Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
December 10 , 2005

Over 400,000 youths, women benefited from HIV/AIDS awareness-raising campaign in 2005.
Anti-Aids campaigns should be increased, Minister.
USA to increase contributions in revenue-generating projects in Morocco, ambassador.
Morocco first world producer, exporter of caper.
US tourist arrivals increased 16% in 2005, expert.
Japanese government grants financial aid to Moroccan associations.
Economic growth in Morocco 'encouraging', progresses to be made, WB study.
AFESD loans Morocco USD 130 million for socioeconomic project.
Eighty pc of rural areas to be electrified by end of 2005, minister.
Privatisation earned Morocco over EUR7Bn in 12 years.
David Cunningham completes shooting in Ouarzazate
Rockin' in Morocco

Over 400,000 youths, women benefited from HIV/AIDS awareness-raising campaign in 2005.
Casablanca, Dec. 6

Some 410,000 youths and women and 32,000 HIV/AIDS vulnerable groups have been sensitized in 2005 part of the Health Ministry communication campaign dubbed "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Some 1,200 persons have been diagnosed and treated for free by antiretroviral drug part of a program of therapeutic education to improve the compliance of HIV/AIDS patients to treatment through antiretroviral drugs, according to the Ministry.

The Health Ministry has decided to reinforce decentralization and caring for the affected persons, the prevention of HIV transmission from the mother to child, and psycho-social caring for people living with AIDS, in cooperation with NGOs and concerned departments. Speaking to the press, here on Monday, Health Minister, Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah said Morocco has elaborated a national chart in order to concretize the efforts made in the period 2001-2005 to counter AIDS. This chart was signed by the Ministry, TV and radio officials, and the federation of newspaper editors to develop the culture of prevention among citizens against the imminent risk of this lethal disease, he said.

Speaking on this occasion, the World Health Organization representative for the MENA region, Ben Ammar said the experience of Morocco in this field deserves to be a model for countries of the region. Figures of the Health Ministry show that Morocco counted some 16,000 to 20,000 HIV/AIDS cases in 2005. The chairwoman of the "Association de Lutte Contre le Sida" (ALCS), Hakima Himmich, has recently warned that the pandemic growing infection rate went up from eight pc in 1988 to 38% in 2004. AIDS infection in the Agadir region, Western Morocco, she said, is higher than that in the big city of Casablanca.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_social/over_400000_youths/view 
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Anti-Aids campaigns should be increased, Minister.
Rabat, Dec. 10

Campaigns to promote awareness on the dangers of AIDS and on the ways to prevent the spread of the killer pandemic should be multiplied both in rural and urban areas, Communication minister Nabil Benabdallah said at the "Sidaction 2005" soirée on Friday. Benabdallah, also government spokesman, stressed the need to help the people suffering from the Aids and those living with the HIV, calling on a large participation in the AIDS solidarity campaign, at the 2M TV channel soirée held under the patronage of King Mohammed VI.

The Minister spoke of the importance of coordinating actions to conduct the campaigns to fight the pandemic with the Health Ministry to better reach out to the citizens. The "Sidaction 2005" show was organised part of the anti-AIDS campaign on December 2 through 16 to raise funds destined to help Aids affected people and associations working to mitigate the fall-outs of the disease. Some 17,719 people were HIV positive, including 1,719 AIDS cases, up to August 2005 in Morocco, said recently Chairwoman of the Pan-African Organization against AIDS, Nadia Bezad, adding "AIDS cases are increasing year after year," noting that heterosexual relations are the most important transmission mode with over 70% of the cases.

