Morocco in Focus

A Publication of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in New Delhi (India)

2015 Edition

Moroccoin Focus

Road to Reform: His Majesty King Mohammed VI on the National Agenda ..... 6

Morocco on The Move ................................................................................ 9

Morocco-India Historical Ties .....................................................................12

Morocco, A Competitive Destination for Foreign Direct Investments ..............14

Why India Should Engage more with Morocco .............................................16

India, Morocco Turning Old Ties into Strategic Partnership ...........................18

Morocco Wants ties with India to go beyond Food Security ..........................19

King Mohammed VI Receives Indian Foreign Minister in Marrakech ...............20

India Determined to Reinforce Ties with Morocco, Indian Foreign Minister ....21

We View Morocco as an Essential Partner in Africa, Indian Foreign Minister .. 22

Morocco-India Political Consultations ......................................................... 23

Round Table Discussion on India and Morocco: Imperatives of Cooperation ..24

Counter-terrorism: the Kingdom of Morocco’s Actions and Policies ................26

Fundamental Freedoms and Rights ............................................................ 29

In a Radicalised Region, a Face of Modern Islam .........................................32

Pictorial Journey of Morocco ..................................................................... 34

Why Morocco is an Attractive Country for Investors? .................................. 36

Adding Value: Exports are Driving the Sector Forward and Drawing in FDI ... 39

King Mohammed VI Shares Complementarities with Narendra Modi ..............42

Focus Africa: Modi’s Robust Foreign Policy ................................................. 44

Agricultural Crops in Morocco .................................................................... 48

OCP Group, Morocco .................................................................................51

Strong Business Relationship with Moroccan Market ................................... 54

Moroccan Women on the Move ................................................................ 56

Facts for Visitors ...................................................................................... 58

Ibn Battuta: A Traveler Par Excellence ....................................................... 60

Contents

Published by The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco10/1, Sarvapriya Vihar, New Delhi-110016, India • Tel : +91.11.4056 4252 / 57 Fax: +91.11.4056 4260 Email: [email protected]

Produced by Krest Publications, New Delhi, India • Tel. : 91-11-4653 9323 • Fax : 91-11-4610 5603Email: [email protected] • Printing: Rave India

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Disclaimer: Morocco in Focus is a special publication. The views expressed in this journal are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Embassy of Morocco. The magazine is produced to promote Morocco-India ties. The journal has no commercial value and is not for sale, it is for private circulation only.

6Morocco in Focus2015

Road to Reform: His Majesty King Mohammed VI on the national Agenda

transport and urban transport systems have been launched. These accomplishments have changed the landscape of various provinces, giving Morocco a new face. They have also set the stage for the improvement of the strategies adopted in various sectors. Similarly, the gradual implementation of sector strategies has enabled our country to make tangible progress and to attract greater foreign investment, notwithstanding a difficult global economic and financial environment. I reaffirm my commitment to investment promotion and wish, once again, to call on the government to give priority to all measures that stimulate growth and create jobs. I also ask the government to make sure it properly balances the need to meet domestic consumption

Since my accession to the throne, I have launched several major economic

and social projects and at the same time introduced political and institutional reforms to fulfil my country’s aspirations. Ours is a permanent march based on bold initiatives, resolute action, participatory approaches and effective use of our resources. As part of that march, and in accordance with my instructions, all previous governments have made efforts to give substance to my vision concerning reform and development. As a result, the current government has founded not only a positive and constructive legacy, but also concrete achievements in the economic and social spheres. I am determined to implement the nation’s policy with regard to

the setting up of constitutional institutions and the promotion of good governance under the rule of law. This is second only to my desire that we carry on with our untiring action to achieve our objectives, namely steady economic growth, sustainable d e v e l o p m e n t a n d s o c i a l solidarity. Morocco has made significant progress in the area of infrastructure development. Our towns and villages have been supplied with drinking water and electricity and they now have access to other basic services.

Similarly, much progress has been made with respect to developing large-scale facilities, such as ports and airports and expanding the road network. Furthermore, the optimal management of water resources has been achieved and projects to further develop rail

HM the King launch road and urban development projects

7 Morocco in Focus2015

with the country’s ability to increase its level of exports, given the positive impact this has on our balance of payments.

Some years ago, Morocco embarked on a bold policy of promoting globally competitive industries under the Emergence Plan. I urge the government to keep up these efforts and create conditions that would be more conducive to the diversification and expansion of our industrial base, as well as to adopt a proactive policy that reinforces partnership between the public and private sectors. In keeping with my vision regarding sustainable development, efforts are currently being made to ensure Morocco becomes a producer of renewable energy. The implementation of the solar energy programme and the launch of An Nour Complex in Ouarzazate are part of this endeavour, just like the targets we have set in the area of wind energy production. In addition to being environmentally friendly, these projects will reduce our dependence on imported energy. In doing so, they will require an effective training policy to improve our national skills base. Indeed, this should also contribute to the government’s implementation of the National Charter for the Environment.

In spite of the challenges that have arisen out of the global financial crisis, the tourism sector in Morocco has managed to ward off the adverse effects of the international economic downturn thanks to the initiatives I have been keen to see implemented in recent years. This should encourage the sector’s partners and stakeholders to achieve the 2020 Vision. The adoption of an advanced agriculture strategy reflects my firm belief in the importance of this sector. The "Morocco Green Plan" has been adopted to modernise the farming sector, with particular attention

devoted to small holders. For example, while the tax exemption scheme ended for large-scale farmers in 2013, medium and small-scale farmers will continue to benefit from it.

In addition to these steps, I call on the government to establish a special agency to ensure the

agriculture strategy is suited to local environments, particularly in mountainous areas which lag behind in terms of land use, making sure action in this respect is fully compatible with regional development programmes. I have also sought to promote the fisheries sector through the Halieutis Plan, the results of which are promising and therefore need to be further consolidated.

The main goal of economic growth remains the achievement of social justice, which is the bedrock of social cohesion. Seen from this perspective, the National Initiative for Human Development should be perceived as a project

in constant progress. In fact, it is a road map for the achievement of comprehensive, proactive development. As such, it is not restricted to meeting the needs of the poor and of deprived families. It includes all development-oriented projects and endeavours that seek to reduce social and spatial disparities.

Ever since I was entrusted with the mission of leading the Moroccan nation, the reform and modernisation of the judicial system has been one of my foremost concerns. The aim is not only to ensure that justice is served and grievances are dealt with properly, but also to foster a climate of trust which would be conducive to development and investment. In this respect, I am pleased that an agreement has been reached regarding a blueprint for the reform of the judicial system for which the right conditions have been met.

Since my accession to the throne, there has been a steady

Monarchy section : Focus on reforms


by King Juan Carlos I of Spain and French President François Hollande. Mutual efforts to take relations with the EU to a higher level are also proceeding on the right path, within the framework of the advanced status that has been granted to Morocco. The aim is to open up further promising prospects for our bilateral cooperation.

Similar outstanding diplomatic action has been carried out in many regions throughout the world in order to reflect our strong desire to build closer relations with actors there. Indeed, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Morocco has sought to make sure that the voices of the African continent and the Arab world are heard. Our action continues to be guided by these diplomatic orientations, which are based on renewed cooperation mechanisms and on policies that adapt to the changes in the world around us.

Source: Oxford Business Group

the kingdom and this coherent, promising regional grouping. The first positive results of this partnership are a source of great satisfaction to us.

Deeply convinced of the virtues of South-South cooperation, Morocco has pursued a policy of solidarity with regards to other African nations. In this connection, I visited three African countries in 2013 in order to strengthen Morocco’s ties with the continent, and made another tour in 2014. This has given me the opportunity to take note of these countries’ requests for Moroccan investment and expertise. I would like in turn to invite Moroccan stakeholders to respond to this request in order to forge further economic integration.

The kingdom has also pursued a strategy of openness, based on positive interaction with its European partners. Morocco has thus been very keen to strengthen its bilateral relations with Spain and France, on the occasion of the visits paid to our country

and remarkable evolution in Morocco’s foreign relations, which is in total harmony with our domestic policies. In this context, we have been keen to pursue a balanced and multidirectional foreign policy. Accordingly, we have managed to considerably strengthen diplomatic relations with our traditional partners and open up promising opportunities with new partners.

In this respect, we continue to look forward to the emergence of a new Maghreb order that would enable its five member states to work together and build a common future based on integration mechanisms, as well as on the free movement of people, goods and capital. The same conviction underlies Morocco's vision for the Arab world as it seeks to develop a new approach for Arab joint action, in coordination with other countries within the region. In this respect, during my visit to member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, it was decided to lay the foundation for a strategic partnership between




Morocco on the Move

Political Reforms

The winds of the “Arab Spring” were channeled by Morocco to expand and consolidate democracy and accelerate the pace of political reforms. His Majesty The King Mohammed VI announced in March 2011 a profound constitutional reform, which was largely supported by the Moroccan people through a referendum.

