Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
September 25 2004

Morocco carries on awareness campaign on AIDS
CASABLANCA, Sep. 18

The Direction of Epidemiology of the Moroccan health Ministry said, here Friday, the awareness campaign on AIDS is still ongoing. The Direction said the first phase of the campaign, launched on June 2, targeted mainly young people aged from 15 to 29 and was dedicated to sensitising people about the existence of AIDS in Morocco.

The second phase, to last three months, aims at improving people's knowledge about ways of transmission and evoking means to prevent from AIDS. The third phase of the campaign will start on mid-November and will deal with providing care.

The ultimate phase of the campaign will focus on fighting discrimination to reduce the social and psychological impact of the disease on people affected by HIV/AIDS.

Since the first AIDS case was reported in Morocco in 1986, a total of 1,389 cases were confirmed until May 31, the Health Ministry had revealed, noting that free care is provided to people affected by the disease. The prevailing way of AIDS transmission, according to the ministry, is through heterosexual intercourse with a rate of 74 percent, homosexual relations (6 percent), bisexual relations (4 percent) drugs (3 percent) and mother-to-child transmission. Meanwhile, causes of infection in 7 percent of cases are unknown. According to the same source, the national AIDS control program, which is using techniques defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), estimated that between 13,000 and 16,000 the number of persons carrying the AIDS virus until the end of 2003.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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15,000 to 20,000 Moroccans suffer from Alzheimer's (expert)
CASABLANCA, Sep.23

Head of the neurology and neuropsychology department at Rabat's 'Hopital des Specialites', Professor El Alaoui Faris, said at a press conference Thursday that 15,000 to 20,000 Moroccans suffer from Alzheimer's disease.

According to Alaoui, Alzheimer's disease is the first cause of dementia in Moroccan patients, adding that, given the aging of the Moroccan population (5% will be 65 and over in 2020), one should expect a rise in the prevalence of the mental ailment.

The expert called for the elaboration of a specific program for Alzheimer's patients, announcing the creation shortly of an association called "Maroc Alzheimer" by patients' families, with the help of health professionals.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, irreversible brain disorder with no known cause or cure. It attacks and slowly steals the minds of its victims.
Symptoms of the disease include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, personality changes, disorientation, and loss of language skills.

Always fatal, Alzheimer's is the most common form of irreversible dementia.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Morocco-US FTA caravan launched in Tangier
Tangier, Sep. 20

Tangier a six-day, eight-city "FTA Caravan," an outreach campaign designed to inform the Moroccan public on the details of the new U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement singed last June. The caravan plans to hold various events in cities throughout the country in order to reach Moroccans in a broad range of urban and rural communities, the US embassy in Rabat said in a release.

The campaign, to end in Agadir, South-West, on September 24, includes round tables with local businesspersons in several towns, offering local entrepreneurs the chance to discuss their questions and concerns about the FTA with American and Moroccan experts.

Other planned activities include visits to American companies already successfully operating in Morocco and visits to Moroccan enterprises successfully exporting to the United States.

Members of the "FTA Caravan" will include Embassy and Consulate officials, American and Moroccan trade experts, academics, technical assistance providers, members of the private sector, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as members of the Moroccan FTA negotiating team, said the release.

The US ambassador said on this occasion the FTA will have a positive impact on the two countries, adding that it will facilitate trade exchanges, encourage exports and stimulate economic growth for the creation of new jobs.

The diplomat called on Moroccan economic operators to cooperate actively for the success of the accord.

The U.S.-Morocco FTA will as soon as enforced, eliminate tariffs on more than 95 percent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products. All remaining tariffs on these goods are to be eliminated within nine years. The agreement also significantly reduces barriers to agricultural products and services.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/h_deplocusts.htm 
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Morocco ponders launching an FTA Caravan in U.S.
Rabat, Sep 24 - Morocco is pondering the possibility to launch in the USA a campaign to explain to American business milieux Moroccan investment and economic opportunities part of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed last june by Morocco and the United states, said Moroccan communication Minister.

Nabil Benabdallah, also government spokesman, said, at a press briefing on Thursday following a cabinet meeting, an action similar to the "FTA Caravan", started by the American Embassy in Morocco to explain the FTA to Moroccan entreprises, can be undertaken in the United states.

