Morocco's economy grew at 5.7 percent in the first quarter of 2006 compared with 1.6 in the fourth quarter of 2005, mainly on a recovery in farming output after a drought, the High Planning Commission said on Tuesday.

Agriculture accounted for more than half of the expanded economic growth while the telecoms, construction and real estate development boosted non-farming sectors, the country's leading think tank added.

"The GDP growth is estimated at 5.7 percent in the first quarter, with agriculture contributing 3.1 percentage points of that growth," the Commission said.

The climate of economic recovery buoyed business optimism, spurring industrialists to boost investment.

"The positive trend seems to have led companies to bolster their investment programs.

Imports of capital goods rose 11.7 percent in the first quarter while loans for plant equipment rose 3.4 percent for the period," the Commission said.

The drought last year slashed cereals output to around 4.0 million tonnes from an average of 6.0 million in the last decade that cut economic growth to 1.8 percent in 2005 from an average of 4.8 percent in the 2001-2004 period.

The Finance Ministry's Studies and Financial Directorate said in a report that it was expecting cereals output to come in 75 percent higher this year versus 2005.

The estimated cereals crop will be 7.0 million tonnes, 1.0 higher than the level forecast by the government earlier.

As a result, the government and the International Monetary Fund expect the Moroccan economy to grow by more than 6 percent this year from an earlier official growth forecast of 5.4 percent on expected strong agriculture growth.
:cheers:

Kind regards,

Mustapha
www.propertyborders.com
0208 508 9905

_________________
Moroccan Hospitality With British Professionalism

What a great growth. It's going very good with Morocco!

THE PARADISE BEACH & GOLF RESORT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TOURISTIC DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTHERN MOROCCO. PHASE 1 WILL HAVE 500 LOW-RISE APARTMENTS AND TWO HUNDRED 3 BED 2 BATH DETACHED VILLAS ALL WITH INDIVIDUAL SWIMMING POOLS.

AN 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE WILL BE INCORPORATED WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT. THE APARTMENTS & VILLAS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON GENTLY SLOPING LAND - THUS GIVING MOST PROPERTIES AT PARADISE BEACH & GOLF RESORT VIEWS TO THE SEA.

THE SITE IS IN AN AREA OF GREAT NATURAL BEAUTY AND BORDERS THE FORET DIPLOMATIQUE. A STROLL AROUND THE GOLF COURSE ACCESSES A VIRGIN BEACH OF GOLDEN SANDS. JUST 15 MINUTES DRIVE FROM TANGIERS AND THE AIRPORT IN ONE DIRECTION AND 15 MINUTES OR SO IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO THE PRETTY FISHING VILLAGE OF ASILAH.

Kindest regards

Mustapha
0208 508 9905
www.propertyborders.com
Moroccan Hospitality With British Professionalism
:runaway:

Full Description: PARADISE BEACH & GOLF RESORT PRE-LAUNCH OFFER
1 bed apartments, approx 70 m² including terrace.
685.100 Dirhams (£43,361 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £17,344 balance by mortgage.

2 bed/2 bath ground floor apartments, approx 90 m² including terrace.
906.100 Dirhams (£57,348 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £22,939 balance by mortgage.

2 bed/2 bath penthouse apartments, approx 90 m² including terrace, plus roof terrace.
1,071.850 Dirhams (£67,839 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £27,135 balance by mortgage.

3 bed/2 bath penthouse apartments, approx 116 m² including terrace, plus roof terrace.
1,381.250 Dirhams (£87,421 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £34,968 balance by mortgage.

Apartments will be in small blocks, 2 storeys high. Ground floor apartments, plus first floor penthouses with access to a flat rooftop sun terrace.

3 bed/2 bath detached villas with private pool (approx 7mx3m).
approx 135 m² including terrace plus 400 m² plot.
2,320.500 Dirhams (£146,867 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £58,747 balance by mortgage.

Please note that this is a pre-launch offer.

Accordingly there maybe some changes to layout and specifications. However, until such time as the definitive plans, distribution and specifications are available all reservations taken will be on a fully refundable basis.

Once plans are available clients who have paid refundable reservations will be given a priority allocation. When completely satisfied with their reservations clients will be expected to visit Morocco to view the site (Free Weekend Inspection Visit applies). Provided that clients are fully satisfied with their purchase they will then be expected to make their reserve definite (i.e. non-refundable) and pay the balance of the 40% deposit.

TANGIERS
Located at the Northern tip of Morocco where Africa and Europe face each other across the Straights of Gibraltar. Just 9 miles from the Costa del Sol at it’s nearest point. At various times during it’s history Tangiers has been under Portuguese and Spanish rule - it even belonged to England for a short period in the 1600’s. After the Franco - Spanish Protectorate was established in 1912 the city was granted special status as an International Tax Free zone which lasted until the 1960’s.

During this hedonistic period the city was visited by numerous famous faces of the day: Marlene Dietrich, Errol Flynn, Oscar Wilde, Barbara Hutton, Winston Churchill, Ronnie Kray and Tennessee Williams to name but a few. Today’s Tangiers is enjoying a makeover and public works are evident in many areas of the city. With such a rich and colourful history Tangiers is full of character and atmosphere.

The Medina with the Kasbah at its highest point - is a sprawl of winding streets and little shops. Beside the Medina is the Grand Socco where local handicrafts can be purchased at bargain prices.

The sea front close to the port has numerous beach bars including one where £1 buys a beer plus 2 or 3 tapas!!! Eating out in Tangiers is a delight. Enjoy Moroccan food at its finest at the El Korjan Restaurant at the Hotel Minzah, Spanish at le Detroit, Italian at La Casa D’ltalia there is even a McDonalds in the Dawliz Complex!!

