Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
June 14, 2008

Morocco and US free trade deal rakes in US$2.3 billion.
Thursday 19 June 2008

Trade between Morocco and US hit US$2.3 billion in 2007 from US$1.4 billions in 2006, a local newspaper the Economist reported on Wednesday. The increase is basically due to a surge in the volume of export from Morocco that almost tripled between 2005 and 2007, the financial and business journal quoted the Moroccan minister of external trade, Abdellatif Maazouz, as saying. He said there was need for direct maritime link between the port of Tanger in northern Morocco and the eastern coast of America.

Rabat and Washington signed an agreement on free trade on 2 March 2004 in Washington that became effective on 1 January 2006. Under the agreement, customs duties on 95 per cent of the products have been cancelled, and the remaining products would be considered in the same manner in nine years.

For a limited number of products it will be 15 years starting from the date of implementation of the agreement. Furthermore, the agreement offers access to services, copyright protection, legal backing for security and guaranty for American investors, open procedures and transparency measures for moral standards as well as competition in public markets and the job and environment protection.

The free trade agreement between Morocco and USA is the first Washington has signed with an African country and the second with an Arab country after Jordan.
Panapress http://en.afrik.com/article13884.html
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Tetouan festival places spotlight on Moroccan women.
By Hassan Benmehdi 2008-06-20

Tetouan is gearing up to host the first "Voix de femmes, voies du future" (Voices of women, paths to the future) festival from July 3rd-5th. The event will pay tribute to the courage, creativity and dedication of Moroccan women. The Voix de Femmes association announced last week that from July 3rd-5th it will organise the first "Voix de femmes, voies du future" (Voices of women, paths to the future) festival in the Mediterranean town of Tetouan.

The three-day festival will give the public an opportunity to discover a plethora of events highlighting women's contributions to Morocco's creation and development. The festival programme features a number of local, national and international artists who will entertain Tetouan and its visitors during the summer holidays.

Performances by top Moroccan singers Asmae El Menawar and Samira Said are expected to draw an enthusiastic crowd. Lebanese diva Majda Roumi will give her second-ever performance in Morocco after her appearance earlier this year at the Sacred Music Festival in Fez. Frenchwoman Enzo Enzo and Iberian group Hanin Y Son Cubano are also expected. Rounding out the line-up is a wealth of young Moroccan talent, including Rachida Talal, Khansae, Nouhad and Nabila Amaan.

Voix de Femmes association President Karima Benyaiche said the event has a number of objectives. Benyaiche said she hopes to get the "lifeblood of Tetouan" involved in an action-generating project promoting sustainable development and the values of openness, dialogue and cultural exchange. The festival plans to accomplish this by paying tribute to all the women of Tetouan "who have worked with dignity and great courage for twelve centuries to build their town while preserving its authenticity and diversity".

Benyaiche also said the festival aims to lift the spirits of local women in varied fields who have been active for years. "In today’s Morocco women play a major role in the process of building a modern and democratic society," she said, concluding that "above all, the festival is a tribute to women."

Saad Kettani, head of the Fondation 1,200 Ans en Maroc (1,200 Years in Morocco Foundation), said that the Tetouan festival will serve as a reminder of Morocco’s desire to continue promoting and taking pride in its history and cultural legacy. Afifa El Ghoufali, a member of a women’s association in Casablanca, called on individuals and the authorities to support the festival and told Magharebia the event "gives women the opportunity to showcase their vision, their uniqueness and above all their talent."

The Voix de Femmes association was created in July 2007 to promote women's role in passing on Tetouan's cultural identity to future generations.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2008/06/20/feature-01
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Over 3,300 children removed from job market in 2007, minister.
Rabat, June 18

Some 3,367 children were removed from the job market, while some 13,126 others were taken care of in 2007, thanks to governmental programs, said, here Tuesday, Employment and Vocational training minister, Jamal Rhmani. Speaking at the House of Advisors' question time, Mr. Rhmani said these programs, carried out in conjunction with the international program for the Elimination of Child Labor, have also supported income-generating activities for the families of these children, whose number reached 600 in 2007.