A six-day, eight-city "FTA Caravan," was kicked off early this week in the Northern Town of tangier by the American Embassy to inform the Moroccan public on the details of the new U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement.
The caravan is holding various events in cities throughout Morocco in order to reach Moroccans in a broad range of urban and rural communities.

The campaign, to end Friday in Agadir, South-West, includes round tables with local businesspersons in several towns, offering local entrepreneurs the chance to get answers to their questions and concerns about the FTA with American and Moroccan experts.

Benabdallah said the Caravan is "an ordinary communication campaign undertaken by a directly concerned State", adding this action should not be interpreted in any other way than an explanation effort of the provisions of the agreement.

The U.S.-Morocco FTA will, as soon as enforced, eliminate tariffs on more than 95 percent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products. All remaining tariffs on these goods are to be eliminated within nine years. The agreement also significantly reduces barriers to agricultural products and services.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/soc-Chad.htm 
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Morocco-US FTA, a recognition of Morocco's commitment for reforms, ambassador
EL JADIDA, Sep.23

The Free Trade Agreement signed between Morocco and the United States is a recognition of Morocco's unique geographic location, its commitment for reforms and its status of longstanding friend and ally in the region, said U.S. ambassador to Rabat, Thomas T. Riley.

The Free Trade Agreement is a homage to the commitment of HM King Mohammed VI's, of the Moroccan government and Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, and of the Moroccan people for reform and liberalization, he said at a function held Wednesday in the Mediterranean city of El Jadida, on the sidelines of the FTA caravan, aimed at informing economic operators and local officials in several Moroccan cities on the accord and its benefits in several.

The diplomat stressed the beneficial repercussions of the deal on Moroccan economy, specifying that it will benefit all the Moroccans by facilitating exports, encouraging investments, improving businesses environment, stimulating economic growth and creating new jobs.

With the FTA, Morocco is from now on the ideal platform for foreign investors who will be able to export towards the United States, Europe, the Maghreb and West Africa, he added, recalling that Moroccan-U.S. negotiators took into account the sensitivity and vulnerability of certain products.

Members of the caravan seized the opportunity to tie contacts with local economic operators and to inform them on the opportunities offered by the Agreement. They will also be visiting the Pfizer drugs Thursday.

After Tangier, Meknes, Beni Mellal, Settat and El Jadida, the caravan will stop in Safi and Essaouira to wind up next Friday in Southern Agadir.

The FTA, finalized in March and signed in June, was ratified by the American congress and is awaiting approval by the Moroccan Parliament. It was first announced in April 2002 during a state visit to the USA by HM King Mohammed VI.

The FTA will immediately eliminate tariffs on more than 95 percent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products. All remaining tariffs on these goods are to be eliminated within nine years - the best market access package of any U.S. free trade agreement with a developing country signed to date. The agreement also significantly reduces barriers to agricultural products and services.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_dep319.htm 
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Overall investments under consideration in Morocco stand at US$ 1.3 billion, minister
Rabat, Sep. 17

The overall investments of the big projects currently under consideration stand at 13 billion Dhs, around US$ 1.3 billion, "which is the most important set of projects to be implemented in Morocco", said Rachid Talbi Alami, minister in charge of economic and general affairs to the prime minister.

Alami told "La Nouvelle Tribune" weekly the latest meeting held on September 7th by the investment ministerial commission did not discuss the recevability of projects, but mainly considered "the requests of investing enterprises".

The investment project discussed are those relating to textile, cement production and petro-chemistry, said the minister adding the commission is working out « a legal arsenal » to give enterprises the opportunity to invest in Morocco.

He said the state convention on investment stipulate that big projects are to invest a minimum of 200 million Dhs (about US$ 200,000, while this category of project will benefit by a number of advantages to be provided by the customs administration and the investment promotion fund.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_depma17.htm 
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US-Morocco FTA new step to liberalize Moroccan agriculture, Official
Rabat, Sep. 21

Moroccan Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries Minister, Mohand Laenser, said Monday the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed last June between Morocco and the U.S. is a new step towards the liberalization of the Moroccan agriculture.

Speaking before the House of Representatives' Productive Sectors'
commission, Laensar said Morocco has launched the agriculture liberalization process in the eighties and have signed, to this aim, accords with different parties, part of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and concluded several free trade accords.

According to Laensar, the FTA with the U.S. was an "exception" concerning Morocco's sensitive products, if compared to similar accords concluded between the United States and other partners.