Only 5 minutes from the Paradise Beach & Golf Resort is the Club Tanger de Tiro - a world class country club whose facilities are open to non-members. There are 3 restaurants serving both international and Moroccan cuisine plus a café bar. On a 50 acre site the Country Club has a tennis centre, mini-football pitch and kiddies play area. Also available is clay pigeon shooting and soon to be 18 hole Golf Course.

ASILAH TOWN
One can arrive at Tangiers airport by direct flight from one of a number of airports or alternatively (and considerably cheaper) fly into Malaga or Gibraltar and take the inexpensive ferry (around £40 return) from Algeciras or Tarifa to Tangiers. A brand new motorway accesses Asilah from Tangiers in around 30 minutes – or take the longer and more scenic coastal route. Midway between Tangiers and Asilah is the site for the PARADISE BEACH & GOLF RESORT. There are plenty of taxis to make the trip from Tangiers - or hire a car. There is also a bus and train service if required. Royal Air Moroc will open it’s airspace to the budget airlines this year. The likes of Easyjet, Ryanair & Monarch are expected to charge little more than for flights to Malaga.

Asilah is an elegant coastal town with a rich history and a population of around 20,000. First impressions are of the wonderful ramparts and turrets built by the Portuguese in the 1500’s. There are wide avenues and a pretty palm-lined seafront boulevard, here can be found some of the towns best restaurants – many operated by Spanish owners. Casa Garcia, Casa Pepe and Al Kasabah are among the better known, all serve superb fish and shellfish dishes at a fraction of prices at home. There are plenty of little cafes to choose from plus a discothèque at the Hotel al Khaima.

The Medina or old quarter has ancient but well kept blue and white houses. Little shops with friendly shopkeepers sell a variety of Moroccan handicrafts. Every facility is available in Asilah including banks, chemists, church, numerous hotels with bars open to non-residents and a hospital.

The fishing port is a pleasant place for a stroll and there are plans for a yacht Marina. The Mayor of Asilah is also the Moroccan ambassador to the USA and during the late 1970’s this forward thinking gentle man inaugurated an annual summer Arts Festival attended by musicians, painters, poets and writers from all over the world. The financial impact of both tourism and the Arts Festival has transformed Asilah and the town is now extremely clean and prosperous. Evidence of this appeal are signs on houses in the Medina “This house not for sale”!!
THE PARADISE BEACH & GOLF RESORT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TOURISTIC DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTHERN MOROCCO. PHASE 1 WILL HAVE 500 LOW-RISE APARTMENTS AND TWO HUNDRED 3 BED 2 BATH DETACHED VILLAS ALL WITH INDIVIDUAL SWIMMING POOLS.

AN 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE WILL BE INCORPORATED WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT. THE APARTMENTS & VILLAS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON GENTLY SLOPING LAND - THUS GIVING MOST PROPERTIES AT PARADISE BEACH & GOLF RESORT VIEWS TO THE SEA.

THE SITE IS IN AN AREA OF GREAT NATURAL BEAUTY AND BORDERS THE FORET DIPLOMATIQUE. A STROLL AROUND THE GOLF COURSE ACCESSES A VIRGIN BEACH OF GOLDEN SANDS. JUST 15 MINUTES DRIVE FROM TANGIERS AND THE AIRPORT IN ONE DIRECTION AND 15 MINUTES OR SO IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO THE PRETTY FISHING VILLAGE OF ASILAH.

Full Description: PARADISE BEACH & GOLF RESORT PRE-LAUNCH OFFER
1 bed apartments, approx 70 m² including terrace.
685.100 Dirhams (£43,361 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £17,344 balance by mortgage.

2 bed/2 bath ground floor apartments, approx 90 m² including terrace.
906.100 Dirhams (£57,348 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £22,939 balance by mortgage.

2 bed/2 bath penthouse apartments, approx 90 m² including terrace, plus roof terrace.
1,071.850 Dirhams (£67,839 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £27,135 balance by mortgage.

3 bed/2 bath penthouse apartments, approx 116 m² including terrace, plus roof terrace.
1,381.250 Dirhams (£87,421 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £34,968 balance by mortgage.

Apartments will be in small blocks, 2 storeys high. Ground floor apartments, plus first floor penthouses with access to a flat rooftop sun terrace.

3 bed/2 bath detached villas with private pool (approx 7mx3m).
approx 135 m² including terrace plus 400 m² plot.
2,320.500 Dirhams (£146,867 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £58,747 balance by mortgage.

Please note that this is a pre-launch offer.

Accordingly there maybe some changes to layout and specifications. However, until such time as the definitive plans, distribution and specifications are available all reservations taken will be on a fully refundable basis.

Once plans are available clients who have paid refundable reservations will be given a priority allocation. When completely satisfied with their reservations clients will be expected to visit Morocco to view the site (Free Weekend Inspection Visit applies). Provided that clients are fully satisfied with their purchase they will then be expected to make their reserve definite (i.e. non-refundable) and pay the balance of the 40% deposit.

TANGIERS
Located at the Northern tip of Morocco where Africa and Europe face each other across the Straights of Gibraltar. Just 9 miles from the Costa del Sol at it’s nearest point. At various times during it’s history Tangiers has been under Portuguese and Spanish rule - it even belonged to England for a short period in the 1600’s. After the Franco - Spanish Protectorate was established in 1912 the city was granted special status as an International Tax Free zone which lasted until the 1960’s.

