Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
June 5 2005

One woman out of ten will suffer from breast cancer.
WHO rewards Moroccan doctor for anti-tobacco efforts. 
Morocco : Carpet production requires boost in rural areas, opines Secretary of State Mohattane. 
Media Market in Morocco: Too Many Newspapers, Not Enough Readers.
Redistribution of State Farmland to Private Investors is Source of Fear Among Moroccan Farmers. 
World Bank Strategies & Initiatives. Morocco
Human development initiative to spur social action, PM. 
Conference on Contribution of Moroccan Jews to Cultural Heritage.
Growing number of plastic surgeries in Morocco.
FTA to allow Morocco export non-Moroccan textile products to USA. 

One woman out of ten will suffer from breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most frequent kind of cancer affecting women in Morocco, declared Mounir Bachouchi, Thursday in Casablanca.
Bachouchi, an oncologist from the Rabat "Al Azhar" oncology centre, explained that breast cancer remain the main cause of mortality in Moroccan women aged between 35 and 59 years.

These declarations came as Bachouchi animated a press conference organised following the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) World Oncology Congress. He added that one Moroccan woman out of ten will suffer this kind of cancer in her life, but that only 3,000 cases are being diagnosed every year, one third of which are treated, reported MAP. Early diagnosis and treatment increase recovery chances, said Bachouchi, adding that "the earlier a breast cancer is detected, the higher healing chances are."
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?idr=11&id=7041 
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WHO rewards Moroccan doctor for anti-tobacco efforts. 
People, 5/31/2005 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has extended its annual reward to a Moroccan doctor, Mohamed Bartal, on the occasion of the world "No Tobacco Day" marked on May 31, the WHO office in Morocco announced. The distinction is in recognition of Dr Bartal's contribution to the control of the plague of tobacco addiction and of his efforts as a health professional to promote health among his co-citizens. Bartal, chairman of the Moroccan specialist in allergies and immunology society and of the "Asthma house" is also a specialist of respiratory diseases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is encouraging health professionals to be proactive in minimizing the problems caused by tobacco addiction, consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. This year's "World No Tobacco Day" on May 31st is dedicated to the important role of health professionals in tobacco control under the banner of "Health Professionals against tobacco, action and answers."
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/050531/2005053136.html 
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Morocco : Carpet production requires boost in rural areas, opines Secretary of State Mohattane. 
31st May 2005

The Moroccan Secretary of State in Charge of Rural, Devel Mohamed Mohattane, pressurized to improvise manufacturing of carpets in rural areas in Morocco. Speaking at a seminar at Khenifra, Mohattane said that carpet industry was a major industry in the rural areas. He stressed on the need to invest in this industry and develop marketing strategy to enhance its products range. He informed that the past few years had witnessed huge improvement, and production had reached nearly 1.7mn square meters.
http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/NewsDetails.asp?News_id=15782 
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Media Market in Morocco: Too Many Newspapers, Not Enough Readers.

The newspaper and magazine market in Morocco remains very small and lacks growth prospects. Compared to its neighbors of Algeria and Tunisia, it is lagging behind by far. This assessment was made this week by industry players during a conference organized by the World Association of Newspapers, Morocco's editors association Fédération Marocaine des Editeurs de Journaux (FMEJ) and the press freedom study center (Centre d'Etudes sur la Liberté de la Presse).

Despite a tightening of press freedom in Tunisia, circulation figures in that country are higher than those of Morocco. Official statistics show that circulation in Tunisia is 480,000 per day, versus 390,000 in Morocco. This is also despite a major difference in population sizes, considering Tunisia's population is about one fourth of that of Morocco. The comparison
with Algeria shows even bigger gaps. In Algeria, which has a comparable population size, newspaper circulation is 1.216 million daily. Overall, the penetration rate for daily newspapers in readership terms is 13 per 1,000 people in Morocco, versus 38 in Algeria and 48 in Tunisia.

Within Morocco, there are also important differences between the local press and its foreign counterpart. Although the local press accounts for 67% of circulation, more than half of the revenues are taken by foreign newspapers sold in that country. But the market is also characterized by a plethora of publications which target small readerships and circulations making the establishment of a vibrant media enterprise almost impossible to achieve.

There are not less than 700 titles competing for less than 400,000 readers. Some 6% of the market is controlled by daily newspapers while weekly publications have 24% share of the market. Some 43% of global sales is controlled by monthly publications, while quarterly journals and other publications hold a 27% market share.
http://www.north-africa.com/free.htm 
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Redistribution of State Farmland to Private Investors is Source of Fear Among Moroccan Farmers. 

The Moroccan government has identified 205 projects through which the land managed by the defunct state-owned agricultural companies Sodea and Sogeta will be redistributed and transformed into productive operations. Sodea and Sogeta went bankrupt with combined debt exceeding MAD 2.38 billion. Creditors, representing a group of banks, agreed to forgive half of the debt. A large portion of the money was recovered through the sale of land and property owned by the pair in urban and suburban areas. Some 1,500 hectares of land were transferred to the housing ministry for MAD 322 million and another 1,322 hectares were sold to CDG for MAD 760 million. So far, nearly 3,500 workers of the two organizations were granted voluntary departure.