The number of people under treatment is estimated at 700 patients, and that the treatment cost has dropped from USD 1,100 to 88 per month thanks to the generics development and NGOs support, she added. On the campaign occasion, a network comprising some 30 NGOs working in the AIDS fields has been set up to combine, upgrade and coordinate efforts to fight the pandemic and sexually transmitted diseases, at large, both at the domestic and world levels. Nadia Bezad, who announced the creation of the network at a press conference held on Friday in Rabat, said the people likely to get infected by the HIV are the young below 29 and women, adding the infection rate among the latter went up from 16% in 1990-92 to 38% in 1994-2005, hitting hard women living in precarious situation.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/box2/anti-aids_campaigns/view 
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USA to increase contributions in revenue-generating projects in Morocco, ambassador.
Erfoud (south), Dec. 8

US ambassador in Rabat, Thomas Riley voiced, here Thursday, his country's readiness to increase its contributions in the revenue-generating projects in Morocco. Speaking at a press conference at the end of a three-day visit to Errachidia province (south), Riley said that the USA will increase, in the coming five years, the volume of its contributions to Morocco in the projects targeting poor populations notably in rural areas.

Riley said that his tour has given him the possibility to inquire on the problems that hinder the socioeconomic development of the region. The US diplomat also hailed the American contribution to the socio-educational projects in the province, notably three girls dormitories and a multimedia laboratory.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/usa_to_increase_cont/view 
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Morocco first world producer, exporter of caper.

Morocco produces 20,000 tons of capers annually. The figure was released Wednesday during a meeting of the Fes Provincial Agriculture Direction (DPA), reported MAP news agency. With this figure, Morocco is qualified as the first world producer and exporter of this plant. The DPA, held to consider means to develop caper farming, tackled the economic and social role of caper, which grows in Fes, Taounate, Taroudant, Safi, Sidi Kacem, Al Hoceima, Missour and Taza regions. Caper (Capparis Spinosa), has a sharp piquant flavour. It is mainly described as being like that of mustard and black pepper.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?id=11397 
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US tourist arrivals increased 16% in 2005, expert.
Washington, Dec. 7

The flow of American tourists in Morocco has risen 16% in 2005 in terms of arrivals and around 23% in terms of bed-nights, said Inan Mrini, delegate of the Moroccan tourism office (ONMT) in Orlando. Mrini told MAP-Washington on the sidelines of the yearly conference of the US Tour Operators Association (USTOA) on December 4-6, to which ONMT participated, that Morocco organizes promotional trips to further boost the number of American visitors to the north African kingdom. On his part, the regional representative of the Moroccan flag carrier, Royal Air Maroc (RAM) in New York, Mohammed Salem Ammagui said the company recorded a 23% increase of the passenger traffic in 2005, adding that 20 to 25% of RAM's 92,000 customers in the Casablanca-New York line are Americans.

Ammagui ascribed this rise to the "transit traffic" to the Middle-East, Europe and Africa and the opening of new air lines to Douala (Cameroon), Lomé (Togo), Cotonou (Benin) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). On Monday, ONMT offered a dinner in honor of some 500 tour operators members of the USTOA, which musters the biggest names in the travel field in the US, and which serves 10 million tourists a year for an amount of USD 8Bn. RAM representative revealed that the company is participating in the Luxury's Travel Expo due to take place this December 6-7 in Las Vegas, where a stand will display brochures and leaflets on the assets of Moroccan tourism and the company's products. The company also takes part in events in over 30 American cities, he said.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/us_tourist_arrivals/view 
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Japanese government grants financial aid to Moroccan associations.

The Japanese government has granted a financial assistance of approximately MAD 6,53 million (USD707.754) to 12 Moroccan associations working in the field of the sustainable development, within the framework of the programme of non-repayable aid to the local micro-projects, reported MAP news agency. Contracts and checks were signed and handed over, Friday in Rabat, by the Japanese Ambassador to Morocco, Seigi Hinata, and the representatives of the benefited associations.