During this hedonistic period the city was visited by numerous famous faces of the day: Marlene Dietrich, Errol Flynn, Oscar Wilde, Barbara Hutton, Winston Churchill, Ronnie Kray and Tennessee Williams to name but a few. Today’s Tangiers is enjoying a makeover and public works are evident in many areas of the city. With such a rich and colourful history Tangiers is full of character and atmosphere.

The Medina with the Kasbah at its highest point - is a sprawl of winding streets and little shops. Beside the Medina is the Grand Socco where local handicrafts can be purchased at bargain prices.

The sea front close to the port has numerous beach bars including one where £1 buys a beer plus 2 or 3 tapas!!! Eating out in Tangiers is a delight. Enjoy Moroccan food at its finest at the El Korjan Restaurant at the Hotel Minzah, Spanish at le Detroit, Italian at La Casa D’ltalia there is even a McDonalds in the Dawliz Complex!!

Only 5 minutes from the Paradise Beach & Golf Resort is the Club Tanger de Tiro - a world class country club whose facilities are open to non-members. There are 3 restaurants serving both international and Moroccan cuisine plus a café bar. On a 50 acre site the Country Club has a tennis centre, mini-football pitch and kiddies play area. Also available is clay pigeon shooting and soon to be 18 hole Golf Course.

ASILAH TOWN
One can arrive at Tangiers airport by direct flight from one of a number of airports or alternatively (and considerably cheaper) fly into Malaga or Gibraltar and take the inexpensive ferry (around £40 return) from Algeciras or Tarifa to Tangiers. A brand new motorway accesses Asilah from Tangiers in around 30 minutes – or take the longer and more scenic coastal route. Midway between Tangiers and Asilah is the site for the PARADISE BEACH & GOLF RESORT. There are plenty of taxis to make the trip from Tangiers - or hire a car. There is also a bus and train service if required. Royal Air Moroc will open it’s airspace to the budget airlines this year. The likes of Easyjet, Ryanair & Monarch are expected to charge little more than for flights to Malaga.

Asilah is an elegant coastal town with a rich history and a population of around 20,000. First impressions are of the wonderful ramparts and turrets built by the Portuguese in the 1500’s. There are wide avenues and a pretty palm-lined seafront boulevard, here can be found some of the towns best restaurants – many operated by Spanish owners. Casa Garcia, Casa Pepe and Al Kasabah are among the better known, all serve superb fish and shellfish dishes at a fraction of prices at home. There are plenty of little cafes to choose from plus a discothèque at the Hotel al Khaima.

The Medina or old quarter has ancient but well kept blue and white houses. Little shops with friendly shopkeepers sell a variety of Moroccan handicrafts. Every facility is available in Asilah including banks, chemists, church, numerous hotels with bars open to non-residents and a hospital.

The fishing port is a pleasant place for a stroll and there are plans for a yacht Marina. The Mayor of Asilah is also the Moroccan ambassador to the USA and during the late 1970’s this forward thinking gentle man inaugurated an annual summer Arts Festival attended by musicians, painters, poets and writers from all over the world. The financial impact of both tourism and the Arts Festival has transformed Asilah and the town is now extremely clean and prosperous. Evidence of this appeal are signs on houses in the Medina “This house not for sale”!!
About: THE PARADISE BEACH & GOLF RESORT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TOURISTIC DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTHERN MOROCCO. PHASE 1 WILL HAVE 500 LOW-RISE APARTMENTS AND TWO HUNDRED 3 BED 2 BATH DETACHED VILLAS ALL WITH INDIVIDUAL SWIMMING POOLS.

AN 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE WILL BE INCORPORATED WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT. THE APARTMENTS & VILLAS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON GENTLY SLOPING LAND - THUS GIVING MOST PROPERTIES AT PARADISE BEACH & GOLF RESORT VIEWS TO THE SEA.

THE SITE IS IN AN AREA OF GREAT NATURAL BEAUTY AND BORDERS THE FORET DIPLOMATIQUE. A STROLL AROUND THE GOLF COURSE ACCESSES A VIRGIN BEACH OF GOLDEN SANDS. JUST 15 MINUTES DRIVE FROM TANGIERS AND THE AIRPORT IN ONE DIRECTION AND 15 MINUTES OR SO IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO THE PRETTY FISHING VILLAGE OF ASILAH.

Full Description: PARADISE BEACH & GOLF RESORT PRE-LAUNCH OFFER
1 bed apartments, approx 70 m² including terrace.
685.100 Dirhams (£43,361 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £17,344 balance by mortgage.

2 bed/2 bath ground floor apartments, approx 90 m² including terrace.
906.100 Dirhams (£57,348 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £22,939 balance by mortgage.

2 bed/2 bath penthouse apartments, approx 90 m² including terrace, plus roof terrace.
1,071.850 Dirhams (£67,839 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £27,135 balance by mortgage.

3 bed/2 bath penthouse apartments, approx 116 m² including terrace, plus roof terrace.
1,381.250 Dirhams (£87,421 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £34,968 balance by mortgage.

Apartments will be in small blocks, 2 storeys high. Ground floor apartments, plus first floor penthouses with access to a flat rooftop sun terrace.

3 bed/2 bath detached villas with private pool (approx 7mx3m).
approx 135 m² including terrace plus 400 m² plot.
2,320.500 Dirhams (£146,867 @ 15.8 Dh/£) Deposit £58,747 balance by mortgage.

Please note that this is a pre-launch offer.

Accordingly there maybe some changes to layout and specifications. However, until such time as the definitive plans, distribution and specifications are available all reservations taken will be on a fully refundable basis.