Legislative and awareness-raising measures, in addition to field programs have helped Morocco achieve progress in fighting the phenomenon of child labor, he said.According to official figures, the number of working children under 15 in Morocco is estimated at around 177,000.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/over_3300_children/view
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Blood donors in Morocco do not exceed 1% of overall population.
Rabat, June 13

The number of blood donors in Morocco does not exceed 1% of the overall population, while the World Health Organization (WHO) requires a 5% rate, director of Rabat blood transfusion center, Hassan Belekbir, revealed. Some 172,000 people gave their blood in Morocco in 2007, i.e. a 3¨% increase compared to 2006, with the highest percentage recorded in the regional blood transfusion center of Casablanca with 49,000 donors, followed by the Rabat center (over 41,000 donors), while the rest is shared out among the 16 Moroccan blood transfusion centers, he added.

The objective in 2008, he said, is to achieve a 20% increase of the number of donors and reach some 52,000 donors in the blood transfusion center in Rabat. According to statistics, a single donor can save the life of four people. People aged 18-60 can give 400ml of blood every 56 days, i.e. 7% of their blood mass, without any health risks.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/blood_donors_in_moro/view
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Morocco poised to fight child labour.
2008-06-15 Imane Belhaj

Many Moroccan children are forced to work to supplement their parents' income. The Moroccan government is working to improve education and combat poverty to curb the phenomenon. As the international community marked World Day Against Child Labour on Thursday (June 12th), Moroccan Employment and Vocational Training Minister Jamal Aghmani noted Morocco's ongoing commitment to eradicating the phenomenon and building what he called a Morocco "worthy of its children".

The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the annual event in 2002 to call attention to the worldwide crisis. With the support of the ILO's Fighting Child Labour Program, the Labour Directorate of the Moroccan Ministry of Employment, Social Affairs, and Solidarity conducted a comprehensive study on the issue four years ago to identify intervention mechanisms ranging from legislation to social programmes.

"Moroccan child labour experts [cited] poverty, poor quality education and poor access to education (particularly for girls), broken families, and widespread social acceptance of child labour as primary factors explaining the prevalence of child labour," Human Rights Watch said about the 2004 study, noting that "Morocco has one of the highest child labour rates in the Middle East and North Africa".

Study results helped Morocco prepare a national plan to help these "invisible children". Although Morocco had already ratified two ILO child labour conventions by 2001, it enacted a new Labour Code which went into effect in June 2004. The new code prohibits employing children less than 15 years of age, bans dangerous labour for all children under age 18 and provides for legal sanctions against employers who recruit children under the age of 15 to work.

The law is not enough, however, without a comprehensive strategy to address the socio-economic factors which contribute to this phenomenon, said Ahmed Leqsiouer, an expert at the International Labour Bureau (BIT) in Morocco. "In addition to the growing poverty in rural areas, the general expenses allocated to curb child labour are still very little, foremost among which is attention for schooling. There are still 15 million children who don't go to school, including 600,000 children aged between 7 and 14 years. Of these children, 16% contribute to the family's income," he told Magharebia.

A study conducted last year under the ADROS initiative, sponsored by Washington, DC-based Management Systems International (MSI) showed that 380,000 Moroccan children under 15 years old left school in 2006, and that a number of them entered the labour market at an early age: "something that threatens the future of thousands of children by denying them the right to schooling and exposing them to all forms of dangers against their health, and their physical and psychological well-being".

Morocco's comprehensive strategy to curb child labour involves improving rural education and living conditions as well as fighting adult illiteracy so that parents may understand the need to educate their children instead of exposing them to work at an early age. Indeed, an ILO-World Bank report published in 2005 said that Moroccan parents’ level of education and access to water and electricity have a strong impact on whether rural children work.

Legal prohibition by itself did not stop the child labour problem in Morocco, agrees Said Haida of Association Hadaf. "Therefore, we are working on organising awareness campaigns for parents in order to convince them of the need to look for other means for their children's future instead of making them work," she told Magharebia.