Secretary of State in charge of Rural Development, Mohamed Mohattane and representatives of the departments concerned with the projects of development presented by these associations also attended the signing ceremony. "This assistance, which is part of the public aid to development programme of Japan, expresses the Japanese government's support to the National Initiative of Human Development (NIHD), initiated by HM King Mohammed VI," Hinata told a press conference. He added that the King's visit to Japan was an occasion of reinforcing bilateral dialogue which made it possible for the Japanese government to reaffirm its will to support the efforts of the Moroccan people for social, economic and cultural development.

Hinata explained that the contracts that were signed with the 12 associations are part of the agreements signed between Morocco and Japan during the Monarch's visit to Tokyo. "The 12 benefiting associations have already presented micro-projects to the Moroccan concerned department in the fields of the drinking water supply, road infrastructure, education, social well-being, agriculture and people with special needs," he said. The Japanese diplomat said that he will wait "impatiently to see these projects implemented", and expressed his certainty that "the excellent results that will be obtained from these projects will encourage new initiatives to continue development for the happiness and the well-being of all Morrocans". For his part, Mohattane expressed his satisfaction with the level of the Morocco-Japanese cooperation, noting that the signed contracts will consolidate the NIHD.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/Paper/article.asp?idr=2&id=11450 
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Economic growth in Morocco 'encouraging', progresses to be made, WB study.
Rabat, Dec. 8

Economic growth in Morocco during the latest four years is "encouraging", but there are still progresses to be made, affirmed, here Thursday, World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice President. Speaking at a debate-conference on "sources of growth in Morocco", marked by the presentation of a WB study on the growth level in Morocco, Bourguignon said that Morocco has made important strides notably in the social field, but there are still progresses to be made in the health and education sectors.

Hailing the efforts ushered in Morocco, he pointed that the WB study will help Morocco identify the constraints it faces to reach an economic growth. Echoing him, Moroccan minister of finance and privatization, Fathallah Oualalou noted that the economic growth in Morocco is thanks to the reforms ushered by the government notably liberalizing trade, creating commerce courts and regional centers for investment, consolidating the financial sector and sectorial reforms and launching privatization. The minister said that morocco has stepped up the construction of basic infrastructures and has consolidated social cohesion, which are government priorities.

However, he said, deficiencies persist and have a negative impact on the national economic growth rate, notably the slowness in implementing some reforms, climate conditions that affect the agriculture sector, the weakness of the exportation sector. The WB study notes that economic growth in Morocco is quite weak compared to economic growth in other emerging countries, notably Turkey. In this respect, the study examines some deficiencies in the economic policies related to the job market, taxation of human capital, exchanges system and exports competitiveness.
The study also reveals a high output of the education system, notably in schooling quality, noting the importance of a good education system to support a higher growth and revenue in the medium run. Job market rigidity, "excessive" taxation of human capital and maintaining a fixed system for exchanges rate are some of the constraining factors for the national economic growth stated by the WB study.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/economic_growth_in_m/view 
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AFESD loans Morocco USD 130 million for socioeconomic project.
Rabat, Dec. 8

Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) loaned Morocco USD 130 million to finance two socioeconomic projects. The first loan, worth USD 100 million, will partially finance the construction of the Marrakech-Agadir highway. The 233 km-long highway will be open to the public in December 2009. It is scheduled to cost USD 722 million.

The second loan, worth USD 30 million, will finance the construction of a dam to provide the Tangier-Med port with drinking water. The Tangier-Med port, built 35 kilometers east of the Northern town of Tangier, covers a 500 square kilometers area and employs 145,000 people. The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) is an autonomous regional Pan-Arab development finance organization. Its membership consists of all states who are members of the League of Arab States. Up to 2005, FADES has granted Morocco loans estimated at USD 2.5 billion, making of the North African country the first country to benefit from the Fund's funding.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/afesd_loans_morocco/view 
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Eighty pc of rural areas to be electrified by end of 2005, minister.
Rabat, Nov. 30