Once plans are available clients who have paid refundable reservations will be given a priority allocation. When completely satisfied with their reservations clients will be expected to visit Morocco to view the site (Free Weekend Inspection Visit applies). Provided that clients are fully satisfied with their purchase they will then be expected to make their reserve definite (i.e. non-refundable) and pay the balance of the 40% deposit.

TANGIERS
Located at the Northern tip of Morocco where Africa and Europe face each other across the Straights of Gibraltar. Just 9 miles from the Costa del Sol at it’s nearest point. At various times during it’s history Tangiers has been under Portuguese and Spanish rule - it even belonged to England for a short period in the 1600’s. After the Franco - Spanish Protectorate was established in 1912 the city was granted special status as an International Tax Free zone which lasted until the 1960’s.

During this hedonistic period the city was visited by numerous famous faces of the day: Marlene Dietrich, Errol Flynn, Oscar Wilde, Barbara Hutton, Winston Churchill, Ronnie Kray and Tennessee Williams to name but a few. Today’s Tangiers is enjoying a makeover and public works are evident in many areas of the city. With such a rich and colourful history Tangiers is full of character and atmosphere.

The Medina with the Kasbah at its highest point - is a sprawl of winding streets and little shops. Beside the Medina is the Grand Socco where local handicrafts can be purchased at bargain prices.

The sea front close to the port has numerous beach bars including one where £1 buys a beer plus 2 or 3 tapas!!! Eating out in Tangiers is a delight. Enjoy Moroccan food at its finest at the El Korjan Restaurant at the Hotel Minzah, Spanish at le Detroit, Italian at La Casa D’ltalia there is even a McDonalds in the Dawliz Complex!!

Only 5 minutes from the Paradise Beach & Golf Resort is the Club Tanger de Tiro - a world class country club whose facilities are open to non-members. There are 3 restaurants serving both international and Moroccan cuisine plus a café bar. On a 50 acre site the Country Club has a tennis centre, mini-football pitch and kiddies play area. Also available is clay pigeon shooting and soon to be 18 hole Golf Course.

ASILAH TOWN
One can arrive at Tangiers airport by direct flight from one of a number of airports or alternatively (and considerably cheaper) fly into Malaga or Gibraltar and take the inexpensive ferry (around £40 return) from Algeciras or Tarifa to Tangiers. A brand new motorway accesses Asilah from Tangiers in around 30 minutes – or take the longer and more scenic coastal route. Midway between Tangiers and Asilah is the site for the PARADISE BEACH & GOLF RESORT. There are plenty of taxis to make the trip from Tangiers - or hire a car. There is also a bus and train service if required. Royal Air Moroc will open it’s airspace to the budget airlines this year. The likes of Easyjet, Ryanair & Monarch are expected to charge little more than for flights to Malaga.

Asilah is an elegant coastal town with a rich history and a population of around 20,000. First impressions are of the wonderful ramparts and turrets built by the Portuguese in the 1500’s. There are wide avenues and a pretty palm-lined seafront boulevard, here can be found some of the towns best restaurants – many operated by Spanish owners. Casa Garcia, Casa Pepe and Al Kasabah are among the better known, all serve superb fish and shellfish dishes at a fraction of prices at home. There are plenty of little cafes to choose from plus a discothèque at the Hotel al Khaima.

The Medina or old quarter has ancient but well kept blue and white houses. Little shops with friendly shopkeepers sell a variety of Moroccan handicrafts. Every facility is available in Asilah including banks, chemists, church, numerous hotels with bars open to non-residents and a hospital.

The fishing port is a pleasant place for a stroll and there are plans for a yacht Marina. The Mayor of Asilah is also the Moroccan ambassador to the USA and during the late 1970’s this forward thinking gentle man inaugurated an annual summer Arts Festival attended by musicians, painters, poets and writers from all over the world. The financial impact of both tourism and the Arts Festival has transformed Asilah and the town is now extremely clean and prosperous. Evidence of this appeal are signs on houses in the Medina “This house not for sale”!!

and the unemployement rate is about 9,8%...
it's going very goooooooooood! :D:D:D

I've just read an article, apparently they predict it's going to be even more for 2006. What is even more interesting is that old accounting system is being replaced by a newer one (which is the one practiced internationally) starting 2007 which will drive numbers to a higher (apparently the one being used now is outdated and tends to give lower figures than it should with the current state of the economy)

Mashallah, r u all Moroccan?

apparentelly :)

Great news for Morrocco :okay:

Mashallah.

They should reach atleast 7 percent to achieve real progress but alhamdulilah.

in comparaison with the past really moroco is doing great, and next year i think it will be better due to real estate and outsoursing and offshoring, i heard many big projects are in the way specialy in casablanca in real estate

I say that when the biggest projects in morocco will be finished in 2010 and later in 2015 , morocco will have the second biggest economy in africa aftr SA

Le CMC prévoit +7,1% de croissance économique et 3,2% d'inflation en 2006

L'économie nationale devrait connaître un véritable rebond d'activité en 2006 avec un taux de croissance atteignant 7,1 %, estime le Centre Marocain de Conjoncture (CMC).


Concernant l'inflation, le même Centre indique que les prix à la consommation devraient, sous l'effet d'un redressement significatif de la demande mais aussi du renchérissement du pétrole, connaître un accroissement plus soutenu que l'exercice précédent avec un taux d'inflation de l'ordre de 3,2 %.

Selon la publication Info-CMC, la configuration sectorielle de la nouvelle dynamique de croissance fait apparaître une participation significative de l'ensemble des activités avec une valeur ajoutée agricole qui afficherait une progression estimée sur la base des données actuelles à 26,7 %.

