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Morocco, Tunisia ink Open Sky agreement - December 6th

Tunis, Nov. 22 - Morocco and Tunisia concluded, here Thursday, an Open Sky agreement to promote air transport between the two countries.

According to Moroccan Transport and Equipment minister, Karim Ghellab,the new agreement, in force since last year following the signing of a memorandum of understanding, will help increase the number of flights between the two countries, improve the quality of services and promote exchanges.

He noted that the number of flights has doubled since the signing of the MoU, with Morocco's flag carrier Royal Air Maroc serving 10 to 11 flights a week, and Tunis Air serving 7.

Mr. Ghelleb and Tunisian Transport minister Abderrahim Zouari, who signed the agreement, agreed to set up a positive partnership between their national companies, through revitalizing the "code share" convention which provides a wider range of services to customers.

In the sea transport field, the two sides agreed to convene a meeting of the sixth joint maritime commission to examine means to implement the agreement concluded last August 2 to establish a direct sea link.

Automotive City : On The road!

To celebrate the first cars exported to France and Spain , King Mohammed VI hosted Renault's CEO Carlos Ghosn on June 13 at his royal palace in Agadir. Ghosn's visit illustrated the good relations between Morocco and the French carmaker and aimed at developing the activity of Société Marocaine de Constructions Automobiles (SOMACA) for the local and export markets, notably towards the EU.

Indeed, Renault's Moroccan subsidiary launched its new export programme of cheap cars by sending off some 400 Dacia Logans to Europe . Around 8000 Logans should be exported to France and Spain in 2007, before expanding exports to the Belgian and German markets in 2008.

"It's a first for the Moroccan automobile industry, which made a great leap forward with this announcement," said Philippe Cornet, the managing director of Renault Morocco . He also added that it is the first time Morocco has exported a finished industrial product to Europe that is not textile.

This meeting came shortly after the Investment Directorate (ID) announced on May 28 the establishment of an industrial free trade zone in the automobile sector, named Tanger Auto City (TAC). This new city , which should be operational this month, is seeking foreign investors to reinforce sub-contracting in the auto spare parts segment in Morocco .

"This new concept of specialised industrial zones aims to attract investors and automobile equipment makers employed by manufacturers especially those based on the European continent," said Hassan Bernoussi, the diretor of ID, during a conference organised by the Moroccan MBA Association (MMA) on May 23 in Casablanca .

Two years after the announcement of the "emergency" plan proposed by the ministry of industry, the setting up of TAC reflects the government's willingness to significantly improve what can Morocco offer in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) options in developing sectors such as the automobile sector.

"The emergency plan, launched in 2005, has a positive impact on the efficiency of the industrial sector," Salaheddine Mezouar, the minister of industry, told OBG. He added that, most importantly, the share of the automobile industry in gross domestic product (GDP) rose from 16.7% in 2004 to 19.6% in 2005.

The free trade zone in Tanger (FTZ) succeeded in attracting FDI thanks to a competitive legal and fiscal framework. The special status of the FTZ is often put forward to convince investors in the automotive sector, which is already the most developed sector in the FTZ.

"The sector represents more than 40% of investments, or 130m euros (MAD1.5bn), which allowed the creation of more than 12,000 jobs in 6 years in the free trade zone alone," said Omar Chaib, the zone's commercial director.

Major producers such as General Motors (GM) have already started talks with the FTZ with a view to establishing sub-contracting factories essentially centered around the production of spare parts. This development in Morocco would not only enable GM to lower its production costs and to increase its market share in Morocco but would also raise its profile.

After Tanger, GM is now setting its sights on Casablanca . Last week, it met with seven new Moroccan operators, all members of the Moroccan Association of the Automobile Industry, including Sinfa (filters and cables), LT (metallic processing), Socafix (metallic wires for seats), Ifriquia Plastic (plastic components) and OMR Morocco (manufacturing of foundry works). GM is thus trying to secure its supplies for the European market.

According to COFICAB, an auto cable company already based in the FTZ, production capacity in the Moroccan auto sector has risen by 4.3% year-on-year.

"The integration of Automotive city will help out existing companies by consolidating subcontracting and transferring foreign know-how to local companies," Mohamed Ali Enneifer, the CEO of COFICAB, told OBG.

He added that for Morocco to make the most of these developments in the auto industry, it was necessary to implement a plan to help SMEs enter the market.

Despite the recent announcement of car exports to Europe , some think that the impact of the TAC project is still limited at the local level.

