FOM Newsletter September 2002
Morocco Week in Review September 7 2002 

Moroccan economy may score a growth rate of 5.8 percent in 2003, according to the forecasts of a Moroccan think tank. Le Centre Marocain de Conjoncture (CMC) made the forecasts on the basis of a good agriculture harvest and a dynamic performance of non-agricultural activities.  The CMC said in its latest newsletter that if weather conditions are less constraining in the coming campaign, the agriculture sector will continue its improvement trend and contribute to growth, assessing the evolution of the agriculture sector activity to 14.5 percent in 2003.  The activities of manufacturing industries will increase by 3.6 percent while Construction and public works are expected to score a 10 percent increase, said the CMC. Mining and energy will evolve respectively by 2.5 and 6.5%, the centre said imputing mining growth to a reactivation of foreign demand and energy growth to a progression of domestic demand.  According to the CMC, trade activities and transport and communication will respectively score 3.7 percent and 5.6 percent growth.  The center is expecting households consumption to slow down for the second consecutive year, while investment may maintain the increase scored in 2002. The center said adding exports are expected to witness an upward trend.

The volume of water stored in Moroccan dams was assessed at 54.8% of the reservoirs capacity by the end of June 2002, In comparison with 51.3% at the same period last year, according to figures displayed by the ministry of equipment.  The ministry said rainfalls between September 2001 and June 2002 recorded a 57% deficit with 5.11 million m3 in comparison with the average supply of the same period.  The deficit was recorded in all parts of Morocco (between -52% and -100%), with the exception of the region of Tiznit

The U.S.-Morocco agreement relative to the use of nuclear energy for non-military applications has been renewed. The protocol linking the two countries was first established in 1980. A renewal means the accord will expire in May 2021 and will be renewed in increment of 5 years thereafter.  The new agreement paves the way for the U.S. company General Atomics to complete construction of a nuclear research reactor facility. The facility is to be part of a Nuclear Energy Center, being constructed by the National Center for Nuclear Science, Energy and Technology (CNESTEN) of Morocco. The Center, located approximately 25 kilometers north of the city of Rabat in the Maâmora Forest.

The Moroccan government is to spend DH 800 million in 2002 in direct assistance to the agricultural sector. This direct assistance is meant to offset the negative impact on Moroccan farmers of price fluctuations on key vegetable and fruit products.

The Moroccan government has made a bold decision in an effort to lower the death toll from road accidents. It is preparing to make the use of the safety belt mandatory in and around urban centers. The new measure will concern both front and back seat passengers.

The performance of the tourism market in Morocco continues to suffer from a worldwide contraction of demand for travel and lodging. Marrakech, one of the most sought after destinations in North Africa is a typical example of the impact of a deteriorating travel business. In Marrakech the hotel occupation rate dropped to 40.51% during the busy month of July. Compared to the year-ago month, the occupation rate was 43.36%. The establishments that recorded the highest rate of occupancy were the lowest priced tourist villages at nearly 57% while on the other hand, the worst performers were luxury 5 star-hotels which used just 22.7% of their rooms.

American movie director Dino De Laurentiis is to shoot scenes of a new movie in Morocco, according to news sources. The movie on Alexander the Great will be co-financed by the 20th Century Fox and the Universal Studios. The Moroccan scenes are scheduled to be shot in the first quarter of 2003. De Laurentiis will hire an estimated 5,000 men and will use 1,000 horses for battle scenes in Morocco. Media sources say Leonardo Dicaprio is currently in talks with De Laurentiis for the lead role.

Marrakesh International Film Festival, an opportunity of dialogue, cultural exchange

The International Film Festival of Marrakesh is an opportunity for the encounter of different, sometimes even opposing philosophies, and promotes cultural exchange and dialogue, said in Casablanca on Thursday adviser to King Mohammed VI and vice-chairman of the Foundation of the International Film Festival of Marrakesh, Andr? Azoulay.  Speaking at a news conference in the presence of the chairwoman of this year's jury, French actress Jeanne Moreau, chairman of the festival, Daniel Toscan Du Plantier, and member of the jury and of the foundation managing board, Nabil Ayouch, Azoulay said the initiation of this event, to take place September 18-22, stems from the royal resolve to promote cinema art and industry in Morocco.