By consolidating the principle of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary, the new Constitution gives wider powers to the Head of Government, appointed by the King from the party which wins elections, and to strengthen the provisions relating to the control of the Government by the two

Chambers of Parliament. The new Constitution had also paved the way for the organization of new legislative elections in November 2011.

By choosing the way of the evolution of political institutions of the country, Morocco has pursued the reforms undertaken in the 1990s. Needless to say, the Moroccan monarchy has a historical and religious legitimacy and has always been the symbol of the state’s continuity and the guarantor of national unity and stability.

In this respect, the democratic process was launched two decades back when the late King, His Majesty Hassan II, had initiated a series of reforms in the political and economic

fields, opening the door for a new era of democratic transition. This concerned, among other things many steps for the promotion of human rights and the protection of freedom of expression and, mostly, the decision to establish a new government of ‘alternance’, led by parties from the opposition.

Since the enthronement of His Majesty The King Mohammed VI in 1999, Morocco has witnessed a movement of unprecedented reforms in all areas.

In this regard, the reform of the “Family Code”, which revolutionized the status and empowerment of women in Morocco, introduced a range of measures that enhance women’s equality in terms of marriage, divorce and taking care of children and impose strict legal restrictions

H.E. Mr. Larbi Reffouh Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to India


on polygamy. Moreover, the launch of the National Initiative for Human Development (NIHD) aimed at the development of disadvantaged regions and the fight against social exclusion, marginalization and poverty. Many actions have been taken to support income-generating activities and improve access to services and basic infrastructure (education, health, roads, water and sanitation, environmental protection, etc.).

Other major reforms include the consolidation of the Amazigh culture as a component of the national identity and unity. The latter are also enriched by African, Andalusian, Hebrew and

The dynamics of reforms does not end here. Other key reforms are underway and new ones will certainly be considered in future if need be. For instance, there is the project “advanced regionalization”, which will allow Morocco to build a new model of territorial governance and establish a new relationship between the central government and regional entities. Also, the reform of justice aims primarily at consolidating independence of the judiciary, modernizing its regulatory framework, upgrading its structures and improving legal certainty.

Thus, what makes the Moroccan model dist inctive is i t has

guaranteed by the Constitution.

The Moroccan economy is an economy characterized by a large opening towards the outside world. Since the early 1980s, Morocco has adopted a policy of economic and financial openness. The main goal of that policy is to strengthen the liberalization of foreign trade, to help for greater integration into the world economy, and to contribute to the consolidation of the multilateral trading system.

During the reign of late King HM Hassan II, the Moroccan economy focused on two main sectors: agriculture and tourism. From this point, the late King’s insight

always made “evolution within continuity” a guiding principle of its political practice.

Economic Reforms

Since its independence, the Kingdom of Morocco has made the irreversible choice of political pluralism and economic liberalism. The right to property and freedom of initiative are part of the fundamental rights

Mediterranean elements. Besides, the Equity and Reconciliation Commission has been engaged in the path of restoring truth and reconciliation of Morocco with itself. Its work contributed to the enrichment of the culture of dialogue and human rights and laid down the bases of the reconciliation with a view to protect human rights and strengthen the rule of law.

in terms of implementing a dam policy since the late 1970s is of strategic importance either for the development of the agricultural sector or meeting the basic needs of Moroccan people in terms of drinking water, especially when the country is located in a semi-arid region in Africa.

In recent years, the priority has been given to modernize and diversify the economy to




be more competitive, to build world-class infrastructure and to improve the business and investment environment. A vast program of industrialization has been conducted to make Morocco one of the leading countries in promising and value-added sectors, like automobile, electronics, and aeronautics. This policy has contributed in attracting important investments by major multinational companies, such as Renault, Bombardier, Tata and Dell.

Besides, the process of economic liberalization and integration into the global economy has been consol idated by the establishment of partnerships for cooperation with different countries, by the engagement of Moroccan companies in West Africa, like Maroc Telecom (Telecommunications), BMCE, Attijari Wafa Bank (Banking) and Addoha (Housing), and through the conclusion of bilateral free trade agreements with the European Union, the United States, Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan.

Morocco has also elaborated several specific strategies to develop the most vital economic sectors of the country and ensure strong and sustainable economic growth. This reform is marked by an innovative contracting approach and public-private partnership advocating greater and coordinated participation of the private sector in the d e v e l o p m e n t o f s e c t o r a l strategies and policies, along with the funding of projects. These strategies are part of a process to accelerate the development of strategic sectors, like agriculture, f isher ies , tour ism, mining, renewable energy, handicrafts, logistics, and promising sectors, such as automotive, aerospace and off-shoring.

During the last decade, Morocco has l aunched la rge - sca l e projects aimed at elevating its infrastructure to international standards. Among these projects, I would like to mention Tanger-Med Port (one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean region and in Africa), a modern highway network connecting all the major

cities, 15 international airports (largest airport hub in the region), and the ongoing construction of a high-speed railway project (from Tangiers to Marrakesh).

Morocco also has a wide network of Integrated Industrial Platforms (Kenitra, Nouaceur, Tangier Oujda) and free zones (Tangier, TangerMed, Dakhla, Laayoune, Nador and Kenitra), which offer dedicated facilities in terms of property, infrastructure and investment incentives, and are directly connected to the major ports and airports. In addition, Morocco provides specific financial, tax and customs advantages to investors, as part of agreements or investment contracts to be concluded with the government.

The major economic reforms undertaken together with the ongoing implementation of several ambitious mega-projects and sector-based strategies have started to give good results, especially with the continuous increase of the GDP.


Morocco-India Historical tiesA Pictorial Presentation

Late King of Morocco, HM Hassan II with Late Mrs Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India and

daughter of Late Jawahar Lal Nehru

Crown Prince and current King of Morocco, His Majesty Mohammed VI with Late Mrs Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India

Late King of Morocco, HM Hassan II with first Prime Minister of India, Late Jawahar Lal Nehru

Morocco-India Historical Ties


His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco honoured Indian film actor, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan

His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco paying floral tributes at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at raj Ghat in New Delhi

Late King of Morocco, HM Hassan II honouring the then Prime Minister of India, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco with

Chairperson of united Progressive Allliance in India, Mrs sonia Gandhi

Morocco-India Historical Ties


French car manufacturer Renault installs the biggest automobile factory of

Africa in Tangiers… Canada’s B o m b a r d i e r , t h e l e a d i n g aeronautics company, builds a factory close to Casablanca … 70 000 jobs are created in the off shoring sector…Foreign direct investments keep growing despite an unfavorable regional and international context…Industry becomes the 1st destination investment sector before tourism and real estate…

5% these last ten years. Despite the 2008 international economic crisis, the Moroccan economy has registered an average growth of 4.5% between 2008 and 2013. The government strived to maintain inflation below 2%. Besides, the overall public debt dropped by 20 GDP points between 2000 and 2013. All these performances have allowed Morocco to access to the Standard and Poor’s and Fitch Rating investment category grade and to receive prestigious distinctions such as the African

country of the Year (by fDi Intelligence).

Location, a geostrategic competitive advantage

Located in North-East Africa and sitting only 14 km from Spain, Morocco enjoys a unique geostrategic position. Moreover, Morocco joined WTO en 1987 and signed a number of free-trade agreements (namely the European Union, the United States of America, the Arab League, Turkey and the UAE) which strengthen its position as an economic hub between Europe, the United States, Africa and the Middle East.

Upgrading infrastructures, developing industrial parks, ambitious sector based strategies

Strategic investment projects have been launched. Efforts were made to upgrade infrastructures and Morocco enjoys now world-class installations. The highway network links the 10 biggest towns of the kingdom. The Open Sky agreement and the important

Morocco, A Competitive Destination for Foreign Direct Investments

How did Morocco make the difference at the regional and international level and stand up as an attractive foreign investment destination these last five years? What are the key factors that favored this considerable rise of attractiveness?

First of all, Morocco has made the preservation of its fundamental macroeconomics at the center of its political strategy, registering an average GDP growth around


investments made in the airport network allowed Morocco to become one of the first air hubs between Europe, the United-States, Africa and Middle-East. The Tangier Med port, located at the crossroads of the maritime main lines, with a capacity of 3 millions containers (8 millions in 2015) allowed Morocco to move from the 84th rank in 2006 to the 19th rank (UNCTAD Maritime Connectivity ranking) in 2012.

The Moroccan government also strived to meet another strategic investor’s need: industrial parks. In 2009, the Industry Emergence National Pact launched the integrated industrial platform project. Five years later, 4 new free zones emerged: Tangier Automotive City close to Tangier, Atlantic Free Zone in Kénitra, Cleantech in Oujda and Midpark in Nouasseur. Thanks to an attractive tax system, a fully integrated real estate offer and an optimal logistic connectivity, these industrial parks give the opportunity to investors to benefit from international standards at competitive costs.

To keep ensuring strong, durable economic growth and to increase its visibility and attractiveness to investors, Morocco has implemented a number of ambitious sector based strategies. The government decided thus to modernize traditional sectors such as agriculture, fishing and mining, and also to develop innovative sectors namely renewable energy, logistics, automobile industry, aeronautics and strong added value services.