Le CMC, observatoire basé à Casablanca et relevant du secteur privé, signale que les industries manufacturières devraient progresser à un rythme légèrement plus soutenu que celui de l'exercice précédent, soit un taux de croissance en volume de 3,4 %. Les activités du bâtiment et travaux publics devraient poursuivre l'élan pris ces dernières années avec l'expansion que connaît l'habitat social ainsi que les programmes étatiques en matière d'infrastructures de base.

La valeur ajoutée de ces activités devrait enregistrer une progression de 7 % au terme de l'année 2006. Il en est de même des secteurs du transport, des télécommunications et des autres services marchands.
Enfin, le secteur du commerce, tirant profit de l'expansion aussi bien de la production intérieure que des importations, devrait évoluer au cours de l'année 2006 dans des conditions plus favorables et réaliser une croissance de 4,5 %.

L'investissement augmenterait en valeurs nominales de 11,2 % à la faveur d'une reprise prévisible des flux de capitaux étrangers doublée de la tendance au redressement de l'investissement privé et des équipements publics.

La consommation des ménages montrerait, dans cette perspective porteuse, davantage de vitalité en enregistrant un accroissement en valeurs courantes de 9,8 %.
Les échanges extérieurs devraient contribuer positivement à la croissance, indique la même source, précisant que les importations devraient accroître en valeurs courantes de 11,2 % et les exportations enregistrer un léger redressement en valeurs nominales de 10,9 %.




Le 25-5-2006
Par : MAP

7,1% !!!!!!!!!!

so what is Moroccos GDP ?

so what is Moroccos GDP ?

number from CIA factbook

GDP (purchasing power parity): $140.9 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate): $51.56 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,300 (2005 est.)

so what is Moroccos GDP ?

numbers from CIA factbook

GDP (purchasing power parity): $140.9 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate): $51.56 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,300 (2005 est.)

Hello to all of you,

I found this piece of information which is nice to know :)


Vers une croissance de 7,3% pour 2006

MAROC - 5 juillet 2006 - MAP

Les prévisions économiques tablent pour 2006 sur un taux de croissance de 7,3 % contre 1,7 % en 2005, a déclaré le Haut Commissaire au Plan, M. Ahmed Lahlimi.

Dans un entretien accordé au quotidien "Aujourd'hui le Maroc" de mercredi, M. Lahlimi a souligné qu' "une pluviométrie suffisante et bien répartie sur l'année 2006 devrait porter le taux de croissance agricole de 1,8 % en 2005 à 7,3 %", ajoutant que "la valeur ajoutée agricole devrait connaître une hausse de 30,6 % contre une baisse de l'ordre de 16 % en 2005".

Certes, a-t-il observé, "les réformes entreprises par notre pays et les grands chantiers d'infrastructure conjointement avec une politique résolue de développement de certains secteurs porteurs, notamment depuis les dernières années, se sont traduits par une amélioration des taux d'investissements et ontcontribué à une relance des activités non agricoles qui semblent effectivement s'inscrire dans +un sentier haussier+ par rapport à la tendance antérieure".

Selon le haut Commissaire, le taux de croissance de 6,7 est celui de la croissance enregistrée par la comptabilité nationale au cours du premier trimestre 2006. "Cette croissance a profité de la subvention de la Caisse de compensation qui a amorti l'effet du renchérissement du pétrole sur les prix intérieurs et, par conséquent, sur l'activité économique", a-t-il expliqué.

Et d ajouterá: "Cette croissance n'a, cependant, pas empêché un alourdissement de la facture pétrolière à l'importation accentuant sérieusementle déséquilibre de notre balance commerciale, malgré une amélioration réelle des performances des secteurs marchands non agricoles".

S'agissant de la dépendance énergétique du Maroc par rapport à l'extérieur qui rendrait difficile toute prévision, M. Lahlimi a estimé qu' "une politiquede compétitivité de l'économie nationale s'avère la seule voie durable pour en atténuer les effets sur la croissance". "Ce sont de telles politiques qui ontpermis, jusqu'à présent, à l'économie mondiale d'en résorber les effets", a-t-il ajouté.

that's great news but still this growth depends on agriculture, which make it float over the years depending on the weather , it will be more interesting to know the growth increase of the economy beside agriculture

Morocco is given to take up the socio-economic challenges within a framework of opening

27.07.2006 | 16h24


The first seven years of reign of S.M. King Mohammed VI showed that Morocco is given "to take up the challenge which the equation of triple economic, social and cultural change constitutes, within a framework of opening to the international competition, of democracy and of respect of the humans right", estimates the high commissioner with the Plan, Ahmed Lahlimi.
This important stage in the life of the Morrocans was marked primarily by a Royale approach declined in a vision, a will and a style. A vision of democratic, modern and interdependent Morocco, resolutely turned towards the future, a will invested in programs where articulate the economic one, the sociétal and the human one and a style marked by the dynamism and the proximity, underlines Mr. Lahlimi in a maintenance granted to agency MAP.

The building sites of economic, social and urban infrastructure launched by S.M. the King must create jobs and progressively to distribute incomes with their deployment and will not have a full effect, direct and indirect, that at the time when them exploitation will have reached its cruising speed, raises it.

"ten great projects which appear among these building sites would produce, alone, according to an evaluation of the experts of the HCP, an additional growth rate of 1,5% and 140.000 employment, counts not held of the effects of exploitation of the additional outputs due to these investments", explains it.

