Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
July 22, 2006

Morocco launches investment manual. 
Morocco pushes renewables as oil prices soar.
Setting up of social services mobile unit for street children, Minister.
Government earmarks over USD 100k to bolster agriculture.
Illiteracy rate falls to 39% in Morocco.
Drinking water: ONEP invests MAD 2.83 billion in 2005.
Moroccan economy should grow by 7.1% in 2006, IMF
Amazigh TV channel to be created soon
Cultural heritage: Second Ahwach Festival to start in September.
Microsoft finalises new strategy for IT development in Morocco.
AfDB, ADF grant Morocco USD 251 million loan

Morocco launches investment manual. 
Mon, 17 Jul 2006 Casablanca

A procedures manual, which aims to harmonise and simplify investment procedures in Morocco, has been launched by the National Committee in charge of Investment Procedures. “This manual will contribute to the improvement of the services with which the investor is provided, and facilitate the collaboration and transparency among the different administrations concerned with investment,” said the head of the studies and information department in the investment direction, Marwan Mansouri. Investment procedures were complicated in Morocco, given the number administrations and interlocutors involved in the process.

In addition, many documents were needed for the constitution of an investment file.
Besides, certain “methods prevailing between the citizen and the administrations are not always transparent,” the Moroccan daily L'Economist quoted the minister of in charge of modernising the public sector, Mohamed Boussaid. The comment suggests that corruption has not been well dealt with in the North African country in the area of investments.

“The manual constitutes an important device for both national and foreign investors. It will definitely contribute to solving a number of problems in the Regional Centres for Investment (CRI),” stressed Jim May, the head of the economic growth department in Usaid-Maroc, which contributed to the elaboration of this project. May added that by using this handbook, investors would benefit from many advantages, mainly time, availability and transparency of information.

This manual, which as said to be a first step that would be followed by others, concerns 28 procedures relating to such sectors as mining, tourism, state property, local collectives and urban planning. Another 60 procedures would soon be announced. This reform initiative, which was part of ‘e-gov' project, “aims at preparing the Moroccan administration for the normalisation process according to international standards”, underlined Boussaid. http://www.businessinafrica.net/news/north_africa/697682.htm
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Morocco pushes renewables as oil prices soar.
Economic growth, higher living standards boost energy demand .
July 19, 2006

Morocco hopes to generate a fifth of its power from renewable sources by 2012 to reduce its reliance on costly energy imports, the head of the country's renewables program said. Import subsidies to make fuel more affordable for industry and the Moroccan people take a $1.5 billion slice out of the national budget every year.

The value of energy imports rose 29 percent in the first quarter of 2006, causing its trade deficit to widen by 17.3 percent from the same quarter of 2005 and, with world oil prices touching records, there is little relief in sight.

The government is redoubling efforts to find oil and end Morocco's status as the only North African country with no fossil fuel production of its own. But for now it hopes to better exploit the potential of its mountain rivers, blustery Atlantic and Mediterranean coastline and sun-drenched interior.

"We must make the most of the natural resources we have," Amal Haddouche, General Manager of Morocco's Renewable Energy Development Centre, told Reuters. "We must increase the share of renewable energy in the total to 20 percent by 2012, including large-scale hydro-power."

Excluding hydro-electric dams, the goal is 10 percent, according to senior government officials.
The kingdom generates 7.6 percent of its energy needs using renewable sources including hydro-electric, wind and solar power and biomass. The vast majority is generated by fossil-fuel power stations. The government says Morocco could potentially generate 6,000 megawatts of electricity from wind turbines. Total installed production capacity last year was 5,250 MW.

"Wind power will see a remarkable development in coming years because we expect to install at least 50 megawatts of wind turbines per year from 2007," the energy and mines ministry said in faxed replies to questions from Reuters.

Powering the countryside
Morocco's demand for energy grew 8.8 percent last year and could increase by as much as 7.5 percent per year until 2015, according to government estimates. Much of that increase is due to forecast economic growth but the government is also trying to improve living standards among the rural population by extending electricity supply to isolated communities.

Rather than try to link all isolated villages to the national grid, Morocco is promoting the use of solar panels, which are becoming a common sight in villages across the sparsely-populated country. MORE at
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13938147/
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Setting up of social services mobile unit for street children, Minister.
Rabat, July 20

The Moroccan government has created the first mobile unit of urgent social services to the benefit of street children, said State Secretary in charge of the Family, Children and the Disabled. Yasmina Baddou made the announcement Wednesday at a House of Advisors question time, saying the unit will start operating in Casablanca as of this coming September. The move is part of a series of integrated and complementary programs aiming to implement the national action plan for children, she noted.