The projects, in partnership with the private sector, will undergo the process of tenders to be launched on October 15, 2004. But this time, the authorities will not necessarily offer the land to the highest bidders, but they will include additional criteria that will be incorporated in the final selection process, including employment expectations, investments to be committed beyond the cost of the license proper, and other factors that would guarantee the longer-term positive impact on the sector.

Although the phasing out of Sodea and Sogeta are necessary steps, in addition to the inevitability of the inclusion of private sector companies as a result of a state disengagement from the agricultural sector, there are fears among Morocco's farmers that the process could lack the necessary transparency, in particular as it will involve foreign investors.

The tenders will focus on two specific types of land based on the size of the operation. The biggest of the two will have 800 to 1,200 hectares of land, while the smaller ones will be between 100 and 800 hectares. But this decision to split the land in this manner is drawing criticism from Moroccan farmers. They argue that because of their sizes they will likely be out of the tender process for land areas exceeding 500 hectares. And as a result, they expect an "invasion" of farmers from Spain, who have more resources and
knowledge in managing big operations. Farmers in Morocco say that Spanish companies have been eyeing Morocco's farm land for some time, and their focus has further increased since the announcement of the upcoming sale of the Sodea and Sogeta land.

As a result of their fears, Moroccan farmers are asking the government to implement preferential treatment and give priority to nationals. But the government appears intransigent and insists that this initiative is not a social project. Officials say that even if they wanted to give priority to domestic farmers, Morocco's international engagements with the European Union and in other arrangements involving free trade, prevent them from doing so. "By applying the principle of preferential treatment to nationals
in the area of farming, why not extend it to the industrial sector and commerce?" asked a government official. But it is not all negative for Moroccan farmers because the international tenders slated to be launched in mid October will most likely require various forms of partnerships between the foreign operators and Moroccan farmers. The Spanish investors' needs of large areas is related to their ability to apply the most advanced farm techniques that respond to the needs of a large consuming market.

Although the details of the farm operations have not been disclosed yet, sources say two licenses will be offered to investors. A 40-year license will concern arboriculture and agro-industrial operations. The second will be 17-year licenses for regular farming operations. Investors can be involved in various projects or operations simultaneously without restrictions.
http://www.north-africa.com/free.htm
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World Bank Strategies & Initiatives. Morocco
Volume 66. 30.05.2005

Mid-May's unanimous decision by the World Bank to begin a new four-year Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) with Morocco was welcomed by Rabat, which shares the Bank's goals of more growth and less unemployment.

The new CAS provides for economic aid of up to $300m per year from 2005 to 2009, in addition to World Bank technical and knowledge transfer activity. According to a press release on May 25, the money will be used with four aims in mind: to accelerate economic growth and employment opportunities, reduce poverty, improve education, and address ongoing water-related issues.

A statement on the World Bank web site relating to the new CAS notes, "The main difference between this CAS period and the previous one (2001-2004), is the more favourable political, and bureaucratic environment within which to implement institutional reforms. A greater sense of urgency prevails, and this has generated political will at the top levels of leadership, as well as within civil society."

The World Bank board also applauded King Mohamed VI's new Human Development Initiative, which he announced on May 19. The initiative, which is expected to cost around Dh1bn ($114m) a year, in fact shares many of the same aims as the CAS and aims to help eradicate poverty in the kingdom as well as tackle unemployment.

With unemployment still rife, (estimated to be as high as 19.3% in urban areas in mid-2004), and a growing population, Morocco cannot afford to ignore the poor shanty towns that are considered by some analysts to be breeding grounds for religious extremism and terrorism. The initiative was announced two days after the second anniversary of the tragic suicide bombings in Casablanca that killed 45 people. 

The initiative comes at an important time, given the pressure the textile sector, a traditional high employer, is under due to Chinese competition. Newspaper La Tribune reported that the EU only imported 20m cloth items in the first quarter of 2005 from Morocco, which is a 25m decrease on the same period the previous year. European imports of Chinese T-shirts alone, however, are up 187% for the first quarter of 2005.

Meanwhile, although the unemployment rate in rural areas is nowhere near as high as it is in the cities, agricultural also appears to be at risk. According to Agricultural Minister Mohand Laensar, the sector could be facing serious trouble, as there has been a 4% decrease in the area of sowed land for growing wheat over the past year. The output of cereal right now could stand as low as 36m quintals, which would be a 57% decrease on the 2004 season, adding yet another burden to the unemployment rate.

In an attempt to counter these burgeoning unemployment problems, Minister of Industry, Trade and Economy Salaheddine Mezouar announced May 25 that a new government strategy relating to industry in particular would generate as many as 440,000 jobs by the year 2015. The scheme is expected to focus on expanding areas such as off shoring, electronics, the food industry and handicrafts.

Those reforms so far implemented also seem to be having a positive effect on the economy as a whole, as an annual report published jointly by the Development Centre of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), predicted that economic growth should stay above 3% for the next two years.