A qualified labor force in an attractive business environment

Morocco labor force a lso constitutes a strategic asset to competitive investment. The Moroccan population is young and educated: 64% of Moroccans are aged below 34, 10 000

engineering graduates per year. Besides, several training institutes were created to meet specific investor’s demands in different sectors (Mediterranean Tangier Automobile Career Training Center, Aeronautics Career Institute…). Moreover, training subsidies have been implemented for particular sectors (automobile, aeronautic), and can reach 3000€ per year and per person.

Another dominating asset is the kingdom’s attractive business environment. Morocco has made considerable advances in this area during the last 5 years. As a matter of fact, Morocco gained 41 ranks in the Doing Business report and has now reached the 87th world ranking. This improvement was the result of initiatives and reforms launched by the

National Committee for Business Environment, a public-private partnership placed under the leadership of the Prime Minister. In this way, Morocco gained 49 ranks as for the investor’s protection, 41 ranks for tax payment, 23 ranks for business creation, and 22 ranks in terms of lending facility.

Last but not least, Morocco’s attractiveness is also justified by cost competitiveness: the average industrial wage reaches 4220 MAD per month; the global tax rate is 49, 6% (compared to 62% in Tunisia, 65% in France, 64% in China and 59% in Spain). Moreover, export costs reach only 595 USD by container (versus 775 USD in Tunisia, 1335 USD in France, 620 USD in China and 1310 USD in Spain)


Why India should engage more with Morocco

railway projects connecting some major cities and a wide network of integrated industrial platforms and free zones.

‘Morocco can be a real partner for India in pushing its products and skills into Africa, particularly West Africa,’ says Mamoune Bouhdoud, the junior minister in the ministry of industry, trade and investment, small enterprises and digital economy, adding that Morocco was one of the few countries where foreign investors enjoyed the same facilities and privileges as local investors, including in purchase of property.

Bouhdoud, 32, who was educated in London and worked as an investment banker for Morgan Stanley, is emblematic of the new breed of Moroccan leaders who are out to carve a bold new image for an ancient country and are seeking to leverage on its strategic location at the crossroads between the east and west, north and south. They share with their monarch, King Mohammed VI, a vision for Morocco that the North African country ‘should reach the highest peaks and catch up with the most advanced nations’.

Its traditional partners for years have been France and Spain to its north, its one-time colonial powers, its Maghreb neighbours (Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania) and a little beyond to western Africa. But with Morocco advancing faster economically than all its traditional African partners, and distancing itself from some of the regressive and repressive social and political

Two vignettes stand out from a recent trip to Morocco- one, a smartly-dressed

woman police officer flags down an errant male driver at a busy Rabat intersection and ticks him off for a traffic violation; two, the arresting spectacle of the setting sun dancing behind undulating sand dunes as one glides down an ultra-modern highway system that can compare with the world’s best. Both fly against the conceptual stereotype of an Arab Muslim nation that is part of the Arab world but shares none of its puritanical conservatism; is part of the African continent and is yet one of its most developed nations.

A trip to Morocco is an eye-opener, in more ways than one, a peek into a country that is traditional yet modernising, where women enjoy a refreshing degree

of freedom in both dress and movement that is unusual for a Muslim nation; a country that has maintained its rich cultural heritage while being comfortable with a strong influence of Western lifestyles, a synthesis of Arab, African and indigenous Berber streams, a country that has cleverly positioned itself as a gateway to West Africa, Southern Europe and even the US.

In the past decade, Morocco has launched large-scale projects aimed at elevating its infrastructure to international standards, the chief among them being the Tanger-Med port, one of the largest in the Mediterranean region and Africa, with connections to 130 ports in 65 countries; a modern highway and expressway network connecting all the major cities, 15 international airports, high-speed

By Tarun Basu

Morocco-India Ties


policies of many of its Arab neighbours, it is now looking to countries in Asia and Latin America to forge business, trade and strategic partnerships.

In a speech on 20 August, marking 15 years of his reign, Mohammed VI remarked the country’s ‘development model has reached maturity and deserves to join the group of emerging nations once and for all’.

Many in the kingdom have talked of building closer ties with India, the biggest importer of its phosphates, Morocco’s main export, and of the country being a springboard for Indian exports and investment not just into southern Europe and west Africa but to the US as well. Morocco is the only African country to have a free trade agreement with the US, besides having 22 FTAs with African nations.

According to Forbes, which examined the country’s rise, Morocco is seeking to position i tsel f as ‘ the next Afr ican superpower, just behind South Africa and Nigeria’. It has been trying to diversify its economy, beyond its phosphate exports, by broadening its manufacturing base to include automobiles, aeronautics and an offshoring

hub, and its movement south is ‘to reduce its dependence on European markets, including its historical partners, France and Spain’.

Morocco, despite dire forebodings of many Western analysts, did not become an Arab Spring domino and had been spared from the kind of large-scale unrest that has swept some neighbouring Arab states, largely due to the foresight and prompt action by the king, who quite early on recognised the need to meet people’s political aspirations, coopted the Islamists in the system while reforming the family code to give equal rights and freedom to women, a significant step in the Arab world.

Even as demonstrations began in some parts of the country, King Mohammed VI announced constitutional reforms, boosting the powers of parliament and guaranteeing human rights. ‘The winds of Arab Spring were channelled by Morocco to expand and consolidate democracy and accelerate the pace of political reforms,’ said Larbi Reffouh, Morocco’s Ambassador to India and one of the country’s most experienced diplomats.

India’s ties with Morocco have so far been phosphate-centric,

as the country that has two-thirds of the world’s phosphate reserves- a key component of fertilisers- accounts for 60 per cent of India’s phosphate needs. But with the country opening out to the world, expanding its tourism industry, marketing itself as a major shopping destination with a combination of modern retail stores and ancient souks selling a dazzling array of merchandise at competitive pricing, with Marrakech holding one of the most successful Bollywood fests abroad for the last two years under royal patronage, it is time New Delhi looked at Rabat not just through the food security lens but as a strategic global partner that can be its springboard to a larger market and a key supporter of its big-power aspirations.

India-Morocco ties date back to the 14th century when the Moroccan explorer Ibn Batuta travelled to India, spent a decade in the country and wrote extensively about his experiences in his epic Rihla. Seven centuries later, it is time for both India and Morocco to script a new chapter in mutual discovery and stir the imagination of peoples of both the countries once again in a modern, mutually beneficial partnership.

Source: Indo Asian News Service

Morocco-India Ties


India, Morocco turning old ties into strategic Partnership

produces 400,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid for export to India.

Both ministers identified new areas of collaboration such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, automobiles and renewable energy to further boost cooperation. The two countries inked two MoUs relating to cooperation in marine fisheries as well as in environment cooperation.

Khurshid said the focus of his visit was on intensifying growing engagement. He mentioned the past high-level visits, including that of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999 and by King Mohammad VI to India in 2001.

"The new impetus to the bilateral ties provided by the Indian External Affairs Minister and the wide spectrum of cooperation, to cover different fields of politics, economy, cultural, defence and anti-terrorism, will take ties to the level of strategic partnership," Moroccan Ambassador Larbi Reffouh told IANS.

Morocco is keen to promote cultural and tourism ties with India as demonstrated by its growing interest in Bollywood. In November 2012, the 12th Marrakech International Film Festival (MIFF) paid tribute to the 100 glorious years of Indian cinema and screened films like "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" and "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara".

A Bollywood delegation, led by Amitabh Bachchan, was honoured during the ceremony there. Thousands of fans braved a drizzle and biting cold to catch glimpse of their favourite star. A host of Bollywood stars, including Hrithik Roshan, Sridevi and Karan Johar were present at the event.

"We hope this kind of interaction will be more consolidated in the future," the source said.

Source: Indo-Asian News Service

India's relations with Morocco got a major revival with the visit of the then External

Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid in February 2014 that a lso underscored the strategic and economic importance of the North African country.

In Rabat, Khurshid paid his respects and laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Mohammed V. He also held meetings with the head of government Abdelilah Benkirane, and the Presidents of the two Houses of Parliament.

While India sources a large chunk of its rock phosphates and phosphoric acid requirements from Morocco for its fertiliser industry, ties with the country are not just in trade. It is a major des t inat ion for Indian companies and for tourism, a n d t h e r e i s growing exchange of information on anti-terrorism, a good indication of where ties are headed.

During Khurshid's meeting with his Moroccan counterpart Salaheddin Mezouar, both sides agreed to deepen and expand bilateral cooperation.

India's Taj Group entered into a contract with Morocco's JK Hotels to manage Taj Palace Marrakesh, its first hotel in North Africa. In 2012, Ranbaxy Laboratories opened a new production facility in Casablanca.