He said negotiations with the U.S. on agriculture were "difficult," noting that several points remained "in abeyance" even after the end of negotiations and on the eve of the signing of the accord.

Laensar said the difficulty of negotiations was due to the fragile situation of the Moroccan agriculture, the divergence concerning the proposed approaches in addition to the fact that Morocco-US exchanges represent only
0.04 percent of the overall US agricultural trade.

Morocco and the United States signed the FTA on June 15 after 7 rounds of negotiations that lasted 13 months.

A caravan was launched Sunday in the northern Moroccan city of Tangier to inform the public about the FTA which, as soon as enforced, will eliminate tariffs on more than 95 percent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products.

US ambassador to Morocco, Thomas Riley, told MAP Monday, on the fringes of the FTA Caravan, the agreement will allow Moroccan and American economies to complete each other.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_torture.htm 
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NYC Mayor hails King Mohammed VI's remarkable work at head of Morocco
NEW YORK, Sep.22

Mayor of New York city, Michael Bloomberg, hailed the remarkable work done by HM King Mohammed VI at the head of the kingdom of Morocco, a country that has always been a friend of the United States', and that was the first to recognize its independence.

Bloomberg, who was received by HM king Mohammed VI in his New York residence, told the press following the audience he was happy to meet the sovereign, whom he described as one of the world's new generation leaders.

The mayor, said his talks with the monarch covered peace in the world as well as New York and Morocco's cultural diversity, emphasizing the changes that took place in Morocco, which he described as a country of tolerance, religious coexistence and cultural diversity.

HM King Mohammed VI is taking part in the 59th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The monarch delivered Tuesday before the assembly a speech dealing with several international issues, the reform of the United Nations and Morocco's territorial integrity.

He also took part in a supper offered by U.S. president, George W. Bush and held talks with UN secretary general Kofi Annan, and Portuguese premier, Pedro Santana Lopes.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_depGabon.htm 
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Moroccan Central Bank law reform to enhance bank's autonomy
Morocco, Economics, 9/22/2004

The draft status of the Moroccan central Bank "Bank Al Maghrib" is to enhance the bank's autonomy and set an adequate structure for the management of a credible monetary policy, said Moroccan finance minister, Fathallah Oualalou.

The minister told, on Monday, the Finance and Economic Development Commission of the House of Representatives the reform of the law on the creation of Bank Al Maghrib is needed because of the deep changes during the nineties in the finance sector that was marked by the liberalisation of the banking system and implementation of transparency rules recommended by international organisations.

The bank's status will clarify the mission of Bank Al Maghrib regarding exchange policy and will cut down its subsidies to the treasury department, said Oualalou.

Bank Al Maghrib will determine its objectives and the tools of a monetary policy, including price stability, he went on to say.

The exchange policy will be set pursuant to the directions and objectives of the exchange system established by the minister, Oualalou said adding Bank Al-Maghrib's normal subsidies to the treasury department will be eliminated.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040922/2004092226.html 
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Desalination as a Solution for Water Shortages in the South of Morocco
September 2004

With the climatic conditions in Morocco, approximately 80% of rainfall water (150 billion m3 as an average of 60 years) evaporates. The useful rain (30 billion m3) is found as surface water (22.5 billion m3) and as underground water (7.5 billion m3).
Moroccan hydrology is characterized by two specific features:
-Temporal disparity (unequal distribution of rainfall in time): In five months, the north of Morocco gets 90% of rainfall, whereas the south gets a lot less.
-Geographical disparity (unequal rainfall in space): While some northern regions get up to 2,000 mm of rainfall a year, some southern regions do not get more than 40 mm a year, fifty times less!

A good remedy for the first disparity has been found to be the supply in dams, and less equally important the artificial supply of underground water. Indeed for Morocco's water needs, only 70% of the useful rain can be mobilised (21 billion m3), and approximately 70% of this is, by the accelerated construction of dams and drilling since 1967, already mobilised.
A good remedy for the second disparity is through the transfer of water from the north to the south and from the west to the east.
The hydraulic infrastructure already achieved up to now includes about a hundred dams and thirteen hydraulic transfer systems of water.