The minister underlined the promulgation of an act providing for the creation of children protection units, adding that five pilot-units will be set up in 2006 in Casablanca, Marrakech (central south), Tangier (north), Fès (center) and Laayoune (south).

The national action plan includes, inter alia, a program dubbed "idmaj" meant to re-integrate street children in their families, and to put in place protection tools for children likely to be forsaken, and to train specialists in this field, said Badou.http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/box2/setting_up_of_social/view
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Government earmarks over USD 100k to bolster agriculture.
Rabat, July 19

One billion Moroccan Dirhams, over USD 113Mn is the amount of the subsidies earmarked at present by the agriculture development fund, revealed on Tuesday State Secretary in charge of Rural Development. Speaking at question time at the House of Advisors, Mohamed Mohattane noted, with regard to the improvement of productivity, that a particular attention is given to selected seeds and to mechanization.

The minister pointed out to the fact that the number of fruit tree nurseries jumped from 300,000 to 2.5 millions. This, he said, is meant to substitute cereals by cultures endowed with better natural adaptability capacities. Mohattane added that about 2.5 million hectares have been included in the mapping program relating to the agricultural potential that concerns a total of 5 million hectares. Touching on the weather vagaries that have struck the northern region, the official said his department earmarked some MAD 375,000, about USD 43,000 to the inflicted farmers.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/government_earmarks/view
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Illiteracy rate falls to 39% in Morocco.
Rabat, July 15

Moroccan Premier Driss Jettou, announced here on Friday the illiteracy rate has declined to 39% nationwide, adding some two million people have attended literacy courses during the past four years. "The qualitative performance is a strong indicator that shows our capacity to curb the illiteracy plague", said Jettou at the academic year end ceremony organized by the State Secretariat in charge of Literacy and non formal education.

Premier Jettou said the national literacy program draws inspiration from various international recommendations and conferences on "education for all". He added that owing to the importance of the program, the government has established a department dedicated to fighting illiteracy and coordinating national efforts in this regard, and adopted a strategy that uses the needed means to implement the program.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/illiteracy_rate_fall/view
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Drinking water: ONEP invests MAD 2.83 billion in 2005.

The investments of the National Office of Drinking Water (ONEP) has reached MAD 2.83 billion during the 2005 fiscal year, said on Monday the Minister of Territory Development, Water and Environment, Mohamed EL Yazghi. In a press conference held after a meeting of the directors' board of the office, EL Yazghi said his department envisages the realisation of projects worth MAD 4.6 billion in 2006.

The investments, added the minister, will allow the flow of 2,600 l/s, the construction of 37 tanks of a 45,000 m3 and the extension of distribution network of about 600 km to benefit some urban centres. The ministry also intends to supply a rural population of about 1.3 million strong with running water, which will make access to drinking water reach 80%.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/News/article.asp?id=16024
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Moroccan economy should grow by 7.1% in 2006, IMF

Moroccan economy should grow by 7.1% in 2006 compared to 1.7% last year, said Reuters, quoting the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday Inflation, however, should slightly rise to 2.5% this year from 2.1% in 2005, added the IMF. “Notwithstanding a slight acceleration in the first quarter of the year, inflationary pressures remain under control, and the increase in the consumer price index should be limited to 2.5 percent over the year," the IMF said in its annual Article IV review of the economy.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/News/article.asp?id=16056
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Amazigh TV channel to be created soon

The government is considering the creation of an Amazigh TV channel, a project that constitutes an important step forward in enriching the audio-visual scene in Morocco, said the Minister of Communication, Nabil Benabdellah. Co-presiding a mixed meeting between his department and the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM), on the reinforcement of the Amazigh culture and language in terms of information and communication, Benabdellah stressed that the second national TV channel 2M will announce in September its new TV programmes in Amazigh language.

The first channel TVM and the national radio are also making efforts to ensure a strong daily presence for the Amazigh programes, stressed the minister. For his part the IRCAM director, Ahmed Boukouss, who co-presided the meeting, said that the creation of a national TV channel exclusively in Amazigh is an added value to this national culture. He added that a number of meetings will be held starting from 2007 to materialize the project.