India exports textiles, transport e q u i p m e n t , t r a c t o r s a n d pharmaceuticals. Moroccan firm OCP (office Cherifen des Phosphates) has a phosphate re lated jo int venture with Tata Chemicals and Chambal Chemicals & Fertilisers that

I n d i a ' s t i e s w i t h t h e p r e t t y Mediterranean nation date back to the 14th century when Tangiers-born world traveller Ibn Batuta came and lived here and wrote extensively about the country and its people.

Khurshid, the first Indian Foreign Minister to visi t the Maghreb nation, held talks in capital Rabat before visiting Fez, Marrakesh and Casablanca, and also had an audience with King Mohammed VI, a major protocol gesture from the country that is seeking to upgrade ties to with India to "strategic partnership".

Morocco was the first stop in Khurshid's three-nation week-long tour, that began on January 30, 2014. After spending three days in Morocco, he moved on to Tunisia, another north African country, and then to Sudan.

Morocco-India Ties

Morocco-India bilateral talks


Morocco Wants ties with India to go beyond Food security

and f inancial support in acquisition of land for factories, modern infrastructure and liberal taxation and other norms.

Under Moroccan law, local and international investors are treated equally. Whatever incentives are available for national investors are also available for overseas investors.

Morocco is the largest recipient of foreign investment in North Africa. It received USD 18 billion between 2000 and 2009, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The majority of it is in fertilizer and minerals.

India and Morocco have set up a Joint Commission to facilitate two-way investments and trade.

"We are trying to schedule the joint commission sometimes in the last quarter of 2015" the ambassador said.

Reffouh said Morocco and India share a common vision in a host of both regional and multilateral forums, notably in the UN where the two nations are currently non-permanent members of the Security Council.

"We appreciate that India was among the very first countries t o r e c o g n i s e M o r o c c a n independence. It was also the first to establish diplomatic ties and open an embassy in our country," he said.

"Our ties, in fact, date back to the 14th century when our explorer Ibn Butata travelled to India."

Source: Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi : Morocco wants its relations with India to expand beyond

trade and supply of phosphates, a key ingredient for fertilizers of which it holds two-thirds of global reserves, to investment in services and manufacturing with a slew of tax sops.

"India is our top trading partner in Asia and the third largest globally. We have set an excellent example of South-South cooperation. These ties now must expand. There is a great scope for that as well," said Moroccan ambassador to India Larbi Reffouh.

"There are already two major joint ventures between our two sides in the broad area of fertilizers. But scope exists in virtually every field -- from automotives and textiles to agro-processing and IT," Reffouh said.

Morocco, which shared bilateral trade worth USD 1.6 billion with India last year, accounts for some 60 percent of the country's phosphatic needs, a mineral primarily used in the manufacture of di-ammonium phosphate, an important plant nutrient.

"In many ways, Morocco is contributing to India's food security."

India's Aditya Birla Group and the Tatas have an equal joint venture with a state-run company of Morocco at Jorf Lasfar, some 150 km from Casablanca, to produce 430,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid, nearly all of which is exported to India.

This apart, Morocco has also invested in Paradeep Phosphates for a unit in Orissa with a capacity of

over 2 million tonnes per annum of phosphatic fertilisers. The Zuari Group and the Indian government also hold stakes in the company.

According to the ambassador, Morocco, which has 70 pristine tourist destinations, also seeks investments from India in the hospitality sector, particularly for construction and maintenance of hotels.

He said help was at hand even for acquisition of land.

The Tata group already runs a luxury hotel in Marrakech, and hopes to open another in Casablanca by the end of this year.

The ambassador explained that among the incentives given to foreign investors in his country include freehold land ownership

Morocco-India Ties

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to India, H.E. Mr. Larbi reffouh


King Mohammed VI Receives Indian Foreign Minister in Marrakech

Marrakech- King Mohammed VI received, on 1st February 2014 at the Marrakech Royal Palace, Indian Foreign Minister, Salman Khurshid who was on an official visit to Morocco.

On this occasion, the King commended the fact that India and Morocco are coming closer over the past years as shows this first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Morocco, said a statement by the royal office.

The sovereign expressed Morocco’s resolve to foster friendship and cooperation ties with India, it said.

Khurshid hailed the positive evolution of bilateral ties economically and regarding investment thanks to the bold and successful reforms by the Kingdom under the leadership of HM the King.

The Indian official highlighted the promising prospects for reinforcing ties mainly in the field of political consultations, multilateral coordination and human development, it said.

Several international and regional issues of shared interest were discussed during this meeting as the reform of the UN system and the situation in the Maghreb, the Middle-East and sub-Saharan Africa, the source said.

The royal audience was attended mainly by Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar, and India’s Aambassador in Rabat, Krishan Kumar.

Source: MAP

Morocco-India Ties

The then External Affairs Minister of India, Mr. salman Khurshid called on His Majesty King Mohammed VI on 1st February 2014


India Determined to Reinforce ties with Morocco, Indian Foreign Minister

The then Foreign Minister of India, Salman Khurshid expressed on 1st February

2014, his country's determination to foster cooperation ties with Morocco.

Ind ia wants to fos te r i t s cooperation with Morocco in the economic, academic and security fields, in addition to the counter-terrorism area, Khurshid told the press after a meeting with HM King Mohammed VI at the Marrakech royal palace.

He said he was honored to meet the sovereign to whom he conveyed the greetings of the Indian President and Prime Minister.

He said that his visit to Morocco was very successful and that it opens a new chapter in bilateral ties.

Morocco, India Sign two Cooperation Agreements in Marrakech

Morocco and India signed in Marrakech, two cooperation agreements on the environment and sea fisheries.

The agreements were signed by Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar and Indian counterpart Salman Khurshi following their meeting.

In a statement to the press, Mezouar said that the first agreement concerns the environment and the impact of climate change, and is in line with strategy advocated by HM King Mohammed VI concerning renewable energy and the development of mechanisms for climate protection.

strategy, with focus on capacity development, enhancement of trade and investment, as well as forging joint positions on regional and global issues."

He added that Morocco is contributing significantly to India's food security through export of phosphate and phosphoric acid.

"We appreciate Morocco’s support at the multilateral fora, including the United Nations bodies. Morocco has also expressed support for a permanent seat for India in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council. We welcome this," he went on to say.

The Indian top official concluded by saying that the North African region as a whole remains important for India from the political, economic, development and security perspectives.

He added that the second agreement concerns the sharing of experiences and investment in the field of sea fisheries.

We View Morocco as an Essential Partner in Africa, Indian FM

Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid, had a working visit to Rabat as part of an African tour that took him also to Tunisia and Sudan, said that India "looks with great respect at the changes taking place in Morocco during the reign of King Mohammed VI" and "views Morocco as an essential partner in Africa".

In an interview with MAP, in New Delhi, Khurshid underlined that Morocco "has always been giving support on issues that concern India, on the principle of reciprocity. We would like to strengthen our relations with Morocco in our new partnership

Marrakech – Morocco and India signed in Marrakech, two cooperation agreements on the environment and sea fisheries

Morocco-India Ties


We View Morocco as an essential Partner in Africa, Indian Foreign Minister

New Delh i – Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid had a working

visit to Rabat as part of an African tour that took him also to Tunisia and Sudan, said that India “looks with great respect at the changes taking place in Morocco during the reign of King Mohammed VI” and “views Morocco as an essential partner in Africa.”

In an interview with MAP, in New Delhi, Khurshid underlined that Morocco “has always been giving support on issues that concern India, on the principle of reciprocity. We would like to strengthen our relations with Morocco in our new partnership strategy, with focus on capacity development, enhancement of

trade and investment, as well as forging joint positions on regional and global issues.”

He added that Morocco is contributing significantly to India’s food security through export of phosphate and phosphoric acid.

“We appreciate Morocco’s support at the multilateral fora, including the United Nations bodies. Morocco has also expressed support for a permanent seat for India in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council. We welcome this,” he went on to say.

The Indian top official concluded by saying that the North African region as a whole remains important for India from the political, economic, development and security perspectives.The Chairperson, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Dr. sudha sharma and the

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Larbi reffouh signing the Protocol on Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC), in New Delhi on August 08, 2013.

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Larbi reffouh with the Indian Minister for state of External Affairs, Gen. (retd.) V.K singh

Morocco-India Ties


3rd session of Morocco-India Political Consultations held at rabat on December 10, 2014, led by Nasser Bourita, secretary General, Foreign Ministry from Moroccan side and

Anil Wadhwa, secretary (East), External Affairs from Indian side

Political Consultation

Morocco, India to Create ICT Research Center in CasablancaMorocco and India signed a memorandum of understanding to set up an ICT Research Center in Casablanca.

The training center will promote the transfer of Indian know-how and expertise in information and communication technologies (ICT) through contributing to the efforts aimed at meeting the needs of this sector in terms of qualified resources and improving the employability of Moroccan students.

With technical and financial support of the Indian government, the center will train 500 trainees each year and will be housed in the Casablanca Technopark.

Souce: MAP, December 10, 2014

Morocco-India Political Consultations

The third session of the Morocco-India political consultations kicked off in the capital city of Rabat with

the aim of giving new impetus to bilateral cooperation.