The total capacity of the dams has gone from 2.3 billion m3 in 1967 to around 15 billion m3 nowadays.
In the last decades, increased pressure on water resources caused by urbanisation, industrialisation, growing needs of agriculture and population growth (even if the latter is in decrease) has put a severe strain on water resources. Indeed, the volume of water that can be mobilised per capita under normal climatic conditions has, in recent years, already reached its maximum. Moreover, it is expected that the impact of climate change with a proven increase in the average temperature and a reduction in rainfall in North Africa will worsen the situation. Morocco has for years recorded a significant decrease in the tri-decennial average water flow

Without additional water sources, the water deficit will keep growing, even if more dams are built in the future, since they alone will not mobilise more water per capita. Morocco must extend its efforts to find a new formula of water supply for the future: sea water desalination. Morocco has access to sea-water along a coastline of more than 3,500 km.
For several decades, desalination has been a solution to water shortages in many countries.
The National Office for Potable Water (ONEP) started its desalination experience in 1975 in Tarfaya city through the setting up of an Electrodialyse plant for brackish water. In 1977 a Mechanical Vapour Compression plant for sea water desalination was set up in Boujdour city.

After the first Reverse Osmosis sea water plant installed in 1983 in Tarfaya in substitution of the Electrodialyse one, the tendency to build new Reverse Osmosis plants continued as it is shown in Tables 1. Table 2 gives the Moroccan perspectives in the desalination field. © Middle East Desalination Research Centre 2004 Article originally published by Middle East Desalination Research Centre 23-Sep-04 http://www.medrc.org.om/ 
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Morocco made important strides in water management, IWA Chairman
Marrakech, Sep 22

Morocco has made important strides in water management compared to several African countries, said outgoing chairman of the International Water Association (IWA), Michael Rouse.

Rouse told the Moroccan news agency MAP, on the fringes of the 4th World Water Congress held in the Southern city of Marrakech, Morocco faces some problems with ground water and with increasing water shortage, but this is not a major concern owing to the country's water institutions.

It is time for Morocco to pay more interest to water sanitation, he noted.

Newly appointed IWA chairman, Lazlo Somlyody praised the creation in Morocco of agencies for water draining basins. He said, however, more efforts should be made in water issues, arguing that Morocco is an arid country which is liable to suffer climatic hazardness.

Somlyody said Morocco should take advantage of water expertise of Eastern Europe countries which had similar problems in the thirties, and called on all actors in Moroccan water management to work out a better policy in this realm.

The six day 4th World Water Congress, opened September 20 in Marrakech, has been attended by nearly 3000 experts.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Chinese 'invasion' makes Morocco traders nervous: Worried Casablanca shopkeepers claim Chinese wholesalers are undercutting the locals and destroying the economy.
CASABLANCA

Chinese wholesalers have set up shop in this Moroccan port city, causing a wave of concern among the local traders fearful of being undercut. 'Watch out, the Chinese are landing!' headlined the Aujourd'hui Le Maroc newspaper last week, saying 'an army of Chinese businessmen' - estimated at 1,200 - had invaded the kingdom's main towns and villages. It called on the authorities to 'seriously analyse the phenomenon'.

The Association for Importers of Gamers says it wants to 'sound the alarm bell', describing the Chinese traders as engaging in 'unfair and anti-competitive practices'. Evidence of the Chinese arrivals can be seen in a sign over a shopfront written in Arabic, French and Chinese. It reads: Chinese wholesale centre. Ms Lin Xue Yun, a 32-year-old woman managing a shop selling mirrors, sandals, shoes, chessboards and various electronic toys, says: 'I don't speak English and French very well, and Arabic is difficult.' Language is the main obstacle for her and her compatriots who arrive unable to converse in two of Morocco's main languages, Arabic and French.

To get around the problem, Moroccan nationals are employed in an intermediary role in their shops. 'I've only been here for four months,' Ms Lin says. 'I have an 11-year-old son I left in Fujian,' the south-eastern Chinese province from where most of the wholesalers originate. 'Business in Casa is good,' says another recent arrival, Mr Yen Tieh, 39, speaking in halting English. He has been here just six months.