"Development plans for the automobile sector should offer a much more complete independent package, by ensuring the development of the production of finished products to be exported, rather than spare parts," Bouchaib Barhoumy, the CEO of Yazaki, a Japanese company specialised in auto cable beams, told OBG.

Plane sailing for Mediterrania-Saidia - 25th June

Hailed as Morocco’s flagship resort, the Moroccan government behind Mediterrania-Saidia has revealed plans to expand Oujda international airport with the construction of two new runways, a brand new terminal building with bridge access to 25 stands and a parking bay with capacity for 15 aeroplanes. According to the Moroccan authorities, the number of passengers travelling through Oujda airport will reach 1.2 million by 2015 (compared with 258,700 in 2006).

In order to transform Oujda into the main airport for the region, significant infastructure investment is being made. The airport will be connected to the city of Fez by high speed train and toll road and the journey time between Oujda and Mediterrania Saïdia will be only 35 minutes thanks to the new motorway link.

Planting Olive Trees - 26th April

Morocco is working to double the area planted with olive trees by 2010, aiming to reach 1m ha, and to attract local and foreign investors in the cultivation of olives.

Click here to view more details

Going Digital - 1st April

Morocco officially started digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcasting this month. The announcement of the implementation of digital versions of the national TV channels was made on March 6 by Fayçal Laâraïchi, the president of the public operator SNRT (Société Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision), which owns TVM (Télévision Marocaine) and the 2M channel.

In line with the modernisation of broadcasting technologies used by SNRT, the switch to digital has been operated in the cities of Casablanca, Rabat, Oujda, Fez, Meknes, Tanger and Marrakech, covering 54% of the population.

From June, services will be extended to the medium-sized towns of the kingdom: El Jadida, Safi, Tétouan, Nador, Agadir, Laayoune, Figuig, El Hoceima and Beni Mellal , bringing the penetration rate to 77% of the population.

While Morocco and other countries of the Maghreb have agreed to go digital by 2015, in order to free up Hertzian frequencies used by mobile telecommunications providers, Morocco is pioneering this switch. Nonetheless, concerns have been raised by content providers about the ongoing dominance of the two state channels in the Moroccan broadcast market.

The launch of digital terrestrial services is an important move forward, acknowledged Boubker Mekouar, the general manager of Dunes Productions, to OBG. It is however a must not to focus only on the techniques of broadcasting but to enhance the liberalisation of the content that is to be broadcast. In light of this, a lot remains to be done to address the domination of the two public channels in the Moroccan market.

Advertising campaigns are to be launched over the next weeks to increase the visibility of the DTT services and encourage its mass adoption. The argument is that DTT is less costly than analogue television and ensures higher definition of sound and image.

Digital television requires the use of a DTT receptor and of a UHF antenna, usually employed for the reception of Hertzian analogue channels, explained Laâraïchi.

The new DTT receptor has been available in supermarkets for the past month at a price ranging from Dh400 ($47.6) to Dh1200 ($143). Hybrid receptors (known as 'Combo'), which allow reception of digital terrestrial TV as well as satellite TV, start retailing at Dh600 ($71,6). Japanese technology giant NEC has been selected by SNRT to manufacture DTT receptors.

Another reason behind the launch of digital versions of the two general channels - TVM and 2M - and of the three thematic channels Arriyadiya (sports channel), Arrabia (with a strong social and cultural orientation) and Assadissa (religious channel), is that television will soon be broadcast via high-tech means, such as GSM to mobile phones.

The liberalisation of the broadcast media market coincides with the opening of the telecoms market. A milestone was reached in 2006 with the awarding of three 3G licenses , in line with the Agence Nationale de Reglementation des Telecommunications (ANRT)'s liberalisation strategy.

3G licenses have been awarded to all three mobile telecom operators in 2006 - Wana, Meditel and Maroc Telecom. Wana has declared its intentions to introduce 3G services for companies operating in the Moroccan market as of April while Meditel has been more vague in terms of giving a timeframe. Meanwhile the dominant Maroc Telecom has refused to give a definite date for the exploitation of its 3G license, expecting the 3G infrastructure to be fully operational in 2008.

Following the flurry of new licenses delivered by the HACA (Haute Autorité de la Communication Audiovisuelle) in 2006, only one new television license was awarded to a private-sector satellite channel, Medi 1 Sat. This Franco-Moroccan private project has encountered difficulties in attracting audiences. Nevertheless the growing availability of hybrid DTT receptors encouraged by the state, is expected to raise the visibility of the new satellite operator.