For the high commissioner in the Plan, reform them with character sociétal have impact determining only in the duration in terms of changes in the social reports/ratios and the cultural values which they are carrying.
Reforms as the code the family, the obligatory Sickness insurance (AMO) or the national Initiative for the human development (INDH) will induce profound changes in the aspirations, the behaviors and mentalities on the level of all the spheres economic, social and cultural, adds Mr. Lahlimi stressing that the first steps of these changes are expressed already in the role growing of the women and the young people in the labour market, the economic activities, the civil company or the public life.

Mr. Lahlimi affirms that Morocco of Mohammed VI accelerated the rate of the reforms and advances like example to support its remarks, the average annual increase in the investments (GFCF), which passed from 5,4% to 6% between the decades 1990-1999 and 1999-2005, improvement of the average rate of growth of the nonagricultural GDP which knows, as for him, a notable increase passing, between the two decades, of almost 3 % to 4 % and the share of telecommunications in the nonagricultural commercial GDP which increased by 3,2% in 1999 to 5,2% in 2005. "In parallel, the rate of poverty notably improved. It dropped by 16,3% in 2000 to 14,2 PC into 2004", adds it.

The reforms undertaken by Morocco, the large building sites of infrastructure and the impulse given to the investment in certain carrying sectors contributed to the relative improvement of the growth rate economic and started again the activities in the nonagricultural sectors which seem to take indeed a tendency hawser compared to the past, Mr. Lahlimi underlines.

These performances must improve in the duration. What implies the continuation of the made efforts and the limitation of the erratism of the growth rate, it specifies estimating that it is necessary, for this purpose, to record the level of integration to the national economy of the agricultural sector and to reduce its vulnerability to the internal shocks due in particular to the climatic, and external risks in particular related to the awaited impact of international engagements of the Kingdom.

The dash of reforms started since the establishment of S.M. the King, makes that Morocco is equipped today "with a passenger waybill", underlines Mr. Lahlimi. "the rudder is between good hands, the course is put on the good direction and the ship keeps the sea.

Morocco reconciles itself gradually with itself ", says it.
"the areas, formerly neglected, even which marginalized, receive, today, their share of the national effort of development. The dialectical one between growth and human development is set up. The way is very traced so that the relays between the leadership and the base are brought to the required level ", raises it.

A strong growth and a durable human development, in a democratic and interdependent company, require a dynamic private capital national able to replace of the investment public or external, it estimates adding that it is quite as imperative as the intermediation political and social to Morocco gives the means of leading the changes started while focusing itself much more on "the passenger waybill".

Evoking Prospective reflexion the "Morocco 2030", led by the HCP, Mr. Lahlimi stresses that the credibility of the scenarios which result from this, that they is total or sectoral, proceeds of the richness of the studies and the research tasks as of the tools for analysis which constitute the base of it. Their objective, indicates it, is to define a certain number of routes which are offered to Morocco, taking into account the forces and weaknesses of its economy, within the limits of the constraints and opportunities that its geopolitical and geoeconomic environment presents, current and foreseeable.

It is of choice and will. The futurology teaches us that the worst is never impossible and that the best is always with the range of those which can anticipate, to organize itself and to act with method and preoccupation with an evaluation, concludes it.

Global Trade With Morocco





GLOBAL TRADE IN AUTO PARTS: MOROCCO FREE TRADE AGREEMENT CREATING
OPPORTUNITIES




Hopkinton, Mass. – Auto parts manufacturers in the Kingdom of Morocco are
focusing on the competitive dynamics of the USA aftermarket. Earlier this
year Moroccan parts companies took advantage of a recently launched Morocco
New Business Opportunities (NBO) program. The program is financed by the US
Agency for International Development and executed by Nathan Associates, a
USA economic consulting firm. NBO helps Moroccan firms export to the USA
and take advantage of the USA-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which
began January 1, 2006.



Site visits in Morocco, seminars, and one-on-one meetings are part of the
NBO initiative. Mr. Henry P. Allessio, managing director of Walden
Consultants Ltd. is the Senior Automotive Parts Sector Consultant for the
NBO program. He has established a liaison with dozens of Moroccan parts
manufacturers that are eager for a better understanding of the USA market
requirements to enable sales to be made in the most effective ways.



Mr. Allessio reports, “The product quality across the board is exceptional.
ISO and forthcoming TS certifications are the rule, and the suppliers have
years of experience serving the OE requirements of Western Europe.”
“Moreover,” Allessio continues, “the positive attitude of the top
managements is an attribute which will support good relationship building
from the onset as these companies demonstrate their capabilities to
interested American companies.” The sales development activities that are
underway are expected to gain momentum in the coming months.



Morocco has an educated workforce with an average wage which is ***about
one-fifth that of auto manufacturing wage levels in the EU (Spain), and
about the same as those in Turkey. For USA importers, the USA-Morocco FTA
will, of course, reinforce Morocco’s cost advantage by eliminating tariffs.
Some quotations submitted by Moroccan companies have been competitive with
Asian-made goods.



Current NBO efforts are focused on developing aftermarket relationships in
the USA for specific Moroccan companies that supply filters (oil and air),
radiators, brake friction, and clutch facings. Existing applications span
golf carts, passenger vehicles, and heavy-duty trucks. Future activities
will include additional products, and an examination of OE opportunities at
various tier-levels of supply. Other products preparing for USA market
entry are: exhaust, pistons, leaf springs, control cables, tempered glass,
seats, electronic assemblies, lighting lens, and a wide range of plastic
molded items.



Walden Consultants Ltd. regularly conducts corporate strategy, marketing,
competitive analysis, and acquisition planning assignments for domestic and
foreign clients. Automotive businesses are one area of specialization for
the management consulting firm which has offices in Hopkinton, Mass.

Marocco´s growth will accelerate to 7,3% in 2006 ?!?!?! Al Hamdo Lillah ...w khamssa fee 3oyoun al hossaad ...........