Ms Ghita, a 21-year-old Moroccan employed in a Chinese shop in Derb Omar, the bustling trading area of Casablanca, is happy working there. 'We sell sandals, photo and picture frames, and small gifts,' she says, adding that her wages are 'very satisfying'.
But Ms Nadia, writing out a bill on the counter of her neighbouring shop, rails against the Chinese influx, claiming the new traders have 'destroyed the economy and job market'. 'The product for which I pay 25 dirhams (S$4.70) in duty, they sell at 10 dirhams.' She says that their products are of poor quality and that some Chinese traders go 'door-to-door, suitcase in hand'.  Mr Salah, a Moroccan worker in Derb Omar, adds: 'I've seen them unload their own container at Casablanca port.' Shop manager Fatima Lmoussi, however, disagrees: 'Trade is open to all. The arrival of the Chinese is even positive because it creates a business dynamic.' -- AFP http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/world/story/0,4386,274256,00.html
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Morocco, Africa's largest recipient of FDI inflows in 2003
(UNCTAD) Rabat, Sep. 24

Morocco was the largest recipient of FDI (Foreign Direct Investments) inflows in 2003 with $2.3 billion, indicated the World Investment Report 2004 released Thursday by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

"Last year, Morocco was Africa's largest recipient of FDI inflows, which climbed from $0.5 billion in 2002 to $2.3 billion in 2003, thanks to its privatisation programme," noted the report.

Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Sudan and Morocco led the region's list of the 10 largest recipient countries of FDI inflows in 2003, the report said, noting that FDI inflows for African countries "grew by 28 percent to
$15 billion in 2003."

Favourable national policies were complemented by the conclusion of 35 bilateral investment treaties and nine double taxation treaties, as well as by negotiations on free trade agreements among groups of African countries and other countries or regions, particularly the United States and European Union, noted the report.

According to UNCTAD, Africa's quick turnaround from a downturn in 2002 was led by investment in natural resources and made easier by liberal foreign direct investment policies. However, while a total number of 36 countries registered an increase in FDI inflows, 17 saw a decline.

"Africa´s outlook for FDI in 2004 and beyond is promising, given the region´s natural-resource potential, buoyant global commodity markets and improving investor perceptions of the region", said Karl P. Sauvant, Director of UNCTAD´s Investment Division.

He also noted that policies at all levels have improved, and economic factors are favourable. As a result, the continent´s FDI inflows are expected to increase again this year.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Foreign investments, private loans rose by 213% during last 5 years
RABAT, Sep.23

Foreign investments and private loans in Morocco reached 98.7 billion Dirhams (around US$ 11 billion) during the five last years, against 31.5 billions Dhs (around US $3.5 billion) during 1994-1998, i.e. a 213% rise.

Figures made public Thursday by the Direction of Investments show that 2001 was the richest in foreign investment and loans receipt with 33.27 billion Dirhams (US $3.6 billion).

Between 1994 and 1998, the highest figure was scored in 1997, with 12.3 billion dirhams (around US $1.3 billion) .

The document explains the significant evolution between the two periods mainly by the government's efforts to provide a sound climate for foreign investments.

The Direction points out in particular to the 14.15 billion DH (nearly US
$1.57 billion) receipt from the repurchase of the tobacco company by the French-Spanish group Altadis.

Concerning the origin of foreign investments in 2003, the document places Spain on the top with 18.18 billion Dhs (around US $2.02 billion) (77%), followed by France with 2.9 billion Dhs (around US $322 million) (12%) and the United States with 476 million DH (around US $52.8 million) (2%).

In terms of sectors, 18.9 billion DH (nearly US $2.1 billion) went to industry, i.e. more than 80%, 2 billions Dhs (around US $222 million) to real estate (6,8%), 883 millions (US $ 98.1 million) to services and 630 millions Dhs (US $70 million) to telecoms.

The Direction of Investments concludes that the amount of foreign investments in 2003 represented 5,6% of the 418.6 billion DH (US $46.5 billion) GDP. This rate was exceeded only by that of 2001, which had reached 8.7%.

The document includes a chapter reporting various economic, institutional, legislative and legal measures to improve Morocco's attractiveness.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_dep31604.htm 
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About 2pc drop of industry activity in second quarter of 2004 in Morocco
Rabat, Sep 24

Industrial activity in Morocco decreased by two pc, while manufacturing increased substantially during the second quarter of 2004, a study of the planning department said.

The "Haut commissariat au plan" said the most significant decrease of -65 pc occurred in the canning, fruit and vegetable sector, followed by electric material industry with a -50 pc decrease.

Manufacturing activity recorded high increases, such as soft drink production with a + 72 pc increase, painting and varnish industry +51 pc and rubber products with a +37 pc increase.

The construction and public works sector made a good performance with a 34 pc increase, said the planning department, adding estimates for the construction sector for the 3rd quarter forecast show the rise trend has continued.

