Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
September 4 2004

Health situation of Moroccan mothers, children better in 2001-2003, Survey
People over 60 to represent 20% of Moroccan population in 2040
Population census to reveal 'reality' of Morocco's development, official
AmCham in Morocco launches Corporate Citizenship Award 2004
American Academics and Student to Study in Morocco in 2004-05 Academic year
Morocco in NY cultures festival
OPEC Fund Lends Morocco US$ 10 million to build a school
HM King inaugurates hostel for impoverished girls in Ain Louh
Morocco projects Atlas dino museum
Atlantic Andalusias Second Festival In Essaouira on September 30 through October 2nd
Fighting locusts cost Morocco USD 36 Mln
Marrakesh and Chinese region of Xi'an agree to foster trade cooperation
Encouraging results in tourism should not overshadow problems in the sector, HM King
Outsourcing phone centers expand in Morocco
Morocco's power production meets country's needs, official 
Tourists to Morocco increased by 19 pc up to July
HM King Mohammed VI dedicates library and diplomacy academy at Al Akhawayn University

Health situation of Moroccan mothers, children better in 2001-2003, Survey
RABAT, Sep.02

The health of Moroccan mothers and children was better during the period 2001-2003, according to the preliminary report of a survey on population and family health, presented here Wednesday by health minister, Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah. The progress is due to a lower fecundity indicator, which is now of 2.5 children per woman, against 5.9 children in the early 80's, i.e. a 58% decrease.

The use of contraception also experienced an important rise from 19% in 1979 to 41% in 1992 and 63% in 2003-2004, the study goes. The document added that the follow up of pregnant women showed a better health for 69% of them, either in urban or rural areas (respectively 85 and 48%). As for children vaccination, the action improved to cover 94% in cities and 84% in rural areas.

Children mortality amounted to 40 deaths for a thousand births, whereas the risk of youth mortality reached 7 per thousand, which sets the risk of child-youth mortality (before 5 years of age) to 47 per thousand. Concerning attitudes and behavior of women vis-a-vis sexually transmitted infections and AIDS, the study notes that more than 9 women out of 10 (91%) said they knew or spoke about HIV-AIDS, while 62% of these women cited at least a means of prevention.

Maternal death rate was estimated, over the period 1995-2003, to 227 cases for 100,000 births, with 187 deaths in cities against 267 per 100,000 births in rural areas, underlines the same source. The collected data came from 12,000 households, with focus on 15-49 year-old women and U-5 children. The final report of the survey will be published by end of December 2004..
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/h_deplocusts.htm 
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People over 60 to represent 20% of Moroccan population in 2040
RABAT, Sep.03

The rate of people over the age of 60, which remained around 7% during the forty past years, will be of around 20% of the Moroccan population in 2040, said the high planning commissioner, Ahmed Lahlimi. In an interview published by the weekly "La Vie Eco", Lahlimi said the Moroccan population is growing older. He added that the proportion of under-15 years would be of only 23.6% in 2020, against 44.4% in 1960, noting that Morocco's population would be of around 37 millions in 2020 and 43 millions in 2040.

The Moroccan official highlighted problems related to retirement financing that will arise from the increase of the over-60 category and effects on social security as a whole. Lahlimi underlined the need for ensuring the sustainability of retirement systems in force, to conceive a more global system of social security, including the compulsory health insurance (AMO).

The High planning commissioner specified that active population (between 15 and 59), which is "in clear evolution", should make around 65% of the total population between 2010 and 2020, against approximately 48,4% in 1960. This, he said, raises employment problems "in a country where unemployment rate is estimated at 19% in cities. In order to face this situation, he noted, GDP growth must absolutely reach a rate likely to ensure constant improvement of living standards.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Population census to reveal 'reality' of Morocco's development, official
Rabat, Sep 1

The general census of population and housing that started Wednesday all over Morocco, will provide the opportunity to have a "radioscopy of the reality of Morocco's development", and to plan for the future, according to the High Commissioner for planning. Ahmed Lahlimi on Tuesday evening told the national TV "TVM", that Morocco has "changed a lot" since the last census in September 1994.