Azoulay recalled that Morocco intercrossed with cinema in its universal dimension a long time ago saying it was high time to optimize this reality and make of it a strong lever to Morocco's cinema industry.  Touching on the economic aspects of the cinema industry and its contribution in terms of economic and social value added, Azoulay said the cinema industry employed 40,000 extras, 2,600 technicians and 400 comedians in 2001, a year that is not the most performing.  Since last January, 584 film shooting licenses were issued by the Moroccan Cinema Center (CCM). Eleven feature films were already shot or are being shot, Azoulay said, recalling that the largest cinema studios in Africa will be shortly constructed in Ouarzazate over 200 hectares. Veteran Hollywood producer Dino De laurentis is among the promoters of the project, he said.  He also announced the shooting in 2003 of two super-productions, "Alexander the Great" in Marrakesh with a budget of some $150 million, and "the Last Legion," with some $60 million dollars, out of which $15 million will be invested in Morocco.  Chairwoman of the festival jury, Jeanne Moreau, said the event is unparalleled for it enables, through meetings and movies, the encounter of two worlds that have thus the opportunity to know each other.

Echoing her, Daniel Toscan Du Plantier also spoke of the special character of the Marrakesh festival which is held in a country of the south. It is the sole event of such a scale that fills the vacuum after the Cannes festival.  Underlining its geopolitical dimension, he said the Marrakesh festival is also an opening on world cinema in a continent where the cinema art, as an industry, no longer exists.  The presence of filmmakers of the stature of David Lynch, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorcese will surely impact on the festival radiance, he said.  The festival will pay tribute to David Lynch (Blue Velvet, Elephant Man, darkened Room) at a ceremony to be attended by French cinema icon Catherine Deneuve. Francis Ford Coppola, Moroccan actor Mohamed Hassan El Joundi and the Indian movie Laagan, in the person of Amir Khan, producer and actor of film will also be honored. The festival will feature outdoor screenings and colloquia on the themes "Power and responsibilities of cinema" and "national cinema, between creation and industry."

RABAT, Sep.02 - A delegation of the Mohammed V Solidarity Foundation visited Saturday the flood-affected region of Timahdit (Province of Ifrane in the Middle Atlas Mountains), at the instruction of king Mohammed VI. The delegation got informed on the damages caused by the Guigou River and supervised the distribution of aid to the flood-affected populations. The foundation earmarked more than 99,000 Dirhams (nearly US$ 9400) for the operation to benefit 77 persons, Morocco's first TV channel TVM said.  Guigou river waters went up by 2 meters washing over roads, buildings and infrastructure. It also inundated fields of corn, potatoes and orchards

Morocco's energy imports fell by 14.5% in 1H02 against their level a year ago. Total imports reached DH 9.34 billion, down from DH 10.92 billion in 1H01. The share of energy in total imports fell to 15.2% in 1H02 versus 17.3% in 1H01.

Moroccan Utility Company to Begin Final Talks Prior to Selecting Wind Farm Builder

The Moroccan power company ONE has not finalized its decision to select the company that will build the wind power station in Tangier. Two companies made it in the prequalified short-list. They are Oismine of Morocco and Union Fenosa of Spain. ONE will resume negotiations with both companies in September but will select one name at the end of the year. Oismine is a Moroccan industrial group established in 1972. Its core activities are in energy, industry, services, and infrastructure uilding. Union Fenosa, formerly known as Unión Eléctrica Fenosa is also involved in a wide range of sectors Europe, Africa and Latin America. One of these two companies will be hired to build the 140 MW wind-based power station in western Ksar Sghir near Tangiers.

The American National Democratic Institute has been organizing a series of workshops with Moroccan political parties. The workshops were held in preparation of the September 27 general elections in Morocco. The parties that took place to the workshops are the Istiqlal, PJD, PPS, RNI, and USFP.

RABAT, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Morocco said on Tuesday it had recovered two valuable wooden doors, one around 600 years old, which had been smuggled out of the country and put on sale by Sotheby's auction house in London. A Communication and Culture Ministry spokesman said the doors, dating back to the 14th and 19th centuries, had initially been put up for auction by Sotheby's in 1997.  The Moroccan embassy in London had asked for the auction to be suspended and launched a legal bid to recover them.  "Sotheby's gave a positive response to the Moroccan request by reaching an amicable accord with the holders of these items, and we have promised to compensate them the amount they have paid," the spokesman told Reuters. He declined to reveal the size of the compensation. He said two Moroccan dealers who had smuggled the doors out of the country will face trial for breaching a local law on the preservation of artifacts.  He was unable to give details on when the doors were smuggled and the identity of the suspects. Sotheby's was not immediately available for comment. 