Mining production increased by one pc, the energy sector rose by eight pc during the second quarter of 2004.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/eco_003.htm 
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Morocco: Tfadel Sidi
21 September 2004

With Morocco undergoing its first national census in a decade, the OBG talked last week to Ahmed Lahlimi Alami, high commissioner at the Planning Commission - the government research office charged with carrying out the work - about the progress made so far and the reasoning behind the project.

The Planning Commission conducts both short-term studies, such as collating monthly inflation reports and quarterly employment reports, and long-term ones - such as yearly economic reports, budget forecasts and even mapping out Morocco's development choices in the decades to come. However, the problem is that the last national census was conducted in 1994, and many other studies are conducted based on figures from then. So, in order to get a more accurate assessment of the country's current demographic profile, a new census is required. As Alami put it, The results should provide a precise demographic x-ray of the country.

To be precise, the census should provide demographic data, literacy and education levels, access to basic services, housing conditions and provision of domestic equipment, physical health and insurance cover, and type of work. The census should also provide these details on a national, regional, municipal and, in some cases, district level. Along with the household consumption survey conducted in 2000-2001, the combined data will help provide an accurate economic map of the country.

Moreover, the census is seen as a contribution to the country's democratic consolidation. This is because citizens can hold their representatives to account should they find their commune worse off in comparison to others. No sewage canalisation in your neighbourhood when next door they have jacuzzis?
Complain to the local council!

The commission went to great lengths to prepare the Moroccan people for the census. From mid-July onwards, adverts were put up in public and the national media was mobilised. Television adverts are frequent, showing a series of doors being opened by smiling homeowners, ushering the censors in with tfadel sidi and marhaba (two of the many local expressions of welcome).
Radio was also a particularly important choice - both because this covers a broader segment of rural populations (many without television), and also because it has been summertime, when locals shun the stuffy indoors for the roads and beaches.

On the Friday before the census started, even the imams got involved - giving their weekly sermon on the importance of participating.

The census is taking place between September 1 and 20. Over 50,000 censors have been hired to carry out the project, with the country divided up into around 37,000 districts. The project has been allocated a budget of Dh428m (roughly 38.9m euros).

So have the more than 50,000 censors hired for the project been greeted warmly?

In general they've been well received, said Alami, apart from a few small problems. There have been a couple of car accidents, and a few more unfortunate mishaps - notably the pelting with stones of one unfortunate censor out in the countryside. Elsewhere, a handful of censors visiting more disreputable urban areas were greeted less with distrust than with exasperation. Demands for jobs, roads and houses, rather than questions, led in one case in Rabat to overt aggression. Even the more affluent classes have been difficult on occasions - trying to fob off censors with claims of more pressing engagements.

Ultimately, the censors have the law behind them. Participating in the census is obligatory, and censors have been able to call up support from the police when faced with difficulties. For their part, censors are also legally obliged to do their work properly - which means no filling up of false reports in cafés, nor excessive intrusion into household affairs.

This nevertheless leaves the question of reliability. Besides the media campaign, the organisers have been at pains to explain that all information collected is confidential, that it has moreover nothing to do with the tax authorities. Added to that, the questions are by and large not sensitive - the potentially challenging, How much do you earn? question, notably, has been left out.

The census is meant to give a picture of the whole country. That means not only households, not even just Moroccans. Foreigners are also covered, whether living or staying in hotels (though presumably tourists have not been deported if they refused to co-operate). Added in to that have also been the nomadic populations, the military in their barracks, and even the homeless - the latter involving the censors turning up on Sunday night at the places they most commonly seek shelter.

The organisers are particularly proud of their data processing set up. They have commissioned a French company, Digiteck, to process the completed surveys. Digiteck provides equipment that automatically processes cheques and tax assessments back in France, so the digital eye is presumably nigh on infallible.

The advantage of using an automated system is the time and money saved. The processing should involve 192 operators and six months of work in total, as opposed to the 800 workers and 24 months required for more traditional methods. Moreover, the margin of error should hopefully not exceed 0.5% (compared to a more common 5%). That work will begin in a few days' time.