However, Fatima, who makes her daughter Nozha work as a house maid, had a different opinion. She doesn't have any objections to her 14-year-old daughter's work. "If it hadn't been for that work," she says, "we wouldn't have found a means of living to feed me, her three brothers and crippled father".
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2008/06/15/feature-01
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Low pass rate in 2008 Moroccan baccalaureate exams.
By Sarah Touahri  2008-06-18

Less than two-fifths of bac candidates passed the first session of exams in Morocco. The second round of testing for those with average scores between 8 and 10 is scheduled to begin July 1st. Some 83,000 pupils (38.11%), over half of them girls, have been successful in the first session of Morocco's baccalaureate exams, the ministry of education announced on Tuesday (June 18th). The pass rate varied according to the type of baccalaureate taken. As usual, students taking arts subjects fared less well, with only 24.34% passing. Those taking science baccalaureates had more success, with a pass rate of 49.52%. Non-affiliated candidates performed worst of all, with only 2,156 out of 18,109 (12%) making the grade.

The highest average scored during this first session was 18.71/20. The ministry of education said it expected the national pass rate to rise after 183,106 candidates who scored between 8 and 10 in the first session retake the exams on July 1st-3rd. The national pass rate has remained virtually unchanged over the last few years, teacher Abdelkebir Moudenni told Magharebia. "Last year, for instance, the figure was 39.1% - a very low rate which reflects the standard of our baccalaureate candidates. A lot of people are thus finding themselves excluded from higher education because of a failing education system," he said.

"[Students] manage to get by for years without reaching the level required, and then they get caught out when they come to the baccalaureate," teacher Samira Brikech agreed. For their part, students complained that some of the exams were too difficult for the time allotted."I revised all year and got an average of 15 out of 20 in class, but I had big problems on the exam because the questions focused mainly on general knowledge and analysis, particularly in philosophy and English, which is something teachers don't instil into their pupils," Meriem Baki told Magharebia. "I passed, but without a good enough grade to enable me to go to a good college or institute of higher education," she added, her eyes filled with tears.

Meriem's friend Salima also passed, but without working very hard. "I’m not a good student like Meriem, who spends all her time studying. But I still managed to pass, because the questions tested candidates' powers of analysis," she said.

Teacher Mourad Fellah said the exam system, particularly for arts subjects, has moved away from rote learning towards a focus on analysis. "For years they made the mistake of setting exams based solely on the material students learned in class. That encouraged cheating and didn't allow baccalaureate candidates to exercise the powers of analysis which will serve them in good stead in their further education or work," he told Magharebia. "But now things have changed, even if pupils don’t like it." The final results, including those from the second session, will be known after examiners convene on July 12th-13th to discuss the results. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2008/06/18/feature-01
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Morocco secures wind farm investment.
afrol News, 16 June

Morocco has secured a sizeable investment in its wind farm initiative, as part of a response to the country's energy needs, using renewable sources. The deal comes following conclusion of a strategic partnership, between Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA), and Paris based THEOLIA, a leader in production of electricity from wind energy, for construction and operation of a 300 MW wind farm located in Tarfaya, Morocco.

Morocco has since early 1990s undertook studies on Atlantic coast and north-east part of the country to explore suitable locations for wind farming. The country has some of meanest wind velocity locations measured at about 11.5 m/s at a height of 40m.

The new deal will also enhance studies on possibility of optimizing wind sites in Morocco, in the Abdelkhalek Torres wind farm near the current site. According to the new partnership, completion of studies could offer a double opportunity, being possible repowering of 84mw turbines commissioned in 2000 and possible extension of the wind farm by several hundred additional MWs.

Commenting following sealing the deal, both companies' leadership expressed high hopes in placing renewable wind farms energy in emerging markets."Today's announcement is a real milestone for TAQA; it marks our first step into renewable energy. Our strategy is to diversify across the energy value chain in different territories, and by joining forces with THEOLIA, we feel that we are in a good position to bid for new wind farm capacity," said Mr Peter Barker-Homek, Chief Executive Officer of TAQA.

He further said the deal was truly in line with the company's growth strategy and vision. Jean-Marie Santander, Chairman and CEO of THEOLIA, was also optimistic, saying "This alliance confirms the development strategy of THEOLIA in emerging markets. Together, THEOLIA's expertise and TAQA's strength will give birth to a major player in the production of electricity from renewable energy in Morocco and the emerging markets in general."

