the Ramadan operation and the modalities for its organization and financing, the Foundation said in a release. The convention seeks to supply meals to some 45,000 families in urban centers and foodstuff to 410,000 households in rural areas, the release said, adding that priority will be given to the least favored families, widows, handicapped and elderly. The king voiced satisfaction over the work accomplished by the Foundation and lauded the involvement of citizens in the materialization of the Foundation's objectives through their contribution to the solidarity campaigns as well as the positive role played by partners who extended human and material backing for the realization of the foundation's programs. King Mohammed VI instructed the Foundation's governing board to double efforts to reinforce the programs set through allotting a budget worth 215 million dirhams for child protection, girls schooling, handicapped people integration and the promotion of the living standards of rural populations. The king stressed the need to carry on the holding of Ramadan operation and the welcome of Moroccan expatriates. At the end of the meeting, King Mohammed VI voiced the Foundation's pride over the adherence of Mohamed Sayed Tantaoui, Sheikh of Al-Azhar Asharif, as honorary member.

A British delegation made up of Moslem MPs, academics and politicians is currently visiting Morocco for talks on the efforts made by the Moslem community in Britain to show the genuine image of Islam, which is being distorted by Western media since Sep.11 events. The delegation conferred with several members of the Moroccan cabinet, including Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi, and minister of Habous (endowments) and Islamic affairs, Abdelkebir Alaoui Mdaghri. The delegation also conferred with speaker of the house of representatives (lower house of the Moroccan parliament), Abdelouahed Radi. Talks focused on the importance of inter-culture and inter-civilization dialogue as a means of fostering rapprochement between peoples, especially in this difficult juncture for Muslims in several countries. The members of the British delegation underlined the efforts made by British Moslems to counter the trends making amalgam between Islam and terrorism, especially after the terror attacks of September 11. They pointed out that religious and cultural coexistence prevail in both Morocco and Great Britain and that the two countries can promote these principles. The Moroccan interlocutors recalled Great Britain's responsibility in peace keeping at the regional and international scales as well as its role in straightening up malfunction in international relations. They also noted the inability of the international community to impose international resolutions and establish a fair and lasting peace in the Middle East. If the Arab-Israeli conflict is not definitively settled, it will be at the origin of problems at the regional and international scales, the Moroccan officials insisted.  The delegation took part in the British Days hosted by Al-Akhawayn University in the Atlas mountainous resort of Ifrane. The Moslem community in Britain is nearly two million strong.

WALES is set to become a role model for the Moroccan tourism industry - no, seriously. At first thoughts, Wales and Morocco do not appear to have much in common. After all, the North African country certainly enjoys a bit more sunshine. But Moroccan tourism leaders want to learn all about how Wales markets its attractions so a delegation from the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism is paying a visit next week. The trip has been organized by the British Council to enable the Moroccans to study the Welsh success in attracting tourists to the regions. For although tourism is big business in Morocco, it is centred in hotspots such as Casablanca and Marrakech. The Moroccan government is keen to expand the trade into areas of the country that remain largely ignored. Their delegation is particularly interested in the Welsh experience of interpreting rural trades for international visitors and on Tuesday will be visiting the Wales Tourist Board's cultural tourism unit as well as the Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans. They will tour Cardiff Bay and go to the Museum of the Welsh Woollen Industry in Camarthenshire. A Wales Tourist Board spokes-woman said, "Wales and Morocco may not have much in common as far as topography is concerned, but we are certainly looking forward to sharing and exchanging knowledge and experience of tourism development."

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