The census to last until September 20, will cost US$ 60 million, 70% of this amount will serve to pay salaries of the personnel that will carry out the operation. More than 50,000 people are deployed to conduct the census that will concern all Moroccans living in Morocco as well as foreign nationals residing for more than six months in the Kingdom. People will be asked 31 questions to which they will answer in 20 to 30 minutes.

The general census was announced few months ago by HM King Mohammed VI in a letter sent to Prime Minister Driss Jettou, in which he urged for the mobilization of the government and the citizens to guarantee the success of the operation.

"We are convinced that the success of the general census operation will mainly depend on the mobilisation of the administration and the adherence and the participation of the citizens", said the king in his letter. The last general census showed that the population of Morocco reached
26,073,593 inhabitants, including 13,414,560 people living in urban areas and 12,659,033 in rural areas.

In his letter, the Monarch insisted on the importance of this census which he said, will help orientate the reforms and the policies in the different development fields, whether concerning education, health, employment, housing, urbanism or rural development policies."
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/mad_1throne.htm 
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AmCham in Morocco launches Corporate Citizenship Award 2004
CASABLANCA, Sep. 02

The American trade chamber in Morocco has launched the AmCham Corporate Citizenship Award 2004 that "recognizes American and Moroccan firms for exemplary business practices, innovation and good corporate citizenship in their operations in Morocco." The prize rewards "public and private sector companies for their commitment to the values of good corporate citizenship, including good governance and democratic principles, human rights, raising living standards, worker rights, environmental protection and ethical business practices," Amcham said in a release. The award will be presented at the AmCham Gala Ball next December.

Winners last year included Office National des Pêches in the public sector category, Jorf Lasfar Energy Company in the large enterprises category, and Setexam in the small and medium-sized business category. The AmCham Corporate Citizenship Award was created to honor companies that distinguish themselves by actions within their community.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_deppar09.htm 
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American Academics and Student to Study in Morocco in 2004-05 Academic year
Rabat, Sep 03

Eighteen American researchers and students will be either conducting research or pursuing studies in Morocco during the 2004-2005 academic year as part education and cultural programmes between Morocco and the United States. The Moroccan-American commission for education and culture exchanges (MACECE)held an orientation meeting on September 2nd and 3rd to help the three professors and 15 students chose their field of studies.

The American teachers and students will live in Morocco experiences that go beyond their research fields, said American ambassador to Morocco, Thomas Riley during the meeting. Riley also underscored the longstanding friendship relations existing between Morocco and The United States, adding the signing of the free trade agreement reached this year by the two countries will enhance these relations.

MACECE president, Wail Benjelloun said Morocco has maintained good relations with countries all over the world, highlighting the diversity of Moroccan culture and its artistic and literary expressions. The meeting has also been an opportunity to discuss with Moroccan professors issues on the Moroccan economy, education, language, literature, the new family code and Islam. MACECE was set up in 1982 as a bilateral non profit body to promote programmes on education and cultural exchanges between Morocco and the United States.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/cult_ap1177.htm 
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Morocco in NY cultures festival
WASHINGTON, Aug.31

Morocco will be part of New York's 19th International cultures festival, to open September 12th. The many different cultural organizations from New York City will be gathering to organize a parade with the participation of over 100 ethnic groups from the metropolitan area, leaving aside their political or religious beliefs. The parade will represent the spirit of healing from discrimination and anti-immigrant feelings. More than 100 cultures are expected to be represented in the only parade of nations to celebrate each other's heritage. Thousands of musicians with their authentic instruments, and dancers and singers in national costumes, including Moroccan Gnawa, will be participating in the event.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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OPEC Fund Lends Morocco US$ 10 million to build a school
Rabat, Sep 02

The OPEC Fund for International Development Thursday lent Morocco US$ 10 million to build a college in the town of Taroudant (about 600 km south of Rabat), said a communiqué of the Moroccan embassy in Austria. The loan agreement, signed by Moroccan ambassader to Austria, Omar Zniber and chairman of the Fund governing board, Jamal Nasser Lootah, will help build the college's facilities, such as amphitheaters, workshop rooms, laboratories and a library.