The government-controlled Taqa, one of the largest energy investment companies in the Middle East, owns and operates a 1,356 mw thermal power station in Morocco, which provides half of the country's electricity. Though financial details of the new deal were not disclosed, reports have hailed it as one of milestones towards Morocco meeting its energy production targets.
By staff writer  © afrol News http://www.afrol.com/articles/29402
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Treas to attend urban poverty reduction workshop in Morocco.
Wednesday, June 18, ILOILO CITY, Jun 17, 2008 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX)

Mayor Jerry P. Treas will leave for Morocco in North Africa on Tuesday to attend the first Urbis Workshop from June 18 to 22 in Essasouira. Urbis is a project of the Development Innovations Group (DIG) whose thrust is on poverty alleviation, micro-finance and skills training especially for informal sector with funding support coming from the Gates Foundation.

At present, its member cities are Phnom Pen, Sau Paulo, Casablanca, Mombasa, Abidjan and Luanda. Treas is the only mayor from the Philippines who was invited to join the event hosted by the DIG. A letter from Marianne Carliez of the DIG, addressed to Treas said the workshop will serve as an "opportunity to introduce the strong pro-poor organizations Urbis has identified among its member-cities, enable participants to explain the capacity building strategies for each organization and illustrate how Urbis can be a model for future global capacity building efforts."

"We just don't know if we can be a member of the Urbis, but this is a welcome development for us," Treas said. "I hope we can also get grants for Iloilo City." The four-day workshop includes overview of the Urbis program, a presentation of the capacity building strategies in various Urbis cities and a field visit to Mohammedia. Other participants include DIG representatives, partner organizations, beneficiaries and key government representatives.
(PNA)can/PTR/AJP/PGL/vlo http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1693353/
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Hubbard Technical Seminar in Morocco: A Confirmation of Success.
CASABLANCA, MOROCCO

The Hubbard technical seminar organised for the Moroccan hatcheries and producers held in April 2008 used the theme: "Better production to gain more". The seminar gathered the vast majority of the hatcheries and producers resulting in many fruitful discussions. During the seminar several subjects were addressed. An overview on the global poultry market was given by Jean-François Hamon, Hubbard's business director for the region. The major increase in costs of raw materials is certainly a key issue. This pushes the industry for a further improvement in productivity to keep the cost price as low as possible. The Moroccan producers had already understood this message some years ago and have made the necessary improvements: better management and technical equipment of breeder houses and hatcheries, the upgrading of feed mills and the renovation of many broiler houses.

Dr. Eric Bonjour, director veterinary services for Hubbard, talked about the implementation of the quality assurance scheme in Morocco which is very similar to the French "Chartes Sanitaires". Morocco has now reached a good level of bio-security and is responding to the same level of requirements as many other countries.

Michel Clech, senior technician for Hubbard, showed the evolution of the breeder results. Michel collects and analysis the breeder field results already for many years, giving an objective picture of the technical achievements. Again this year the results have improved, with some new record-breaking results for the Hubbard JV and Hubbard Classic. The analysis also showed that the change from open-sided to dark-out houses improved the results with 4 to 5 chicks per breeder female placed.

Claude Toudic, senior technician and broiler specialist for Hubbard, used his extensive experience in broiler growing and his knowledge of the situation in other parts of the world to present some practical solutions for further improvement. It is not always necessary to go for the most sophisticated solution, it is often better to choose a solution adapted to the local circumstances instead. A wide use of the best practice methods and tools for broiler production now needs to be implemented into further detail; this will then allow the Moroccan industry to "better produce to gain more"!

With full agreement of all attendees, Hubbard announced the organisation of a technical seminar in 2009. It is expected that then once again the industry will be able to show record breaking results.

For more information please contact: Bruno Besnier Regional Sales Manager bruno.besnier@hubbardbreeders.com ThePoultrySite News Desk
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/15203/hubbard-technical-seminar-in-morocco-a-confirmation-of-success
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Outward FDI from Morocco driven by weak dollar.