((Souhail Karam, Rabatnewsroom, +212-37 720065 fax +212-37 722499, rabat.newsroom@reuters.com))

HONG KONG, Sept 3, 2002 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Morocco has granted visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders for a visit up to 30 days with effect from October 1, 2002, said the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Tuesday. "It marks a vote of confidence by the Kingdom of Morocco in our effective immigration control under the 'one country, two systems' arrangement," a government spokesman said.  The availability of visa-free access to the Kingdom of Morocco has brought to 117 the total number of countries and regions agreeing to grant visa-free access for HKSAR passport holders.  At present, nationals of the Kingdom of Morocco may visit Hong Kong visa-free for a stay up to one month.

ILO chooses Moroccan textile-garments sector for pilot program on decent work

Morocco, Economics, 9/4/2002 The International Labor Organization (ILO) has chosen the Moroccan sector of textile-garments to implement a pilot program on decent work, the Moroccan industrial federation (CGEM/employers' association) said. The program, to be implemented in cooperation between the government and social partners, is meant to help the sector take up the challenges tariff dismantling, competitiveness fostering, social dialogue promotion and competences promotion, in addition to new management and professional ties combining economic efficiency and social responsibility. Three main topics were set: "Bettering work conditions and extending social welfare," "promoting employment and vocational training," and "social development and poverty fighting." The sector of textile-garments was chosen given its importance in the country's economy, CGEM said, adding that it represents 39% of exports and employs 40% of the manufacture labor force.  The implementation of the program will contribute to restructuring the sector. It will also serve as a model for other economic activities, the association said.

TANGIER, Sep.05 - The Moroccan northern city of tangier is hosting this September 5 through 11 the third Jazz Festival, "Tanjazz", with the participation of several Moroccan and foreign artists. Tanjazz features shows in the streets and clubs of the northern city. Famed jazzmen such as Miles Davis, Nico Morelli, Randy Weston and David Lynx will be performing alongside Moroccan artists.

Tadaferua O. Ujorha Idrees Qadri simply loves bicycles, and this is immediately clear when you meet him. If bicycling is an art, he is certainly master of this swift sport, and his firm biceps and fit frame, also confirm this point. There doesn't seem to be any fat in him too.  A Moroccan, he began a world tour in 1994 to draw attention to the so-called handicapped persons in societies throughout the world. Somehow, he reminds one so forcefully of Phileas Fogg who is the central character in Vernes Around the World in 80 days.  Phileas Fogg embarked on a world tour that lasted 80 days, and his motives were different from those of Qadri, but both men unite in terms of the basic fact of traversing the globe to prove a point.  As he speaks he bends his body forward somewhat, and he is able to create the impression that he is on a bicycle and cycling by, with the greens, appearing all blue, and shapes losing forms, as he speeds along.  He retains this posture throughout the brief interview, and he is quite demonstrative.

In Qadri's words "I want to prove that handicapped people are able to do many things. I send a message to the government of every country I visit, which is that they should give more attention to the handicapped people in their society."  According to him, he loves travelling and it is a tendency he developed as far back as his childhood. He recalls hitch-hiking to Europe when he was younger. He states that he has "visited 80 countries, and has received 80 visas and crossed 80 borders." His is an exciting, dynamic and very rich life. He is able to perceive the differing. National values, habits and languages, and much else besides.

Therefore, he says that the rich countries of the world have a fair and more humane attitude towards handicapped persons. In his opinion the poorer countries have an upsetting attitude towards the handicapped, and he implies that his journey around the world would certainly change is circumstance.  Next, he salutes the African woman, but also complains about the way she is treated. In his words "African women work very hard, and they work for the man, and this is not good because our Creator does not like this. The man should be responsible for the woman."

Idrees Qadri speaks English, Arabic and French fluently, with bits of other languages which he naturally picked up on his tours. He works with the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism from where he has taken a 10-year paid leave for the tour.

He adds that while cycling he always follows the coastline only, and only rarely does he enter the heart of the various countries he has visited. He regards Ghana as one of the cleanest countries among those he has visited. He is not only trying to prove that a disabled person can perform many tasks, but he is trying to draw the attention of the world to the fact that this special group needs to be encouraged. Idrees Qadri has a weakness around his feet which was caused by an attack of polio in his childhood. He has written and published a book on his tours. His journey would terminate in 2004 after 10 years touring the world, and inhaling the vital sights and unforgettable scenes of countless countries.