In a statement issued, Secretary General of Morocco's foreign ministry, Nasser Bourita, lauded the results of bilateral relations with India, adding that this session would be an opportunity to examine further means to enhance the Moroccan-Indian partnership, MAP news agency reported.

On the Sahara issue, Bourita thanked India for its support for Morocco's territorial integrity, underlining that the latest developments concerning this issue and matters related to peace and security regionally and internationally will be also discussed during the meeting.

Bourita and Anil Wadhwa, secretary in Indian fore ign minis t ry , a lso exchanged instruments of the ratification of a cooperation agreement on air transportation.


Round table Discussion on India and Morocco: Imperatives of Cooperation

c o u n t r i e s s h a r e h i s t o r i c a l b o n d s , which is evident in the writings of 14th century Moroccan traveller Ibn Batuta who visited India and stayed on for a long time. He said that both countries “speak in one voice of the determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and man i f e s ta t ions . I t i s a p h e n o m e n o n for which there can be no just i f icat ion whatsoever,” Wadhwa said at the talk organised by the Society for Policy Studies (SPS).

Moroccan Ambassador Larbi Reffouh said his northwest African coun t ry , wh i ch i s

part of the Maghreb region, promotes moderate, tolerant and progressive Islam and has restructured the religious field of the country, including the training of imams, in order to prevent extremism and jihadist ideology from gaining a foothold.

Others who participated included Rajiv Bhatia, Director General, Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA); former Ambassadors Ishrat Aziz, Arundati Ghose, Ranjit Gupta, R. Rajagopalan, R. Dayakar; Lt. Gen SA Hasnain (retd); Vice Admiral Shekar Sinha (retd.)and Dr. Nilanjan Sarkar, London School of Economics and C. Uday Bhaskar, Director, SPS, moderated the event.

Society for Policy Studies in collaboration with the Embassy of The Kingdom

of Morocco, held a Round Table on India and Morocco: Imperatives of Cooperation at the Claridges Hotel, New Delhi.

Keynote Speaker: Anil Wadhwa, Secretary, MEA

Chair: Rajiv Bhatia, Director General, ICWA

Summary

India and Morocco Imperatives of Cooperation

The “creeping forward march” of terror outfits like the Islamic State needs to be arrested and

it is important for India to work together with countries like Morocco and others in the region to evolve a common joint strategy to fight the scourge of terrorism, a top Indian official said.

Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, addressing a SPS Roundtable on ‘India and Morocco: Imperatives of Cooperation’ in New Delhi, said that both India and Morocco are no strangers to repeated terror incidents. He said that both countries “need to fight terror through not just bilateral but also regional and international cooperation”.

Speaking at the event at Hotel Claridges, Wadhwa said both

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India seeks Closer ties with Morocco to tackle terrorism, extremism

India urged the speedy conclusion of an extradition treaty and the setting of a

joint working group to deal with the challenges posed by terrorism and extremism with Morocco,

“The creeping forward march of terrorist outfits like the Islamic State in the Maghreb and Sahel regions cannot be arrested and reversed with a merely security approach,” Wadhwa said.

the population which makes it imperative for us to pose an idelogical challenge by emphasising plurality and diversity, religious tolerance and moderation—values that both India and Morocco subscribe to,” Wadhwa said in the seminar organised by the New Delhi-based Society for Policy Studies think-tank.

“In our view it is important for India and Morocco to work together to develop stronger cooperation in the fields of counter terrorism and intelligence so as to develop efficient mechanisms for real time exchange of information,” Wadhwa said.

In this context “the setting up of a joint working group on terrorism between India and Morocco I think can no longer be postponed,” he said.

In his remarks, Larbi Reffouh, ambassador of Morocco to India, said his country had managed to remain an island of stability in a turbulent region by strengthening security governance, promoting moderate Islam and providing training to its imams.

“Morocco has been successful in dismantling 113 terrorist cells, arresting 2,720 suspects and preventing 266 terror plots” in the past decade, Reffouh said.

Wadhwa sought a greater exchange of visits at the top level to give more political heft to the ties. Both countries were expected to revitalise trade ties during their joint commission meeting expected later this year, he said.

In 2013, trade between the two countries stood at $1.41 billion while provisional figures for (January-September) 2014 showed trade $851.8 million, according to the foreign ministry website.

The balance of trade has been in favour of Morocco because of imports of phosphoric acid and rock phosphate by India.

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given the geographical proximity of the Arab Kingdom to restive countries like Libya.

Speaking at a seminar in New Delhi on the imperatives of cooperation between India and Morocco against the backdrop of the rise of groups like the Sunni militant Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria and Iraq and the prevalence of threats from Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen and areas, Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East) of the Foreign Ministry, sought closer cooperation through pacts like Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

The Maghreb region is usually cover most of the northwest Africa and west of Egypt while the Sahel covers region between the Sahara Desert to the north and Sudanian Savanna to the south. It covers a slice of the African continent that includes Senegal, southern Mauritania, central Mali, northern Burkina Faso, southern Algeria, Niger, extreme north of Nigeria, central Chad, central and southern Sudan, northern South Sudan and northern Eritrea.

“It is important to recognize that the Islamic State seeks to capture the hearts and minds of the vulnerable sections of


Counter-terrorism: the Kingdom of Morocco’s Actions and Policies

Address by H.E. Mr. Larbi Reffouh, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to India

• Regional and InternationalCooperation and Intelligence Sharing,

• anti-terrorismlawenforcement,• i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f

Development projects and political reforms, and

• the promotion of moderateIslam and restructuring of the religious field

As a result of these efforts, over the past 10 (ten) years, Morocco was successful in dismantling 113 terrorist cells, arresting 2720 suspects and preventing 266 terror plots and 109 killing plans and 7 kidnappings, according to recent figures revealed by Moroccan competent authorities.

I) Regional and International Cooperation and Intelligence Sharing

A s r e g a r d s r e g i o n a l a n d internat ional cooperat ion, Morocco, convinced that the scourge of terrorism cannot be eliminated without collective and concerted action by all countries, has engaged, in a very responsible way, in the in te rnat iona l community’s counterterrorism initiatives. To that end, Morocco has set up many partnerships both bilaterally and at the multilateral level, focused on capacity building and intelligence sharing:

Allow me to cite a few examples:

• Moroccoisafoundingmemberof Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF)

Introduction

Faced with the rise of terrorism in the region, Morocco has developed, at the national level, a preventive and flexible strategy, to eradicate extremism and terrorism from their roots.

Its approach is based primarily on s t reng then ing secur i ty governance by improving the institutional and legal framework, as well as on the development of capacities in terms of anticipation, prevention, investigation and border surveillance.

Morocco has also restructured the religious field, in order to immunize people against extremist influences which are alien to the

specificities of the Islam practiced in Morocco, which advocates moderation and tolerance, giving great importance to training and education, promoting the role of mosques and the mastery of fatwa processes.

Morocco was itself a victim of terrorist attacks that killed many innocent people, in May 2003 and in April 2011. Hence, Morocco tries by all possible means, to fight against this international phenomenon, on the national, regional and internat ional levels and prevent terrorists from preparing, financing, or implementing their terrorist acts from its territory. Its actions include mainly:

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Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to India, H.E. Mr. Larbi reffouh


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• Morocco is also workingclosely with the US, the EU, and other regional neighbors through the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership Initiative.

• Moroccodevelopedanactionplan in collaboration with the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to counter terrorist financing.

• Morocco also has importantbilateral counterterrorism partnerships with African and European nations,

• I t i s a member o f theMediterranean 5+5 Defense initiative, aiming at increasing security cooperation in the Western Mediterranean.

• Morocco cooperates closelywith the United States through joint bilateral exercise called AFRICAN LION, which consists of cooperation on border security, training and Intelligence sharing,

• Morocco is also engaged inmany multinational Counter-Terrorism efforts, namely with the NATO in the Mediterranean region,

• Morocco established fruitfulbilateral cooperation in the military, operational, and intelligence fields with many Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates,

• theKingdomhasalso joinedSaudi Arabia -led military operation targeting Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen, by sending 6 military aircrafts.

• Morocco offers training toImams from the Arab world, Africa and Europe as part of its religious reform program that I will develop later in this presentation.

• BetweenMoroccoandIndia,there is a fruitful cooperation in terms of information and expertise exchange.

• Veryrecently,on31stMarch2015, Morocco has taken the initiative to establish

at the UN in New York a “Group of Friends on Counter-Terrorism,” consisting of 30 countries, including India and the five permanent members of the Security Council.

The aim of this group is to “create synergies between all initiatives” implemented within the UN, promote international cooperation in combating terrorism and share and exchange good practices in the fight against this scourge that threatens international peace and security,

The group will serve as an “informal and flexible space to discuss, coordinate and give impetus to UN activities in the field of fight against terrorism.

The creation of this group was welcomed by all the ambassadors of member countries, who see it as a “step in the right direction”, saying that this group can play a “leading role” to consolidate the initiatives and efforts of various UN bodies in the area of counter-terrorism.