Over $400 billion into securing stakes in American companies, factories and other properties through private deals and purchases of publicly traded stock. This represented a 90 percent increase over the previous year and more than double the average for the last decade. Morocco outward FDI have increased from an annual average of $25M (between 1990 -2000) to $468M in 2006

In May of last year, a Saudi Arabian conglomerate bought a Massachusetts plastics maker. In November, a French company established a new factory in Adrian, Michigan, adding 189 automotive jobs to an area accustomed to layoffs. In December, a British company bought a New Jersey maker of cough syrup. But the days when foreign investment was the sole preserve of firms from developed countries are over.

The continued weakening of the dollar has made American companies more affordable to Moroccan investors who had so far only been focusing on the Maghreb region and Sub-Saharan countries. These regions are, however, risky because the economic fabric is poorly developed and because other more competitive foreign companies, notably French, have a historical relationship with the Maghreb Sub Saharan countries.

Today, multinational companies from emerging and developing economies are becoming major players in the globalized world economy and Morocco is supporting this trend according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The kingdom as recognized that outward FDI can strengthen the competitiveness of its firms, or bring other benefits to the home economy.

But Morocco should adopt a more ambitious outward FDI policy as par of its development strategy and look for opportunities across the Atlantic. Today the US economy offers panoply of investment opportunities. Many companies are filling for chapter 7 or are sold at a discount. Some of them have lost 80 percent of their Market value. This is a golden opportunities for foreign investors and entrepreneurs who realized that when the dust settles down, the potential ROI in the next 3 to 5 years could be enormous.

The US real estate bust has also attracted a number Morocco individuals, specially those who own property and have bank accounts outside Morocco. With its warm weather, and climate similar to Morocco, real estate in Florida is a well sought after. It has even become somewhat trendy to own a vacation home in the sun shine state.

Buying back its supplier.

Between the entrepreneurs looking for investment opportunities and individuals who acquire vacation homes in the US, another breed of Moroccan investors has emerged. Those who are taking steps to ensure they have adequate supplies of raw materials and parts. Moroccan companies at risk of loosing their upstream suppliers consider backward integration as an important step in their corporate strategy.

A recent change in legislation gave Moroccan companies greater access to foreign currency and have allowed invest in foreign market up to 30 Million Dirham (4.12 Million. What is business as usual for companies in developed countries represents a real paradigm shift for Moroccan corporations. A recent example of a Moroccan company showing interest in acquiring a US baby diapers production plant and ship it back to Morocco, is a testimony of this new trend.

This new legislation is a good first step but the 30M Dirham ceiling may not be sufficient to allow Moroccan companies to proceed with larger acquisitions. As Morocco moves up on its economic development path small companies should think of a pool system where several companies can purchase a single supplier.
Karim Zouiyen Morocco Newsline http://www.morocconewsline.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=477
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Medieval to modern in Morocco.
African country offers a taste of the Arab world. By JUDE TOWNEND  The Associated Press

Morocco is probably best-known to American travelers for cities like Fez, Casablanca and Marrakech. But this country in the northwest corner of Africa is actually a place of dramatic variety. On a two-week or even one-week visit, it's feasible to fit in a trip to a major city or two, in addition to exploring rural areas. You might explore undulating desert dunes, the magnificent Atlas Mountains, or a tranquil beach like those found near Agadir. Or visit the Volubilis Roman ruins near Meknes, the dinosaur footprints near Azilal, or eerily quiet Berber villages around Imlil, at the base of Mount Toubkal.

The ancient city of Fez is known for its architecture, alluring medina (the old part of the city) and Karaouine Mosque and University, dating from 859. In Marrakech, by day you can explore the Saadian tombs and the luscious Marjorelle Garden, and by night the famous Djemaa El Fna square, with its food stalls, entertainers and peddlers.

In Casablanca, the modern, giant Hassan II mosque looks like it's melting into the sea at sunset. And for fans of the famous 1942 Humphrey Bogart movie, head to Rick's Cafe, opened by American Kathy Kriger in 2004, a marvelous evocation of the film. Despite State Department travel cautions on potential terrorism, the number of American visitors to Morocco is slowly increasing. In 2007, 131,000 Americans visited, up 13 percent from 2006. The country is a popular destination with European travelers.