WOW ! thats great.

What is causing the boom in morroco?

Map of Poverty

http://www.rdh50.ma/Fr/images/graphe/g/carte05.gif

Unemployement: 7.7% (2006)

http://www.rdh50.ma/Fr/images/graphe/g/graph092.gif

I thought the unemployment rate was under 10% in Morocco for this year? Ooops didnt see that written on top of the post.

Pretty special thing

Grâce aux ALE que nous avons signé, le marché marocain réprésentera bientôt un potentiel d'1 milliard de consommteurs susceptible d’attirer des investisseurs étrangers qui sont en quête de nouveaux débouchés.

- Accords d'Agadir ( Tunisie , Jordanie, Egypte): 95 millions
- ALE avec la Turquie: 70 millions
- ALE avec l'UE à partir : 460 millions
- ALE avec les USA : 304 millions
- ALE avec les Emirats arabes: 3 millions

Rabat, Feb. 7 - Growth rate in Morocco stood at 8.1% in 2006, according to figures released Tuesday by prime minister Driss Jettou.

Unemployment rate stood at 9.1%, while budgetary deficit was estimated between 1.6 and 1.8% and inflation was contained under 3%, said Jettou during a meeting with national press about the economic and social situation and governmental action.

The prime minister said foreign currency reserves stood at USD 21Mn, while tourism and migrants' remittances generated receipts of USD 12Bn.

Telecommunication sector also witnessed a "spectacular" growth of 20%, i.e. USD 16Mn, he noted, adding that there were 400,000 high width Internet subscribers and 5 million Internet users.

Map

It's really a good new ! I think 8,1 % It's the best performance of Morocco this 10 lasts years.

Internet. La course vers la 3G

A peine quelques jours après avoir lancé son portail Internet et son offre pour de connexion (3ème génération) grand public, le nouvel opérateur de téléphonie, Wana, récidive en mettant sur le marché l’offre Internet destinée aux entreprises. Selon certaines sources, Wana a précipité ce lancement redoutant qu’elle ne soit prise de court par Méditelecom. La filiale de Telefonica, qui avait programmé une conférence de presse cette semaine, s’est contentée néanmoins de faire une démonstration de son offre Internet, en marge de la présentation des résultats 2006. “Le lancement sur le marché de cette offre devrait avoir lieu dans quelques semaines”, confie une source proche de Méditel. Quant à Maroc Telecom, il est toujours hors course dans ce domaine. Mais cela ne devrait pas tarder, puisque du côté de l’opérateur historique, on promet déjà “une grande surprise pour bientôt”.

http://www.telquel-online.com/266/semaine_economie_266.shtml

Atos Origin s’installe à Casablanca Nearshore Park

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/43/118248211_d1e5bc1152.jpg

Casashore commence à accueillir ses premiers hôtes. Il s’agit cette fois-ci de la société internationale de services informatiques, Atos origin. Celle-ci vient de créer un nouveau centre dédié à ses clients francophones (France, Belgique, Suisse). Cet investissement de l’ordre de 50 millions de DH permettra la création de 250 emplois dans un premier temps et près de 400 d’ici 2009, selon un communiqué du groupe publié à Paris. Le nouveau centre fournira des services en intégration de systèmes et infogérance destinés notamment aux secteurs financiers, les télécoms, le secteur public, l’industrie, l’automobile et la distribution.

Heure d’été: Le Maroc perd 2h

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/23/24509859_319f4afb38.jpg

L’Europe est passée à l’heure d’été, depuis hier. La Tunisie également, qui en est à sa 3e année consécutive de test. Ce qui accentue notre retard d’une heure. Jusqu’au 28 octobre prochain, quand l’Europe et la Tunisie seront au travail (8 heures), au Maroc on sera encore au lit (6 heures). Plus de 110 pays du monde recourent au passage à l’heure d’été dont le premier a eu lieu en 1908 en Grande-Bretagne. En 1996, sur recommandation de la Commission économique de l’ONU pour l’Europe, la période de l’heure d’été a été prolongée jusqu’au dernier dimanche d’octobre. L’application de l’heure d’été est économiquement justifiée. En Russie, elle a permis de réduire les dépenses d’électricité annuelles de plus de 57,9 millions d’euros, soit l’approvisionnement en électricité de 10.000 appartements pendant 8 ans. En Tunisie la consommation d’électricité a baissé de l’ordre de 0,34% en 2005 et de 0,43 % en 2006.

I do not understand it!!! Last year went out in the news from which Morocco will pass to +1h in the summer in the same time that Europe, but it looks like that for political reasons and of safety they eliminated.:ohno: :ohno: :ohno:

Moroccans protest rising cost of living
28/03/2007

A march against the rising cost of living, planned for March 25th in Casablanca, ran into determined opposition from security services.
By Hassan Benmehdi for Magharebia in Casablanca – 28/03/07


[Hassan Benmehdi] Demonstrators march in Casablanca on Sunday, March 25th

The atmosphere was tense in Casablanca on Sunday (March 25th) when demonstrators protesting the rising cost of living met with government security forces attempting to quell the unauthorized march. Ali Fkir, a member of the organising committee, said that the people were frustrated at every turn. "Casablanca was under tight control. All the avenues, streets and alleys were blocked by the forces of law and order. It was impossible to get to Place de la Résistance, where the march was due to start," he said.

Encircled by a security cordon, several hundred participants from all over Morocco demonstrated for one and a half hours. The sit-in came to an end after an address by Omar Baaziz, national socialist youth secretary for Annahj Addimocrati. On behalf of his organisation, he greeted the participants, protested the state's refusal to authorise the march and asked the crowd to disperse in a peaceful, orderly manner.