They congratulated Morocco on its commitment in the fight against terrorism.

In addition to the five permanent members of the Security Council, this group is representative of the five continents and is composed of African, European, Asian, Latin American and Oceanic countries.

The group will meet once a year at the ministerial level on the margins of the General Assembly of the UN, and every two months at the level of permanent representatives accredited to the UN in New York.

II) Counter-terrorism law enforcement

Concerning leg is lat ion, in 2014, Morocco introduced an amendment to its existing anti-terrorism law.

Under the new law, the act of joining terrorist organizations,

advocating, glori fying and apologizing terrorism or inciting hatred or violence is considered as a crime. This law also extends the jurisdiction of the national courts to prosecute terrorist crimes whether those crimes are committed within or outside Moroccan national territories.

These amendments to the Penal Code were indeed timely and very much needed to counter the offensive propaganda targeting young Moroccans, especially as recent figures show that 1355 young Moroccans are actively fighting alongside Daesh and 500 others are active militants of this ‘organization’.

III) Development projects and political reforms

A) Poverty fighting

Regarding development programs, Morocco is fully conscious that countering terrorism is not just a security matter that requires a mere security response. Hence, the Moroccan government has tried to find socio-economic solutions to the root causes of terrorism.

So the Moroccan government tried to counter the appeal of extremist messages and ideologies, especially among the poor and disadvantaged, by improving healthcare and prov id ing job t ra in ing to jobless people, expanding rural infrastructure, and improving the overall livelihood of Moroccans.

Therefore, in May 2005, His Majesty King Mohammed VI launched a rural and urban development initiative called, “The National Human Development Initiative (INDH)”. It is a social program worth $1.2 billion that has helped create thousands of income-generating activities throughout the country and improved the lives of more than 5 million Moroccans.


B) Political reforms

As to the political reforms, the Moroccan government also considers political reforms and increased attention to human rights issues as important components of its efforts to combat the root causes of terrorism.

The main achievement in this area was the establishment by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the National Council of Human Rights (CNDH), an institution aiming to consolidate the commitment of Morocco regarding the protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms. Its role is to observe and monitor the situation of human rights, at the national and regional levels, investigate abuses, prepare and publish yearly reports on human rights and even intervene, to prevent any possible human rights violations.

Morocco also set up the Central Authority for the Prevention of Corruption in 2008, a body whose mission is to coordinate, supervise and follow up implementation of anti-corruption policies, collect and disseminate information in this area.

The new Moroccan Constitution adopted by referendum in July 2011 also confirmed this choice of a democratic and modern society that respects human rights, enhance equality of gender, plural identity, good governance and the rule of law.

IV) Promotion of Moderate Islam

Regarding the promotion of moderate Is lam, Morocco, convinced that extremists Jihadist derive inspirations from distorted theology, was a pioneering country in countering the jihadist ideology at home, by the promotion of the traditional school of Maliki Islamic law. It does this through various religious reforms including:

• upgradingplacesofworship,

• protecting mosques fromany kind of exploitation and closing unregulated mosques,

• using televisionand radio topromote moderate religious teachings,

• modernizing the teaching ofIslam,

• rehabilitatingthosewhohavebeen convicted of a terror-related crime,

• establishingareligiousCouncilfor Europe to encourage Moroccans there to practice Islam as it is practiced in Morocco,

• reviewingtextbooksandschoolcurricula to eliminate radical exhortations to violence,

• launching training programfor imams and “morchidate” (morchidate meaning female religious guides) whose role is to promote the values of moderation, openness and religious tolerance in mosques across the Kingdom.

As part of Morocco’s efforts to promote religious moderation and tolerance in the region, this program was upgraded to the status of an institute for the Training of Imams, Morchidines and Morchidates (male and female religious guides), which was inaugurated two weeks ago only by His Majesty the King.

The new institute, completed for a total cost of 23 million US$, will offer training to Imams from Morocco, the Arab world, Africa and Europe.

The institute is, thus, an expression of the supreme role of the institution of the commandership of the faithful as a custodian of an authentic tolerant and open Islam based on the Ashaari doctrine and the Malikite School of jurisprudence.

The new institute is part of an integrated strategy aiming at inculcating to the new generations of Imams and preachers the values of moderate Islam as it has

always been practiced in Morocco as a rampart against all forms of extremism.

The institute, to be based in the University area of Madinat AL Irfane, will complement other institutions in preserving Morocco’s religious identity and advocating the values of moderation, openness and tolerance.

Morocco’s integrated religious strategy rests on three pillars: institutions, efficient supervision and modern scientific training. The Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Morchidins and Morchidates is part of the third pillar.

With 1000-seat capacity, the new inst i tut ion houses an amphitheater, class and computer rooms, a multipurpose hall and Al Oukhoua Al Islamia mosque as well as a library equipped with rich and diversified resources.

The Inst i tute a lso has an accommodation and catering with 310 rooms (700 beds), two refectories and a wing for social and sports activities.

In addition to its role in preserving the spiritual identity of Moroccans and the unity of the Malikite school of jurisprudence, the institute will also serve to train Imams from other African sister countries such as Tunisia, Mali, Guinea Conakry, Cote d’Ivoire and European countries which request it.

Besides Moroccan students whose number stands at 150 Imams and Morchids and 100 Morchidates, the Institute is currently offering training to 447 foreign students (212 Malians, 37 Tunisians, 100 Guineans and 75 Ivoirians as well as 23 from France).

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Fundamental Freedoms and RightsExcerpts from Moroccan Constitution 2011

of war and all the grave and systematic violations of the Rights of Man are punished by the law.

Article 24

Any person has the right to the protection of their private life. The domicile is inviolable. Searches may only intervene in the conditions and the forms provided by the law.

Private communications, under whatever form that may be, are secret. Only justice can authorize, under the conditions and following the forms provided by the law, the access to their content, their total or partial divulgation or their summons [invocation] at the demand [charge] of whosoever. The freedom to circulate and to establish oneself on the national territory, to leave it and to return, in accordance with the law[,] is guaranteed to all.

Article 25

The freedoms of thought, of opinion and of expression under all their forms[,] are guaranteed. The freedoms of creation, of publication and of presentation [exposition] in literary and artistic maters and of scientific and technical research[,] are guaranteed.

Article 26

The public powers lend, by appropriate measures, their support to the development of cultural and artistic creation, and

Article 19

The man and the woman enjoy, in equality, the rights and freedoms of civil, political, economic, social, cultural and environmental character, enounced in this Title and in the other provisions of the Constitution, as well as in the international conventions and pacts duly ratified by Morocco and this, with respect for the provisions of the Constitution, of the constants [constantes] and of the laws of the Kingdom. The State works for the realization of parity between men and women. An Authority for parity and the struggle against all forms of discrimination is created, to this effect.

Article 20

The right to life is the first right of any human being. The law protects this right.

Article 21

All have the right to the security of their person and of their kin [proches] and to the protection of their assets. The public powers assure the security of the populations and of the national territory within respect for the fundamental freedoms and rights guaranteed to all.

Article 22

The physical or moral integrity of anyone may not be infringed, in whatever circumstance that may be and by any person that

may be, public or private. No one may inflict on others, under whatever pretext there may be, cruel, inhuman, [or] degrading treatments or infringements of [their] dignity. The practice of torture, under any of its forms and by anyone, is a crime punishable by the law.

Article 23

No one may be arrested, detained, prosecuted or condemned outside of the cases and forms provided by the law. Arbitrary or secret detention and forced disappearance are crimes of the greatest gravity and expose their authors to the most severe punishments. Any detained person has the right to be informed immediately, in a fashion which is comprehensible to him, of the reasons [motifs] of his detention and of his rights, including that of remaining silent. He must benefit, as well, from juridical assistance and of the possibility of communication with his relations, in accordance with the law.

The presumption of innocence and the right to an equitable process are guaranteed. Any detained person enjoys the fundamental rights and humane conditions of detention. He must benefit from programs of instruction and of reintegration [réinsertion]. All incitement to racism, to hatred and to violence is prohibited. Genocide and all other crimes against humanity, the crimes

Moroccan Constitution


of scientific and technical research, and to the promotion of sports. They favor the development and the organization of these sectors in independent manner and on democratic and specific professional bases.

Article 27

The citizens [feminine] and citizens [masculine] have the right of access to information held by the pubic administration, the elected institutions and the organs invested with missions of public service. The right to information may only be limited by the law, with the objective [but] of assuring the protection of all which concerns national defense, the internal and external security of the State, as well as the private life of persons, of preventing infringement to the fundamental freedoms and rights enounced in this Constitution and of protecting the sources and domains determined with specificity by the law.

Article 28

The freedom of the press is guaranteed and may not be limited by any form of prior censure. All have the right to express and to disseminate freely and within the sole limits expressly provided by the law, information, ideas and opinion.