The school will enroll at a first stage some 3,500 students to increase at a later phase to around 5,000 students, said the communiqué. Zniber highlighted the OPEC fund assistance to the economic and social development of Morocco and of third world countries, at large, voicing Morocco's gratitude for the Fund's emergency aid it extended to the victims of the earthquake that rocked Al Hoceima region (Northern Morocco) last February 24.

Morocco received a total of 11 loans from the OPEC Fund for public projects, including for drinking water projects and the construction of a dam. OPEC Fund for International Development is a multilateral development finance institution, established in January 1976 by the member countries of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). It aims to promote cooperation between OPEC member countries and other developing countries as an expression of South-South solidarity and to help particularly low-income countries in pursuit of their social and economic advancement.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/politics/pol_0005.htm 
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HM King inaugurates hostel for impoverished girls in Ain Louh
AIN LOUH (east of Rabat), Sep. 01

HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco inaugurated Wednesday in Ain Louh (42Km west of Ifran) a hostel that would benefit to young impoverished girls who are pursuing their high school education in the region. The hostel, to cost 1,800,000 Dhs (USD 200,000), is aimed at fighting school dropout, reinforcing housing capacities and providing ripe conditions for needy girl students to allow them pursue their education in an appropriate environment. This move is part of the sustainable process to meet the needs of populations in poor regions and support schooling, notably girls' education. http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_depma21.htm 
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Morocco projects Atlas dino museum
PARIS, Sep. 01

Morocco will present a dinosaur museum project dubbed Dinoatlas to the European commission for financial support, the French daily Le Figaro said Wednesday. In a story titled "Najat Akesbi, Morocco's Madame Dinosaur", Le Figaro said the project, planned in Tazoda, 60 km from Ouarzazate, southeast, will create jobs, enable the training of Moroccan scientists and attract more tourists to this region rich in dinosaur fossils. Najat Akesbi, 43, will officially head the scientific section of the museum, the paper goes, giving an abstract of her paleontological studies and experience.

A herbivorous sauropod from the middle Jurassic age has been presented to the public by an international team of scientists in Morocco last year. The almost 30-foot-long, quadriped was discovered in Tazoda, by a team of scientists from Morocco, France, Switzerland and the United States. Officially named "Tazoudasaurus Naimi", the discovered creature is key to understanding the evolutionary process of large vertebrates, had said Philippe Taquet, head of the natural history museum in Paris. The bones found in Tazouda include a jawbone with 17 teeth, said to be one of the oldest dinosaur remains ever found - aged about 180 million years. A sauropod is a plant eater with a long neck and tail but a disproportionately small head.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/general/gen-poverty.htm 
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Atlantic Andalusias Second Festival In Essaouira on September 30 through October 2nd
Rabat, Sep. 01

The second festival of « Atlantic Andalusias » will feature as of September 30 in the city of Essaouira, 442 km South of Rabat, several music shows, conferences, art workshops, exhibits to be performed and moderated by Moroccan and international artists and personnalities. The festival is sponsored by the Essaouira-Mogador Association and the "Fondation Alizés" in cooperation with the Andalusian governement and under the aegis of King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

The event, held under the theme : cultural mixing and sharing, will start by the organisation of horse races and wrap up by a show of fireworks, with many music concerts in between to be performed by bands such as Chabab Al Andalous, Anouar Al Mohammedia, The Radio-Tarifa band as well as individual singers in the like of Touria Hadraoui, Karoutchi and Javier Ruibal. Other bands came from Cuba, namely Guason, guitar players Tomatito and Pedro Solar will sing flamenco songs, while Majid Bekkas and Ines Bacan will sing a flamenco-gnawa fusion.

A conference and an exhibit, sponsored bu the Andalu Heritage Foundation will trace back the Almoravid and Almohad cultural heritage. Philosopher Edmond Amran Almaleh will moderate a colloquy on Haim Zafrani, famous for his writings on Hispanic-Maure and Moroccan judaism issues.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/eco_3.htm 
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Fighting locusts cost Morocco USD 36 Mln
DAKAR, Sep. 01

The campaign to fight locusts cost Morocco US $36 million up to July, including US $4.25 million of international aid, revealed Morocco's Secretary of State in Charge of Rural Development, on the fringes of North and West African Agriculture Ministers' meeting on locusts that wrapped up Tuesday in Dakar. Mohamed Mohattane told MAP pesticides purchase and aircraft mobilization cost US $23 million, that is 64 percent of the total amount.