Group to Send Worldwide Message of Peace, Tolerance Understanding and Hope HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Morocco's Olympic champion Nawal el Moutawakel-Bennis is featured in the first international public service announcement (PSA) promoting peace, tolerance, understanding and hope. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Nawal became the first Moroccan, the first African, the first Arab and the first Muslim woman to win the Olympic Gold Medal. Nawal is President of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. The 90-second spot was funded by the Entertainment Industry Foundation with volunteer time and talent from top leaders in the Hollywood creative community, including producer Kathleen Kennedy and RSA, one of the country's top commercial production firms headed by directors Ridley and Tony Scott.  

This PSA is a project of the Hollywood 9/11 International Messaging Group,  comprised of entertainment industry figures who came together following the events of September 11th. The group's objectives are to communicate to the world our shared values and the commonalities of our cultures. Kennedy, partner in The Kennedy/Marshall Company, served as executive producer for the spot, bringing RSA into the project, and oversaw it in close collaboration with that firm's managing director, Jules Daly. It was filmed on location in Morocco by RSA director Jack Price. Produced in English and Arabic, the PSA will be distributed internationally for television, cable and satellite broadcast outlets.  "We are trying to deliver a message of peace," Kennedy said. "We believe a better understanding of what's common between our cultures will help move us toward a tolerance of differences."  In a joint statement, Ridley and Tony Scott added, "In the aftermath of September 11th, the world's peoples need to turn to each other, not turn against each other. We want this message to foster respect and understanding."

Lisa Paulsen, President and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) said, "We are delighted to present the work of leaders from Hollywood's creative community who have donated their time and talent to produce this message of peace and understanding. Ninety seconds can only begin to counter a day of tragedy and decades of misunderstanding. But we want to do our part to help the American people and the Arab and Muslim worlds to begin to understand each other and our common humanity." The Messaging Group's work is funded by private companies, organizations and individuals through the EIF, the industry's philanthropic voice. Celebrating 60 years of giving, EIF represents the collective philanthropy of the entertainment industry. It has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars, and provided countless hours, to support charitable initiatives that address some of the most critical issues facing our society. For more information visit: http://www.eifoundation.org  Many participants are donating their time and helping to cover the cost of the PSA's international distribution. No U.S. government funds or agencies have been used for the project. The spot concludes with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."The Main Body of the Script for the PSA is Below:"The world has changed after September 11, it will never be like it used to be in the past. Animosity, fear and hate between nations, between people, need to be looked over again because life should not be the way it is now.  Sports can eradicate so many barriers, and so many taboos. It's capable of changing the face of the world," says Nawal in the spot. "Nelson Mandela said once, after all the years been spent imprisoned that he's learned even though he would probably not forget but he'd learned to forgive. I think we have to teach children about forgiveness, about what happened in the past and look upon a brighter future."

MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X52154348 

/CONTACT: Judi Ketcik of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, +1-818-760-7722, ext. 223; or Kathy Bonk, +1-202-326-6767, for the Entertainment Industry Foundation/ /Web site: http://www.eifoundation.org/  

CO: Entertainment Industry Foundation; EIF ST: Morocco, California IN: TVN ADV SPTSU: PDT

RABAT, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Morocco's foreign currency reserves stood at 98.9 billion dirhams ($9.3 billion) at the end of July, up 18.1 percent from the same period in 2001, the foreign trade regulatory body said on Friday.  The state-run Office des Changes said foreign currency holdings can cover 11 months of imports of goods and services against 10 months at the end of July 2001. The North African country's currency reserves stood at 83.8 billion dirhams in July 2001, it added.

((Rabat newsroom, +212-37 720065 fax +212-37 722499,rabat.newsroom@reuters.com )) ($1= 10.607 Moroccan Dirhams)

Political parties competing in the September 27 general elections in Morocco say they are concerned by the lack of ballot paper samples that would enable them to prepare their voters and educate them ahead of the event. Parties are looking at the home affairs ministry to provide insight on how the new ballot paper would look like prior to its final printing in mid-September, when the candidate lists are finalized In past elections, political parties did not have similar problems since they printed their own samples which carried distinguished features. But this time, with a new law requiring single list ballot forms, parties cannot distinguish themselves as they used to in the past.  The deadline to finalize the lists of candidates was set for September 6. By that date, all lists established by political parties must be submitted to the home affairs ministry. But as the lists are being established, candidates often refuse to begin campaigning because of fear of not making it on their respective lists.

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