Thus issues such as poverty and unemployment are certainly beginning to be addressed. Through ongoing liberalisation efforts, the coupling of the King's Human Development Initiative and now the new World Bank CAS, a foundation seems to be in place for Morocco to tackle some of its most troubling social and economic issues and, many hope, make way for sustained growth.
http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/weekly01.asp?id=1386 
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Human development initiative to spur social action, PM. 
Politics, 5/31/2005

The National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) is to spur social action in Morocco through a global, integrated and lasting approach, said Moroccan premier, Driss jettou on the initiative announced lately by King Mohammed VI.

The sovereign announced on May 18 the large-scale, social policy dubbed "National Initiative for Human Development" based on integrated programs to reduce social disparities and fight exclusion. It is designed to provide basic infrastructure to millions, from adequate housing and drinking water to health care and education.

Jettou, at question period Monday at the House of representatives about the government declaration, said the approach is centered on three main aspects: upgrade infrastructure, public utilities and social services in poor rural and urban neighbourhoods, give impetus to job creating activities and improve the social services for people facing hardships or having special needs.

The Moroccan premier recalled the INDH gives priority to the poorest urban and rural zones, including 360 rural communes and 250 urban peripheral neighbourhoods in 41 towns which are to be included in the first stage of the INDH implementation.

The government is preparing a special program regarding the first INDH stage which will be presented to the king by the set deadline before it is introduced to the Parliament, said Jettou.

The INDH social challenge, said Jettou, requires the pursuing of efforts to improve the living, housing, health conditions in favour of poor groups in a bid to eradicate poverty and exclusion, develop the rural world and fight illiteracy.

Among the main sectors to be developed in initiative first phase, Jettou  mentioned medical insurance for craftsmen and liberal professionals, medical assistance to the needy, retirement plans and funds reforming, the continuation of low cost housing, eradication of shanty towns and old houses at risk of collapse and employment.

Meantime, Belgian minister of cooperation for development, Armand de Decker, said his country will tune its cooperation projects in Morocco with the initiative for human development outlined by King Mohammed VI two weeks ago.

"The royal initiative will change the Moroccans life, and we will integrate in this sustainable development dynamic," the visiting Belgian official told MAP, describing the Royal speech as "a strong and major political act and a challenge to be taken on by the entire political class."

He also noted how Morocco is clearly progressing, modernising and better equipped, citing the developing road network, efforts to increase access to drinking water and the thriving middle class. He also talked about the exiting poverty, calling for gearing all efforts to end it.

The Moroccan-Belgian commission, slated to meet by end of this year, will address the delays in some joint projects, and will seek means to consolidate Belgian action in some sectors like education and stimulation of small and medium-sized enterprises, in addition to the traditional sectors of water and women promotion.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/050531/2005053125.html 
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Conference on Contribution of Moroccan Jews to Cultural Heritage.
05/06/2005

On Thursday (2 June), King Mohammed VI Royal Counselor Andre Azoulay chaired a Tetouan conference called "Moroccan Andalusian Music and the Contribution of Moroccan Jewish Musicians." The Agency for Economic and Social Promotion and Development of Morocco's Northern Provinces and the Edmond Amran El Maleh Foundation organized the conference. EMarrakech reports all speakers agreed about the important contribution that Moroccan Jewish artists made to Morocco's cultural history and in particular
to Andalusian music.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/homepage/ -------------------------------------------------------------------

Growing number of plastic surgeries in Morocco.

In recent years, Morocco has been catching up fast with the international, and mainly Western, trend of plastic surgeries. Many plastic surgeons in Morocco report that their number of patients has increased by 100 and even 200 percent during the last three years. Furthermore, reports Yabiladi, unlike previous years were the average age of patients was about 60 years, patients seeking plastic surgery nowadays are becoming much younger. Practices in Morocco report that about 60 to 70 percent of the people, who consult with them, have not reached yet the age of 40. Another interesting aspect of the current trend is that although most
patients, looking to be more beautiful, are still women, the number of men seeking plastic surgery has also increased. Male now account for about 10 to 15 percent of the total customers in Morocco.
http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Morocco/184484 
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FTA to allow Morocco export non-Moroccan textile products to USA. 
Politics, 6/4/2005

The Free Trade Agreement signed between Morocco and the USA will grant Morocco a waiver from the normal rules of origin and allow the kingdom export textile products from less developed African Sub-Saharan countries. This agreement will allow Morocco export to the U.S duty-free a quota of 15 million meter squares of finished goods and 500 tons of thread and tissues made out of fibres and cotton coming from less developed African Sub-Saharan countries.

In a communique published Friday, the ministry of Industry, Trade and Economy Upgrading called on enterprises willing to export textile products and clothes into the US market within this preferential frame to register with the ministry before June 27. The authorised quotas will be assigned by the industry department after having the opinion of a consultative committee composed of the ministry of Foreign Trade, ministry of ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Customs and Indirect Taxes department and Moroccan Association of Textile Industries and Clothing, said the communique.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/050604/2005060426.html 
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