Mohattane, representing Morocco in this meeting of the Commission on fighting locusts in the Western Region (CLCCPRO), said from 32 to 42 planes have been mobilized at a daily basis since the start of the anti-locust campaign in November 2003. Up to August, 2 million hectares have been treated in Morocco, he noted. On Morocco's solidarity with other African countries also affected by this plight, the Moroccan official said land intervention teams were made at the disposal of Mauritania as well as pesticides and 3 aircrafts. Morocco, he said, also donated 5000 litres of pesticides to Mali and Niger.

One country cannot fight this phenomenon alone, he pointed out, calling for a "more active" international and regional collaboration to fight locust swarms. On Tuesday, North and West African countries agreed on adopting an "offensive" strategy against the "alarming" progression of locusts in the region. They also decided to convene in the Senegalese capital an international scientific conference on locusts invasion.

CLCCPRO member countries (Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Chad, Niger and Mali) also reiterated their call to the international community to provide countries affected with locusts with the necessary equipment, warning of the "gravity" of the situation in North and West African countries. According to experts, 2 million hectares are currently affected by locusts in the region.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) deemed the global cost needed to fight locusts at US $100 million, while donations allocated for this purpose are estimated at US $32 million. © MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_dep22.htm 
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Marrakesh and Chinese region of Xi'an agree to foster trade cooperation
RABAT, Aug.31

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Marrakesh (central Morocco) and the Trade Office of the Chinese region of Xi'an agreed to promote economic and technical cooperation and trade exchanges. Under an agreement signed this Monday, the two bodies undertake to upgrade the exchange of information between business circles and foster cooperation between the two regions in medicine, foodstuffs, transmission, electricity supply, tourism and ecology. Likewise, they will trade experiences in science, technology, culture, education and the preservation of historical monuments. The agreement further stipulates cooperation in the training of managers, academics and staff of the two organizations.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/eco_003.htm 
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Encouraging results in tourism should not overshadow problems in the sector, HM King
IFRANE, (east of Rabat) Sep. 02

HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco stressed Thursday that the encouraging results in tourism should not overshadow the problems faced in the sector. The number of tourists to Morocco has increased by 19 percent during the first 7 months of 2004 and tourist guest nights rose by 17 percent compared to the same period last year.

HM the king, speaking at a working session held in Ifrane on the tourism sector, noted, however, that there can't be a quality tourism without quality services. HM the king also issued instructions to review hotels ranking system. The new ranking, to be operational in 2005, will guarantee compatibility between services offered by hotels and their standing in order to raise national infrastructures to international standards. HM the king highlighted the need for tourist operators to join efforts to reach a good quality product that is in line with the world best standards.

Besides, HM King Mohammed VI gave instructions to assign the project of Taghazout (20Km of the southern Atlantic city of Agadir) resort to a developer through an international contest in order to select the best international and national professionals in the sector. Besides, he highlighted the importance to diversify traditional destinations in the country which would be translated by a new 75,000-bed accommodation capacity.

Moroccan Tourism, Craftsmanship and Social Economy Minister, Adil Douiri, said following the working session with HM the king, Morocco is expected to welcome 5 million tourists in 2004. Some 3.16 million tourists have visited the north African country during the first 7 months of 2004, according to the Tourism Ministry. Tourism receipts were estimated at 17.53 billion Dhs (US $1.94 billion) up to the end of July, that is a rise of 4.5 percent compared to the same period last year. © MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/mad_2throne.htm 
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Outsourcing phone centers expand in Morocco
Morocco-Regional, Economics, 8/31/2004

Morocco, that handles half of outsourced calls of French telecommunication companies, ahead of Tunisia and Senegal, has become the new Eldorado of phone services, said the French weekly "Le Journal du Dimanche." The weekly said the Kingdom, starting from scratch four years ago, has set up 56 outsourcing call centers employing some 6,000 agents, two third of whom work for French companies.