The rate of electrification of rural areas has reached 72% in 2005 and can go up to 80% by the end of this year, revealed, here on Monday, Energy Minister, Mohamed Boutaleb. This came at a question time at the House of Representatives where the minister also said that the global electrification program of rural areas will require some MAD 20Bn (over USD 2Bn) by 2007. The minister noted that the national electricity office (ONE) will finance the contribution of its partners while the rural communes will have to pay off their part in five years. Those communes that cannot contribute financially will be backed by State funds, adjacent communes, NGOs and the agency of the economic promotion of northern provinces, among other contributors, said Boutaleb.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/eighty_pc_of_rural_a/view 
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Privatisation earned Morocco over EUR7Bn in 12 years.
Rabat, Dec. 8

Privatisation sales earned Morocco more than MAD 77Bn, about euro 7Bn, since the north African country started this drive in 1993, a report of the "Direction des Entreprises Publiques et de la Privatisation" (DEPP) said. The document added that up to date 70 public institution, including 44 companies and 26 hotels, have been sold to the private sector part of the State privatisation program.

The most prominent company sold is "Maroc Telecom," the transfer of which was out-phased in three essential stages, said DEPP in the document, handed at a colloquy on results and prospects of privatisation held in Rabat on Thursday. In 2001, 35% of "Maroc Telecom" capital was ceded to Vivendi Universal earning the treasury MAD 23.34Bn and in 2004, 14.9 of the capital was sold in Casablanca and Paris stock markets, while 16% of the capital was sold in 2005 to Vivendi Universal.

The document also mentions the privatisation of other State-owned companies like "Régie des Tabacs" to the French-Spanish "Altadis" group for MAD 14.08Bn, four sugar processing units : Surac, Sunabel, Suta and Sucrafor to the Moroccan "Cosumar" group that paid MAD 1.37Bn for the purchases. The State also sold the 50% shares it held in car maker "Somaca" to the French Renault company in two tranches of 38% in 2003 and of 12% in 2005.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/privatisation_earned3576/view 
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David Cunningham completes shooting in Ouarzazate

American director, David Cunningham, has just completed shooting his film, entitled "Projet d'une histoire sans titre" (Project of an untitled history) in Ouarzazate, reported MAP news agency. The film was shot in different places in Morocco, including Tamedakht, Idelsane and Tiouiyine as well as some places in Tangier. The film goes back to pre-9/11 terrorist attacks, precisely to 1985. he brought to screen the prevailing situation in Sudan, Kenya, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Director and producer David Cunningham has produced many films, including "Chungkai, le camp des survivants" (Chungkai, survivors' camp) in 2001, "Rebels" in 2002 and others.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?id=11428 
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Rockin' in Morocco

Surreal scene in Morocco: Israeli tourists dance to Hebrew pop hit, "Keep him confused" (sung by Kobi Peretz) as thousands of Moroccans, tourists from around the world look on Itamar Eichner The scene was surreal last week at the Sheikh Ali compound in Marrakesh, Morocco: Israeli tourists dancing hora in front of an admiring crowd of Moroccans, and tourists from around the world. The tour, called "How do you say dance in Moroccan," was led by David Adari, President of Maroc Tours, a travel agency specializing in tours for Israelis in the North African country.

The group wandered through ancient quarters, visited the Sahara Desert, hiked in the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, and shopped in the souks and casbahs of Casablanca and Marrakesh. In Agadir and Casablanca, the tourists met members of the local Jewish community. But the trip's highlight was the dancing at the Ali compound, which followed a gallop of horses and shots fired in the air. As the Israelis danced in circles and electrified the local crowd, a band from Bahrain joined in with the dancers.

Towards the end of their appearance, the Israelis played the famous song, "Keep Him Confused," a fast-paced Israeli Mediterranean pop hit. "Despite the fact that the song was in Hebrew, everyone wanted to dance to it. The crowd accepted us in an amazing way," said Adari. "They knew we were Israeli. The dancers from Bahrain also received us with smiles. Our feeling was that politicians should learn from us how to make peace between nations," he added.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3180732,00.html 
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