The public powers encourage the organization of the sector of the press in an independent manner and on democratic bases, as well as the determination of the juridical and ethical rules concerning it. The law establishes the rules of organization and of control of the means of public communication. It guarantees


and the territorial collectivities work for the mobilization of all the means available [disponibles] to facilitate the equal access of the citizens [feminine] and citizens [masculine] to conditions that permit their enjoyment of the right:

– to healthcare;– to social protection, to medical

coverage and to the mutual or organized joint and several liability of the State;

– to a modern, accessible education of quality;

– to education concerning attachment to the Moroccan identity and to the immutable national constants;

– to professional instruction and to physical and artistic education;

– to decent housing;– to work and to the support of

the public powers in matters of searching for employment or of self-employment;

– to access to public functions according to the merits;

– to the access to water and to a healthy environment;

– t o l a s t i n g [ d u r a b l e ] development.

Article 32

The family, founded on the legal bonds of marriage, is the basic unit [cellule] of society.

The State works to guarantee by the law the protection of the family under the juridical, social and economic plans, in a manner to guarantee its unity, its stability and its preservation. It assures one equal juridical protection and one equal social and moral consideration to all children, [being the] abstraction made from their familial situation.

F u n d a m e n t a l i n s t r u c t i o n [enseignement] is a right of

access to these means respecting the linguistic, cultural and political pluralism of the Moroccan society. In accordance with the provisions of Article 165 of this Constitution, the High Authority of Broadcasting [Haute autorité de la communication audiovisuelle] sees to respect for this pluralism.

Article 29

The f reedoms o f reunion, o f a s sembly , o f peace fu l demonstration, of association and of syndical and political membership [appartenance], are guaranteed. The right to strike is guaranteed. An organic law establishes the conditions and the modalities of its exercise.

Article 30

All the citizens [feminine] and citizens [masculine] of majority, enjoying their civil and political rights[,] are electors and eligible. The law provides [prévoit] the provisions of [a] nature encouraging the equal access of women and men to elective functions.

The vote is a personal right and a national duty. Foreigners enjoy the fundamental freedoms recognized to Moroccan citizens [feminine] and citizens [masculine], in accordance with the law. Those among them who reside in Morocco can participate in local elections by virtue of the law, of the application of international conventions or of practices of reciprocity. The conditions of extradition and of granting of the right of asylum are defined by the law.

Article 31

The State, the public establishments



the child and an obligation of the family and of the State. A Consultative Council of the Family and of Childhood [Conseil consultatif de la famille et de l'enfance] is created.

Article 33

It is incumbent on the public powers to take all the appropriate measures with a view to:

– stimulate and make general the participation of youth in the social, economic, cultural and political life of the country;

– to aid the young to establish themselves in [an] active and associative life and to give assistance to them in the difficulty of scholarly, social or professional adaptation;

– to facilitate the access of the young to culture, to science, to technology, to art, to sports and to leisure, all in creation of propitious conditions for the full deployment of their creative and innovative potential in all these domains.

A Consultative Council of Youth and of Associative Action [Conseil consultatif de la jeunesse et de l'action associative], is created.

Article 34

The pub l i c powers enac t [élaborent] and implement the policies designed [destinées] for persons and for categories of specific needs. To this effect, it sees notably:

– to respond to [traiter] and provide for the vulnerability of certain categories of women and of mothers, of children, and of elderly persons;

– to rehabilitate and integrate into social and civil life the

physically sensorymotor [sensorimoteurs] and mentally handicapped and to facilitate their enjoyment of the rights and freedoms recognized to all.

Article 35

The right to property is guaranteed. The law can limit the extent and the exercise of it if the exigencies of economic and social development of the country necessitate it. Expropriation may only proceed in the cases and the forms provided by the law. The State guarantees the freedom to contract and free competition. It works for the realization of a lasting human development, likewise to permit the consolidation of social justice and the preservation of the national natural resources and of the rights of the generations of the future.

The State looks to guarantee the equality of opportunities for all and [to] one specific protection for the socially disfavored categories.

Article 36

The infractions relative to conflicts of interest, to insider crimes [délits d'initié] and all infractions of financial order are sanctioned by the law. The public powers are held to prevent and to reprimand, in accordance with the law, all forms of delinquency arising from the activity of the administrations and of the pubic organs [organismes], from the use of funds which they control [disposent], [and] from transfers [passation] and from the management of public markets.

In f luence t ra f f i ck ing and [trafficking] in privileges, the abuse of a dominant position and of monopoly, and all the other

practices contrary to the principles of free and fair competition in economic relations, are sanctioned by the law. A National Instance of Probity, of Prevention for the struggle against Corruption [Instance nationale de la probité, de la prévention de la lutte contre la corruption], is created.

Article 37

All the citizens [feminine] and citizens [masculine] must respect the Constitution and conform to the law. They must exercise the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution in a spirit of responsibility and of engaged citizenship where the exercise of the rights is made in correlation to the accomplishment of the duties.

Article 38

All the citizens [feminine] and citizens [masculine] contribute to the defense of the Country and of its territorial integrity against an aggression or threat [menace].

Article 39

All support, in proportion to their contributive faculties, the public expenditures [charges] which only the law may, in the forms provided by this Constitution, create and assess [répartir].

Article 40

All support with solidarity and proportionally to their means, the expenses that the development of the country requires, and those resulting from calamities and from natural catastrophes.


In a Radicalised Region, a Face of Modern Islam

By Tarun Basu (30-04-2015)

western Africa and the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

The horrific attack on the Bardo Museum, that resulted in the killing of 21 persons, mostly European tourists in the Tunisian capital, was a grim reminder of the vulnerability of the region to extremist violence.

"The Arabian Gulf is in a dangerous confrontation, its strategic security is on the edge, and the moment of truth distinguishes between the real ally and the ally of media and statements," the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, was quoted as saying in an uncharacteristic outburst. He was reacting to the Pakistan parliament's resolution counselling neutrality to the government in the Yemen conflict and rejecting the request to send troops for the Saudi Arabia-led military coalition.

Many saw the Saudi decision to lead a military operation sans a US security umbrella as a signal of the Gulf major's assertion as the region's politico-religious overlord. Others saw in the Yemen conflict the danger of it becoming a proxy war between Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia and Shiite-majority Iran, in a region where a bevy of Islamist extremists are holding it to ransom with their radical ideologies and medieval thinking.

Amid the political volatility and ideological chaos, one country that has stood out as a beacon of peace, stability and modernity is the low-profile nation of Morocco, wedged at the crosscurrents of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

Morocco sees itself as a "strategic link" between Europe and Africa. Because of its cultural origins, its multi-ethnic

The Arab world is in a bloody ferment. The Yemen conflict is just the latest in

the upsurge in regional unrest, compounded by the spread of extremist forces with their violent ideologies, that threaten to take the region and beyond into a vortex of uncertainty.

This may have unpredictable - and possibly dangerous - consequences.

The political volatility and theological rivalries are deleterious for not just the region's population

but is ominous for millions of expats from different countries, particularly the South Asian subcontinent, for whom the Gulf region has been a source of livelihood and well-being, and a passport to a better life.

The continuing instability in some of the countries in the Sahel and Maghreb has created a fertile ground for the spread of fundamentalist ideology and spread of terrorist networks such as the Al Qaeda in the Maghreb, Ansar Dine and Boko Haram in

Expert Opinion


heritage and its civilisational linkages with Europe, it has been able to promote a moderate and tolerant brand of Islam that has been a counterpoint to the radical fundamentalism and religious orthodoxy seen to dominate much of the Arab world.

"Morocco remains an island of political and social stability in a region where the forces unleashed by the Arab Spring have engendered political and social chaos, heralding a transformative process," remarked Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East), in India's Ministry of External Affairs, while speaking at a recent roundtable in New Delhi on 'India and Morocco: Imperatives of Cooperation'.

Why is Morocco different? Two reasons stand out: one, it is an adherent of the Malikit school of Islam, one of the more moderate strands of the religion, that not only advocates gender equality but also stands for women's emancipation, religious modernisation and zero-tolerance against radical thinking.

Two, it is led by a modernist, young monarch who has done a lot to instill a sense of confidence in him by the people of Morocco and the region. King Mohammed VI has undertaken path-breaking political and social reforms, begun by his visionary father, King Hassan II, and has been recognised for his efforts to resolve regional crises and play a useful mediatory role.

With its new constitution guaranteeing a prominent and credible role of an elective government alongside the

monarchy, Morocco stands in between the variety of political structures found in countries East, West and South which can give useful lessons to the rest of the world, The National Interest magazine in the US said.

It commended efforts made by the kingdom to beef up security measures, enhancing the rule of law, employing aggressive anti-poverty measures, upping e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t y and reforming the religious establishment by investing heavily in the spiritual, Sufi strand of Islam, its traditions deeply rooted in Morocco's history and culture with its Euro-Berber roots. that seemed to have paid it obvious dividends.

Morocco not only ensures that mosques remain free of radical teachings but also has taken pioneering steps to train imams from the Arab world and Europe. An Institute for the Training of Imams - a first in the Muslim world - has come up in Rabat as part of an integrated strategy aimed at inculcating values of moderate Islam as a bulwark against all forms of extremism.