Morocco, according to the newspaper, offers a skilled, French-speaking, young personnel, tax exemption for a five year period as well as installation assistance and administrative facilities. Mohamed El Wahdoudi, Manager of the first Moroccan call centers exhibit, due in Casablanca as of September 30th, told the weekly Morocco will build a dozen of new centers by the end of the year that will create some 10,000 new jobs in three years http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040831/2004083125.html 
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Morocco's power production meets country's needs, official 
RABAT, Sep.03

Morocco's power production "meets the country's needs", said head of the national Electricity Utility ONE, Ahmed Nakouch, adding there will be important production rises as of 2005. In an interview published Friday by the daily "Aujourd'hui le Maroc", Nakouch said national production will increase significantly with the launch of the Tahadart (near Tangiers, north) and Afourar (south of Rabat) stations, as of March and May 2005 respectively.

Concerning the price of power in the kingdom, Nakouch said "following the important cut granted to economic operators (40% since 1998), the prices are not more than 5% higher than in North Mediterranean countries. Nakouch went on that the rural electrification scheme was speeded up many times since it was launched in 1996, noting that ONE's action plan "gives priority to financial mobilization and the set up of logistics to launch bids." http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_dep092.htm 
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Tourists to Morocco increased by 19 pc up to July
RABAT, Sep. 02

Some 3.16 million tourists visited Morocco during the first 7 months of 2004, that is a 19 percent increase compared to the same period last year, noted the Tourism ministry. France comes atop in the number of tourists with over 683,288 tourists, ahead of Spain, the UK and Germany. In July alone, 1.24 million tourists visited Morocco against 1 million in July 2003, that is an increase of 17 percent. Meanwhile, tourists from Scandinavia and Switzerland decreased respectively by 13 pc and 7 pc. As for tourist guest nights, they were estimated at 7.37 million up to July
2004 compared to 6.32 million the previous year, that is a rise of 17 percent.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_torture.htm 
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HM King Mohammed VI dedicates library and diplomacy academy at Al Akhawayn University
IFRANE, Aug.30

HM King Mohammed VI dedicated this Monday at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI), middle Atlas resort 60 km from Fez, the «Mohammed VI library» and launched the Moroccan Royal Diplomacy Academy. The university president, Rachid Belmokhtar, stressed that the university has launched in 2000 a master's program in international and diplomatic studies with the collaboration of the ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation, drawing inspiration from the royal speech of April 2000 on challenges of the Moroccan diplomacy.

Given the success of the program that was followed by 24 participants, the ministry decided to set up the Moroccan Royal Diplomacy Academy, hosted by the University. The academy will offer basic training to new recruits of the ministry, continuous training to diplomats and hold training session for foreign participants seeking to improve their knowlege of Morocco.

The sovereign also unveiled the commemorative plate of the university library that was named after King Mohammed VI. The rapidly expanding library contains 65,000 volumes and possesses a modern wired infrastructure, Intranet and Internet, in addition to over 400 national and international academic journals, magazines and newspapers. The library also provides a campus wide access to a wide variety of electronic resources (full-text electronic books, electronic journals, etc.)

Al Akhawayn university, Morocco's only public English-speaking university based on the North American education system, was set up in 1995. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the fields of computer engineering, business and social sciences and humanities. The University has a wide array of partnerships with international institutions and currently has exchange and research programs with almost 40 universities in various countries, mostly in the United States. These programs allow students from various universities to come to Al Akhawayn and our students to go abroad for one or two semesters for courses in their majors as well as elective courses destined to broaden their experience.
Joint research programs have also been started. The Al Akhawayn University was certified by the British Education Quality Agency and is in the process of being certified by the US "Middle States Commission on Higher Education". The university president also said that 505 foreign students have attended courses at AUI while 279 AUI students were sent abroad to continue their higher studies as part of exchange programs.

The sovereign was presented with the 2003-2004 moral and financial reports of the university's activities and a document on the creation of the Moroccan Royal Diplomacy Academy as well as a set of the university's publications.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_july29Spain.htm 

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