According to city authorities, the march was illegal. "The national march to protest the cost of living, planned for Sunday March 25th in Casablanca, was not authorised," said the governor of Casablanca.

The march's co-ordinators organized the event in order to "raise awareness about maintaining people’s purchasing power". One organizer, Ahmed Douraidi, from the Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH), said the main objective of the march was to encourage civil society to apply pressure to the government and certain businesses responsible for the price increases. "We’re looking for them to reverse these price hikes and to increase salaries," he declared to Magharebia, adding that "We know that we cannot negotiate on behalf of the unions, but…we hope to support them and prepare the ground for their negotiations and talks with the government."

According to the government's High Commission for Planning (HCP), the cost of living index (ICV) showed a fall of 0.1% over the month of February compared with the previous month. In a press release, the HCP stated that this change is the result of a 0.3% drop in the price index for food products and the stagnation of non-food prices.

Nonetheless, for over a year the Moroccan public has struggled with rising prices, which make managing daily affairs increasingly difficult. Mrs Saadia, a mother of five, makes no secret of her dissatisfaction. "The price rises have seen an unjustified boom, given that our purchasing power has not changed."

Last week Morocco published the impressive results of the first year of its new free trade agreement with the United States. Trade rose by a striking 44 percent to $1.4 billion. Morocco's exports of textiles rose by 81 percent, and its exports of electrical machinery rose to $122 million. In return, Morocco imported U.S. aircraft worth $250 million and $163 million of American cereals.

Morocco's biggest trade partner is still the EU, but with its free trade zones and open door for foreign investment, Morocco is a country increasingly plugged into the global economy. It ranks No. 36, ahead of Turkey and Israel, in the rankings of the best places for offshoring, according to the latest Global Services Location index published by the A.T. Kearney consultancy. The same group also publishes the globalization index, in which Morocco and Tunisia are the only two Arab countries in the Top 40, notably ahead of China at No. 51.

With a per capita GDP nudging $2,000, the economy grew more than 6 percent last year and is poised for takeoff, helped by the $4.5 billion in remittances sent home by Moroccans working abroad.

The country now has almost all its children in primary school, more than half of them in secondary school, and life expectancy is now greater than 70. The birth rate has dropped to an average 2.5 children per woman of child-bearing age, and infant mortality rates have dropped from 115 to 38 per thousand. This a country doing everything it can to do everything right, despite a decade of grim droughts in the 1990s, persistently high unemployment and grinding poverty in the rural and mountain areas.

The modernization has been driven by the young king and a small, tight-knit group of technocratic ministers, many of them the king's university classmates. In three days of intensive talks with various ministers and the monarch's top aides, this reporter was left in no doubt of their determination to follow the "Asian tiger" economies and steer Morocco into the EU's prosperity club.

"We are like a tree, with roots in Africa and the Arab world, but we breathe the air and take our rain from Europe," Ambassador Hassan Abouyoub, the king's top foreign policy adviser, told UPI. "We cannot live without Europe; we have no choice."

The monarch, who likes to be called "guardian of the poor" because of his fight against rural poverty, has pushed through the Moudawana, a crucial reform for the rights of women, despite the opposition of religious conservatives. Married to a computer engineer with whom he has two children, the king is a devout Muslim, and even the most extreme Islamists find it difficult to challenge the religious credentials of a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammad. Over the weekend, religious leaders from all over the country flew into the fabled desert city of Marrakesh, where the king presided over a celebration of the birthday of his revered ancestor.

Source: http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20070331-011355-2224r

Do you have a link to the Global Services Location index published by the A.T. Kearney consultancy ?

Hey Redalinho

I have the AT Kearney sources that the article alludes to:

*Global Services Location Index 2006--Places Morocco in the 36th position.
http://www.atkearney.com/main.taf?p=1,5,1,184

*Globalization Index 2006-- Places Morocco 40th position.
http://www.atkearney.com/shared_res/pdf/Globalization-Index_FP_Nov-Dec-06_S.pdf

Thx,nwusaad great information.btw,didn't know that some ministers were classmates of the king.

Thank you saad , I see that Egypt , Tunisia and Jordan are doigin much better than Morocco in terms of offshoring even if we are closer to Europe

where is algeria?:lol: :lol: :lol:

I dont see the point of bringing up Algeria. This thread has nothing to do with Algeria vs, Morocco. If Morocco is so much better than Algeria, than the country should look up to rival economies East Europe, Tunisia to improve...Not be content with being better than Algeria in offshoring.
Secondly, in regards to call centers: Algeria has more francophones than Morocco. So you should be careful about mocking Algeria. With all the money they have, enhanced telecom sector, and government will..they could surpass Morocco in no time.
Purple dream showed the difference in Francophones between Algeria and Morocco- SIGNIFICANT.

Thank you saad , I see that Egypt , Tunisia and Jordan are doigin much better than Morocco in terms of offshoring even if we are closer to Europe

Yeah. No problem guys.
I think they have lower costs than Morocco(189euros). Egypt (@50euros), Tunisia(139euros) have lower monthly salaries than Morocco.
http://www.cedith.com/IMG/pdf/Textile-Business_News_Nov06.pdf
But the most important problem is energy costs are horrendous. All industries consuming much energy have a big cost handicap compared to those rivals. Egypt and Tunisia have their own oil/gas to meet internal consumption.

Similarly, logistics costs are still expensive for Morocco. But I think all those rivals suffer from that problem.

True,the energy sector isn't doing good,maybe it's time to liberalize?