Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
November 19 , 2005

Cost of living index rises 0.9pc in Morocco.
Women account for nearly 70% of Morocco's mirco-credit clients, minister.
33% of Moroccans suffer from cardiovascular diseases.
Morocco, bridge between cultures, André Azoulay.
Newspapers sales in Morocco do not exceed 300,000 copies.

Cost of living index rises 0.9pc in Morocco.
Rabat, Nov. 15

The cost of living index in Morocco increased 0.9pc in October 2005 compared to the previous month, according to the high commissioner for planning (HCP). This fluctuation resulted from an increase in the index of food products and other products, respectively by 2pc and 0.1pc, explained HCP. Compared to its level at the same month last year, the cost of living index rose by 1pc.
The index of the first ten months of 2005 has fluctuated by +0.8pc compared to the same period in 2004. It ranged from +0.1pc to +1.4pc depending on cities.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/cost_of_living_index/view 
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Women account for nearly 70% of Morocco's mirco-credit clients, minister.
Marrakech, Nov. 14

Micro-financing institutions serve today in Morocco over 575,000 clients, 68% of whom are women said, here Monday, Social Development, Family and Solidarity Minister, Abderrahim Harouchi. These institutions have granted so far 2.8 million credits amounting to MAD 7.5Bn (USD 806Ml) said Harouchi at the opening session of the world assembly of the Women's World Banking (WWB), adding that these institutions are called to play a central role as a means of promoting micro-enterprises and micro-projects to ultimately slash poverty and enable a better social inclusion. Micro-financing cannot, however, be a response nor a satisfying solution to the problems that stem from poverty and social exclusion, he noted. Harouchi asserted that such problems can only be solved through comprehensive policies that encompass education, training, health, housing and employment.

Fouad Abdelmoumni, chairman of the Association Al Amana for the promotion of micro-enterprises, which is member of the WWB, pointed out that this micro-financing has witnessed a substantial growth of 47% last year in Morocco. Held in the period of November 14 through 18 in Marrakech on the topic "Lead and Manage the Change," the assembly is gathering some 150 country members of the WWB. This is the first time the Women's World Banking holds its assembly in the Middle-East an North Africa region. The New-York-based non-profit organization, which was created in 1979, is a leader in the development of financial services for women entrepreneurs and low-revenue households in the world. It operates by means of affiliate organizations (over fifty) located in forty countries.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_social/women_account_for_ne/view 
--------------------------------------------------------------

33% of Moroccans suffer from cardiovascular diseases.
Casablanca, Nov. 14

33% of Moroccans suffer from cardiovascular diseases, said, here Saturday, Pr. Ahmed Bennis. Cardiovascular diseases, which are caused by smoking, arterial tension, cholesterol, obesity and lack of movement, are among the main causes of mortality in the world, Bennis told the Moroccan News Agency (MAP) on the fringes of the 10th national congress of cardiology. Morocco suffers from several diseases that lead to cardiovascular problems as 30% of Moroccans suffer from arterial hypertension, 6% from diabetes and 13% from obesity. These diseases are among the most killing diseases in Morocco. Bennis pointed out that the bulk of Moroccans do not consult specialized health centers because medical care is highly expensive and medical coverage does not include a large portion of the society.

Open-heart surgeries, which cost USD 9 to 11 million do not exceed 800 surgeries per year, which is very little compared to Tunisia or Algeria that perform 2,000 surgeries annually, while France and Canada perform 50,000. The meeting, which brought together several Moroccan and foreign specialists, discussed, inter alia, the protecting virtues of "Omega3" against the cardiovascular diseases, recommending consumers to integrate Omega 3 oil in their nutrition.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/33_of_moroccans_suf/view 
---------------------------------------------------------------

Morocco, bridge between cultures, André Azoulay.

Morocco constitutes a positive reference of a country today which offers a space of conviviality and a bridge between cultures, said André Azoulay, adviser of HM King Mohammed VI, during an evening meeting organised on Thursday in Brussels, reported MAP news agency. During this meeting, organised in remembrance of the 10th anniversary of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's murder, Azoulay said he was "very impressed" that the evening was the fruit of a common initiative of Muslims and Jews, the majority of whom are Moroccans.

"The fact that Morocco was chosen to honour this meeting, organised by the Community Centre of Jewish Secular (CCLJ) of Brussels, evidences the vocation of the Kingdom to serve as a bridge between cultures," said Azoulay. He added that this is "an essential responsibility" in a difficult environment where peace and conviviality between various communities in Europe are in the heart of the current conjuncture.

"The presence of a Belgian Minister of Moroccan origin, in addition to Belgian officials, representatives of the Arab-Muslim civil society in Belgium and other Arab diplomatic personalities, is very significant," the king's advisor pointed out.

This vocation of Morocco's opening to the outside world lies in the King's project of building an open, modern and tolerant society. It offers a constant reference in the Kingdom's modernity and genuineness of its reforms, he underlined. He considered the Family Code and the National Initiative of Human Development as part of the reforms undertaken to improve the status of women and human development in the kingdom. "Morocco has cultivated a spirit that has established the cultural, spiritual, political and religious sensibilities on the basis of the respect for the identities of one another," he insisted.

This evening of tribute was also a meeting of hope for peace and reconciliation between the Israelis and Palestinians. This hope was expressed during a musical concert, given by the Moroccan Françoise Atlan and the Palestinian Moneim Adwan, where Israeli and Palestinian songs got harmoniously married. The Moroccan ambassador to the European Community, Alem Menouar, the former Palestinian Delegate to Brussels, Chawki Armali and several Belgian politicians, the local elected members of Moroccan origins, as well as numerous Moroccan, Jewish and Muslim associative actors, were present in this friendly evening.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/Paper/article.asp?idr=2&id=10959
--------------------------------------------------------------

Newspapers sales in Morocco do not exceed 300,000 copies.
Rabat, Nov. 15

The Moroccan national press Union (SNPM) has said that the overall sale of newspapers in Morocco does not exceed 300,000 copies, deploring the weak press production compared to several Arab countries. SNMP pointed out in a release on the occasion of the national day of information and communication, celebrated on November 15, that it is necessary to make a total review of the production method in the written press, that is divided between a partisan press and a non-partisan press which was unable to make important strides.

The press union deemed that the general crisis in the written press could be avoided if a better approach was adopted on the basis of a scientific study of the market needs. SNMP said it aspires for a national press that can be a positive tool to enhance democratic awareness, human development and intellectual and cultural progress. It added that it will carry on its fight to "open a serious dialogue to solve persistent problems in all sectors".
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/general/newspapers_sales_in3433/view 
*********************************************

These postings are provided without permission of the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the identified copyright owner.  The poster does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the message, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.