On the mixed meeting, Boukouss underlined that it was an opportunity for evaluating the concerted efforts made by the national channels for the promotion of Amazigh. “We also exchanged points of view on the new TV programes especially those that will be broadcast during the month of Ramadan,” added the official. The Moroccan government is currently making every effort to promote the Amazigh language and culture in TV, radio and cinema, and education.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=49&id=16058
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Cultural heritage: Second Ahwach Festival to start in September.

The second Ahwach National Festival will take place on Sept. 7- 9 in Ouarzazate, reported MAP news agency. Initiated by the Ouarzazate Provincial Tourist Council (CPT), the festival is an annual artistic event where Ahwach troupes from different regions in Morocco meet and perform for the pleasure of the audience. Troupes from El Haouz, Kelaât Megouna, Zagora, Boulmane, Telouat, Essaouira and Souss mobilize to assure the continuity of this traditional music heritage. “We are working hard to prepare this year's festival in better conditions,” said a source from the organisation staff.

Besides Ahwach shows, which will take place each evening near Taourirt Casbah, the festival also schedules exhibitions of paintings, cinematographic filming instruments, local clothes and agricultural products of the region. Initiated by the Moroccan Cinematography Centre (CCM), the festival schedules the screening of some films as well as theatre performances.

The event, which aims at highlighting the local cultural and artistic heritage, will also be an occasion to pay tribute to many Ahwach artists who dedicated their time and effort for the pleasure of the region's public.

The first edition of the festival took place on Sept. 23-25, 2005. The initiative was warmly applauded by the public which was fascinated by the performances of the local troupes, singing unwritten poems about love, peace and other subjects from the daily life. Last year's festival was marked by a conference on the Ahwach patrimony, which was animated by the researchers Ahmed Assid and Mohammed El Khattabi.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=49&id=16054
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Microsoft finalises new strategy for IT development in Morocco.
By Hassan Benmehdi, 23/07/2006

Microsoft has announced the creation of a new information technology development organisation aimed exclusively at Morocco following the closure of the "Partner Academy". Microsoft and the Moroccan government are working together to develop the public and private information technology (IT) sectors and work towards an "e-government". The initiative aims to bring about modernisation and democratisation of IT as a tool to back up the creation of a modern, effective administration.

The initiative follows up on Microsoft North Africa's "Partner Academy", which was ended after a conference held on 12 July in Casablanca. The aim of the project was to give Moroccan partners an opportunity to contribute to the development of businesses and organisations in the country with the introduction of innovative and effective technological solutions. A budget of 2.3m dinars was set aside by Microsoft for the first round of the project.

At the press conference, Nasser Kettani, regional director of Microsoft North Africa, said, "I’m very happy today for two reasons: First, because of Microsoft Morocco's financial and sales performance in 2006, and second, because of the launch of a new country-orientated administrative organisation."

Kettani stressed that setting up the authority is a tangible demonstration of Microsoft's constant strategy of working closely with and helping its customers and integrating better with its partners with a view towards encouraging the use of new technologies in the public sector and the educational system. Microsoft Morocco will be led by Youssef El Aoufir. As part of his new work, Aoufir will be responsible for commercial development and sales over all segments of the market.

Microsoft says it expects to continue its growth and consolidate its structure throughout Morocco. Kettani also reiterated Microsoft's wish to contribute to Morocco's "digital inclusion" through its supporting the government and businesses, as well as civil society. He said the collaboration will include advice, technical support and assistance with equipment to make New Information and Communication Technologies a decisive factor in the country's development and modernisation. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2006/07/23/feature-02
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AfDB, ADF grant Morocco USD 251 million loan

Morocco has been granted a loan of USD 251 million by The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Development Fund (ADF) to finance highway and drinking water projects. The first part of the loan, which stands at USD 149 million, is designed to fund highway projects. It was approved by the two financial institutions' boards of trustees.

Another USD 102 million is meant to provide drinking water to some 350,000 inhabitants, and fund sanitation projects in rural areas. This project will improve the water supplies in rural areas, particularly in the provinces of Chefchaouen, Azila, Kenitra, settat and Khouribga.

The two institutions said in a statement that they had also decided to carry out a number of projects that aim to reinforce regional integration and trade competitiveness in the African continent. They thus approved loans and donations reaching USD 400 million destined for development projects in different regions in Africa.

Earlier, the AfDB had approved a Euro 85 million loan to Morocco to finance the implementation of the second phase of public administration support programme, said MAP. This programme is intended to boost the efficiency of the administration in terms of the management of the budget, human resources, and the wage bill.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/Paper/article.asp?idr=2&id=16126
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