"Americans like Morocco – they get a taste of the Arabic world, without having to go to the Middle East," said Yassine Naciri, a hotel worker in Marrakech, the tourism hub of the country. His hotel, Marhbabikoum, like many, is of the traditional "riad" style: quaintly decorated rooms built around a tiled courtyard, gently lit by candlelight in the evening. The very best riads are complete with an in-house "hammam," an opulent version of traditional Moroccan communal bathhouses.

It is also possible to stay in a restored kasbah. There are hundreds of them around the country; they once served as fortresses for the most important families. Some stand empty now, while others have been turned into luxury hotels. But budget travelers can also find cheap hostels and guesthouses all over the country, for as little as $10 a night.

Foreigners can expect to attract attention, especially in the more touristy areas, where touts – people who offer unsolicited services for tips – are desperate for business. English is more and more widely spoken, but basic French is useful. The main language is the Moroccan Arabic dialect known as "derija." To confuse things further, many Moroccans also speak one of the Berber languages.

Morocco's culinary splendor needs little translation however; the superb fusion of French and Middle Eastern fare speaks for itself. The day starts with a spectacular array of patisserie(as little as 25 cents at the street stalls), accompanied by qehwa bil halib (coffee with milk) and the startlingly good aseir limun (orange juice). Lunch is couscous, or tagine – which is the name of both a rich stew and the dome-shaped terra-cotta pot in which it is cooked. To fill the gap between meals, le gouter of coffee or tea and cake might be taken at 7 p.m. Moroccan dinner, normally eaten around 10 p.m., might be harira(soup with tomato and lentils), or perhaps an omelet and bread.

The renowned sugary mint tea is drunk throughout the day, and at greater frequency the farther south you go. With the exception of hot drinks where the water has been boiled, drinking bottled water is advisable. Islam is central to Moroccan life and on the main religious day of Friday, shops and businesses frequently shut for a good proportion of the afternoon, also allowing time for families to eat couscous together. While it is not necessary to cover hair, or put on the djellaba – the long traditional gown – women may want to dress modestly in respect to local customs.

For travelers saving their dirhams (the local currency, currently about seven to the dollar), sharing a grand-taxi, which seats two in the front, and four in the back, is the most convenient way to get between towns and villages. The smaller petit-taxis, a different color in each town, are limited to three people, but Moroccan law does not allow them to leave their designated city. Buses are to be found in the town gare routiere, and the mainly efficient trains run between major cities. Those on a bigger budget can take a four-wheel drive vehicle, known locally as a quatre-quatre, on a tailor-made tour.

Choosing the best season to visit really depends on where travel is planned. The High Atlas Mountains are best walked in spring and autumn. The desert is unbearably hot in summer. Beaches are at their warmest in July and August. In addition to Fez, Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech, visit Essaouira, for a glimpse of a coastal town with a rich architectural history, and Agadir, where you can start a trip along the coast, eat sumptuous seafood, and perhaps head out to the Anti-Atlas Mountains.

A few other places worth seeing in the countryside include:
• Chefchaouen, a pretty, quaint town, where the houses are painted blue, and which you can use as a departure point for exploring the rural north.

• Zagora, a small town next to the desert that can serve as a starting point to visit the villages of Tamegroute and Amezrou, and Mounts Zagora and Azlag.

• Merzouga, a small village reached via the town of Rissani, which provides accommodation within walking distance of Erg Chebbi, Morocco's largest sand dune.

• Ouarzazate, where you'll want to visit the kasbah, then head to the impressive Todra and Dades gorges.

And if you get homesick, you can even find a slice of stateside life in Morocco. Just hunt out the restaurant offering "Pizza l'Americaine" near the Hassan Tower in Rabat. The pizzeria's owner, Moroccan Max Labdi, was a New York cab driver for four years before coming home to set up the business. "The American pizza is the best in the world. It just needed to come to Morocco," he said.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/morocco-africa-muslim-2073910-atlas-marrakech
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