King inaugurates Mediterranean Nador-Oued Kert road link
Morocco Times - 6th September - Click here to view the link

Morocco Offshore News
Good News - 18th July - Click here to view the link

Ryan Air flying to Morocco direct
The Overseas Property Professional - 13th June - Click here to view the link

Morocco Bound!
Daily Telegraph - 2nd March - Click here to view the link

Holiday-home Brits are off to North Africa
Sunday Express - 29th January 2006 - Click here to view (PDF File)



The People
In 1995, the population was about 28,481,000 inhabitants. Morocco is a young country since 60% of the population is under 20 years of age. It is also a rural country since 61% of the population lives in rural areas.

The Language - Arabic is the national language. The 3 Berber dialects are used in the mountainous regions and in the Souss. French is widespread, whereas Spanish is used only in the northern areas of Morocco. English is spoken in touristic locations.

The Berbers - The first inhabitants to be known in Morocco were the Berbers. They are the most numerous and fall into 3 main groups:

The Masmouda - (west of the Rif and Grand and Middle Atlas)

The Sanhaja - (grand central Atlas and Tafilalet, southern Middle Atlas and Mediterranean Rif)

The Zenata - (eastern Morocco, region of Taza and Meknes)

The Arabs - They came to Morocco only toward the end of the 7th century with the advent of Islam. In the 12th century their numbers increased in different areas.

The Souk - The souk is one of the most characterizing aspects of rural life. It's a place and a means of traditional trade. Since the Moroccan population is essentially rural, each tribe has a certain number of souks that are generally held in the open or inside a special enclosing wall. These souks usually carry the name of the day they are held on.


Moroccan Handicrafts
The products of Moroccan handicraft are one of the fundamental characteristics of the Moroccan lifestyle. Over 40 corporations have been working wood, metal, copper, wool, linen, stone and clay for centuries. Adapted to the needs of modern life, our handicraft production relies on our traditions, offering a large variety of products ranging from small works of art to the simplest utilitarian objects. A wonderful scent and sense of life come out of it.

Moroccan Leather-working - Morocco has a thousand types of Moroccan leather-working, all of which are of old tradition - in Fes and Marrakech a whole district is reserved to tanners.
Fes, Marrakech: Wallets, desk sets, babouches, leather poufs etc.
Tetouan, Shefshaouen, Taghzout: Multiple-compartment bags, leather-covered earthenware, plates and belts.
Marrakech: Camel saddles (used as seats).

Metals
Copper: The Maghrebian household uses a great deal of copper industry products because copper is a material which captures dazzling light.
Wrought irons: They are worked into candleholders, lampshades, bars, mousharabies and mirror frames. They are wrought in Marrakesh, Safi, Fes, etc...

Carpet Weaving - All activities of the Moroccan artefacts go a long way back and carpet weaving is certainly the oldest of all. There are two types of carpets in Morocco. Rural carpets - which are the oldest and Urban carpets (each of these fall into an infinite number of categories).
Urban carpets: Rabat, Meknes, Fes, Marrakech.
Rural carpets: Berber carpets of the Middle Atlas (Azrou) ; of the region of Zadrs (Oulmes), of Shishaoua (Marrakech) and of Aït Ouaourguite (Ouarzazate).


Land & History

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Mauritania and 14 km from southern Spain.

Total Land Area: 710.850 Square kilometres.

Coastline: 2.900 km Atlantic coast - 500 km Mediterranean coast.

Population: 28,481,000

Language: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects.

Entry requirements: Passport. ( Check passport validity and visa requirement for some countries).

Transportation: Railway network 1.893 km, Highways and paved roads 59.474 km.

Currency: 1 Moroccan Dirham = 100 centimes.

Electricity: 220/240 volts.

Driving: On the right side.

Airports: Agadir, Al Hociema, Casablanca, Dakhla, Essaouira, Fes, Laâyoune, Marrakech, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Salé, Tangier and Tetouan.

Gastronomy: Moroccan cuisine is reputed to be one the top cuisine all over the world: Couscous, Mechoui, Pastilla, Tagines, pastries and the national drink, mint tea.

Climate: The climate varies according to the regions, the coast has a very mild climate in the summer and humid in the winter, average temperature from 16°C to 26°C. Inland is much warmer during the summer up to 33°C.