The first figures should be out in October and will be the total population figures. The nitty-gritty will follow thereafter, with the complete results hopefully out by September 2005. Rendezvous in a few weeks' time to know how many Moroccans there really are.
Chris de Oliveira
© Oxford Business Group 2004
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=ZAWYA20040921075655&Section=Countries&page=Morocco&channel=Features%2C%20Analysis%20and%20Opinion&objectid=13F83A62-8988-11D5-867E00D0B74A0D7C 
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Morocco set to crack down on intellectual property piracy
Morocco, Economics, 9/24/2004

Moroccan Communication Minister, Nabil Benabdallah, examined Wednesday with a delegation of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) a draft action plan to crack down on intellectual property piracy in the country.

IFPI represents the recording industry worldwide with over 1450 members in 75 countries and affiliated industry associations in 48 countries. It aims at fighting music piracy and promoting fair market access and adequate copyright laws.

The draft action plan probed by the two sides, deals with aspects of awareness concerning piracy as well as development of the legal system, including repressive measures, the Communication Ministry said in a release, noting that the plan is aimed at encouraging companies operating in this field.

The draft action plan is also designed to adapt production to the purchase power of the largest category of consumers to reach a radical solution to piracy and counterfeiting.

The Casablanca-based Business Software Alliance editors (BSA) had estimated in 2001 the state's annual shortfall in earnings at $6.0 million as a result of the piracy of business software in Morocco. Fourteen movie theaters were forced to shut down in 2003 because of pirated movies that are subsequently sold at cheap prices.

Next December, a law on intellectual property protection will enter into force in Morocco to adapt national law to international norms.

Director of the Moroccan Office for Intellectual Property (OMPIC), Aziz Bouazzaoui, said Tuesday the new law is part of a fresh strategy based on the need to provide more guarantees to economic operators.

This strategy was concretized by the signing last June 15 with the United States a the Free Trade Agreement which devotes a large part to intellectual property, he said.

The law will stiffens sanctions (jail terms, fines) in case of imitation, counterfeiting and unfair competition http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040924/2004092422.html 
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Two Moroccan women riders will participate in Pan-Arab cycling races
Casablanca, Sep 20

Two Moroccan women riders will participate, for the first time, in the 10th edition of the Pan-Arab cycling races to be held in Algeria on September 24 through October 8.

Atika Sabib of the « Union Sportive de Casablanca" and Nadia Amhaouch of the COD Meknès" will ran the Pan-Arab cycling games beside their males countrymen Abdelati Saadoune, Mohamed Regragui, Adil Jelloul, Abdellatif Guerraz, Soufiane Morchid, Taieb Daïf and Youssef Bouya.

The Moroccan cyclists will enter all the races on routes and lanes, at the exception of the female team clock race because of the small number of Moroccan female riders, for the race against the clock requires a five member team.

The riders have been preparing in Casablanca under the guidance of Mohamed Belal.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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El Guerrouj candidate to best Athlete of the Year award
Morocco, Sports, 9/20/2004

Olympic champion Hisham El Guerrouj is among five contenders for the Athlete of the Year Award. The winner will be announced Sunday in Monaco following the World Athletics Final, during a ceremony of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF). Candidates also include Kenenisa Bekele (ETH), Virgilijus Alekna (LIT), Christian Olsson (SWE) and Liu Xiang (CHN).

As for Women contenders, candidates of the Athlete of the Year are Veronica Campbell (JAM), Kelly Holmes (GBR), Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS), Carolina Kluft (SWE) and Tonique Williams-Darling (BAH). El Guerrouj is also candidate to the Best Performance of the Year award after his double Olympic gold medals in 1500m and 5000m in Athens.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040920/2004092022.html 
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Fez 'Sacred Music Festival' reflects interfaith harmony in Morocco, US State Department
Washington, Sep. 20

The "Sacred Music Festival," organized annually in the central Moroccan city of Fez, was cited by the US State Department's report on International Religious Freedom as a reflection of the interfaith harmony that characterizes Morocco.

Recalling the spiritual mission of the Moroccan sovereign as Commander of the Faithful, the State Department says in its new report, published on September 15, the "amicable relationship among religions in (the Moroccan) society contributed to religious freedom."

The tenth edition of Fez festival, celebrated last June, was widely covered by the US media. A tour was organized in the United States from March 6 to April 8 to acquaint people with the festival which includes musicians from Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Native American spiritual traditions.

The internationally renowned festival is a symbol of hope, peace and coexistence between peoples. It is also a call for harmonization, spirituality and diversity of cultures.

In 2001, the United Nations has honored the festival by classifying it among the seven world events that contribute to dialogue among civilizations.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/cult_ap1177.htm 

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