The institute, equipped with a modern educational infrastructure, trains male and female religious guides, reviews textbooks and school curricula to eliminate radical exhortations and seeks to promote values of moderation, openness and religious tolerance in mosques across the kingdom.

Also, because of a highly trained and motivated police force, the country has managed to break up over 110 terror cells, prevented over 260 terror plots and 109 deadly plans, and arrested over 27000 militants, according to Larbi Reffouh, its ambassador to India. These put Morocco in the frontline of efforts in countering terror. Its initiative in setting up a 30-member Group of Friends on Counter-terrorism at the UN in New York has been highly appreciated.

But Morocco realises that countering terrorism is not just a religious or security matter. King Mohammed VI launched a rural and urban development plan called The National Human Development Initiative, a $1.2 billion worth of social programmes that have created thousands of income-generating activities and improved the lives of nearly five million Moroccans.

US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, at a recent debate in the Security Council, highlighted efforts made by Morocco to counter violent extremism and held out its example in striving to spread a brand of moderate Islam.

The French newspaper Le Monde wrote that "while many states are looking for the means to counter the influence of radical Islam, Rabat has come up with a Moroccan model" promoting its brand of "religious diplomacy" to complement its political reformism and economic progress.

It is important for India to work together not only with Morocco but with other moderate countries in the Maghreb region like Tunisia - which has been one of the democratic successes of the Arab Spring and also follows a reformist Islam - to develop a joint strategy to fight terrorism and counter the spreading poison of radical extremism.

Tarun Basu is the Chief Editor of Indo-Asian News Service. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at ([email protected])


The extraordinary delicacy of Fassi craftsmen’s work is fully apparent in the zellij and carved stuccowork they create

Pictorial Journey of Morocco

Moroccan Caftan

Moroccan Mosaic fountainsMoroccan mint tea set

Moroccan Tagine

Beautiful Images

Jamaa el Fna square, Marrakesh

Hassan Tower, rabat Bouregreg Marina, salé

royal Palace, Fes


Why Morocco is an Attractive Country for Investors?

2. Strong macroeconomic fundamentals

As far macroeconomic environment is concerned, despite a challenging international climate, Morocco has seen a steady economic growth:

Figures on Moroccan economy:

• GPDregisteredagrowthrateofabout 4.9% in 2013. According to the IMF, Morocco is expected to keep the same rate in 2015;

• Inflation is curbed to 0.9% onannual average during the last decade;

• foreigndebtisrelativelylow;• Unemployment dropped from

12.5% in 2001 to 8.5% in 2013; • FDIrosetoalmostUS$4billion

in 2013.

All of these combined achievements and economic performance are reflected by a clearly improved image of Morocco’s economy among international financial institutions, as well as with ranking agencies.

3. Business Climate

Morocco recognizes that investment is a key factor to ensure sustainable and, long-term economic growth. As such, it has made huge efforts in recent years to liberalize the economy by passing new laws aiming to improve investment conditions.

Hence, Morocco promulgated and modified a set of legal texts. These include, for example, the adoption of Investment Charter, the Commercial Code, the Customs Code, the labor code, the Law on free pricing and competition, the regulation of the

The Kingdom of Morocco has embarked , over the past decade, on an

unprecedented path of structural reforms on political, economic, social, and cultural fronts.

Conducted under the leadership of His Majesty king Mohammed VI, the overall goal of these reforms has been to establish a modern, open and democratic society and position the country as an attractive investment destination.

To this effect, many courageous and remarkable initiatives and actions have been achieved and appreciated, to their true value, by the international community.

Furthermore, located just 14 kilometers away from the European coast and at the crossroads of the main trade routes linking America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Morocco has a market that is highly brimming with economic activities and opportunities, which makes many foreign companies around the world show keen interest to do business in Morocco.

So in addition to the strategic geographical location what makes Morocco attractive to foreign investors?

This is the question I will attempt to answer in this presentation

1. Stable political environment

To star t wi th, i t i s worth under l in ing, in part icular , Morocco’s political stability which

is a prerequisite condition for any external investment.

Indeed, even as the political turmoil in the Arab world since 2010, has persisted and in some cases, has worsened, Morocco has continued to experience high degree of political stability, which draws its strength from both its political institutions and the wide and active participation of the civil society actors in public life and decision-making:

• Morocco has a monarchyestablished in the year 788 (that is 12 centuries ago) which ensures the unity of the country, and the reign of King Mohammed VI is marked by a desire to build a unified and modern democratic State, which respects its traditions and its identity;

• Morocco has a bicameralparliamentary system;

• Ajudicialbranchindependentof the other legislative and executive branches;

• Amulti-partysystem;

• It has on the ground over85,000 associations and NGOs which under take multidimensional actions;

• In July 2011, in the wakeof the revolutions of the "Arab Spring", Morocco has adopted a new Constitution by referendum that empowers the Parliament, enlarges individual and col lect ive l ibert ies, strengthens human rights and guarantees Moroccan plural identity.

Moroccan Economy

A Presentation by Bouthaina El Kerdoudi El Koulali Minister Counsellor, Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco


State’s markets, and the Law on the protection of industrial and commercial property, the creation of the commercial courts, and the regional investment centers to accompany projects.

All these measures are supported by a dynamic and well -structured banking and financial sector that is one the most effective in the developing countries.

4. Ambitious sector strategies

Morocco could never attract greater foreign investments, without the gradual implementation of a package of ambitious sectoral plans and strategies which enabled our country to make tangible economic progress.

These plans include:

“ E m e r g e n c e P l a n ” , w h i c h is dedicated to modernize the industrial sector and is expected to generate half a million jobs and substantially increase the share of industry in GDP from the current 14% to 23 %.

Logistics plan was launched in 2010 with the aim:

• To improve the country’slogistical competitiveness and;

• To reduce logistical costs from20% to 15% of GDP.

Green Morocco Plan launched in 2008 is designed to promote the development of the agricultural and territorial potential and modernize the agricultural sector to contribute to GDP with 17 billion US$ and create 1.15 million jobs by 2020 and triple the income of nearly 3 million people in rural areas.

"Halieutis plan for Fishing aims at upgrading and modernizing various sectors of the fishing industry and creating 75 000 jobs by 2020.

Morocco digital Plan 2013 has been built around the ambition to position Morocco as a regional hub for information and communication technologies.

Morocco launched the Solar and wind energy plans to promote energy production from renewable resources. These plans were designed to reduce Morocco’s dependence on imported energy and fight against climate change.

Housing plan endeavors to build 100 000 units per year and to expand social housing and build new cities. It is worth emphasizing that Morocco was ranked the first country in the world in terms of the fight against slums or shantytowns during 6th edition of the World Urban Forum in Roma.

Tourism vision 2020 launched in 2010 aims to make Morocco a Top-20 tourist destination, double tourist accommodation capacity to 200,000 new beds, attract 20 million tourists in 2020 and triple the number of national travelers, in 2020.

A l l those sec to r p lans a re implemented based on precise objectives, adequate funding and controlled programs offering real opportunities for investors.

5. World-class infrastructure

As to infrastructure, over the last decade, Morocco has undertaken large-scale programs aimed at modernizing its infrastructures and

elevating them to international standards. It now enjoys world-c lass ins ta l la t ions ; roads, motorways, rai l roads, and airports efficiently link all regions of the country and with the rest of the world.

Ports

The major achievement in this area is Tanger Med port which went into service in July 2007. It is one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean and in Africa, which accommodates 3.5 million shipment containers and by 2017, it is expected to more than double this capacity when its extension is complete.

Rail network

In the area of rail network, Morocco has also launched a project to install the first high-speed train in Africa.

In addition, Morocco’s telecom industry has rapidly grown, especially the mobile phone sector and has largely met international standards in this areas. Morocco's three mobile network operators have obtained 4G licenses very recently.

6. Free trade access to one billion people

Concerning free trade agreements, Morocco’ s process of economic liberalization and efforts to make its economy part and parcel of the global economy have been consolidated in particular through the conclusion of several bilateral free trade agreements, with its main trading partners namely:


The European Union (in 1996), EFTA countries (namely Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, in 1997), members of Arab league (in 1998), Turkey (in 2003), Tunisia, Jordan and Egypt (as part of Agadir agreement in 2004), and the United States (2005).

A trade agreement with the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) should shortly come into force.

Those agreements make Morocco one of the world’s most important free trade network areas. Their main aim is to transform Morocco into an attractive platform for foreign investments and a global gateway for exporting products free of duties towards a market of 55 countries, representing over a billion consumers and 60% of global GDP.

7. A dynamic & qualified workforce

Furthermore, with a population of 34 million inhabitants, according to the 2014 census, Morocco boasts a young and dynamic workforce of 12 million people.

- 70% of Moroccans are aged under 34 years;

Morocco has also undertaken an efficient reform of the educational and training system to meet the requirements and expectations of a market in search of more and more skilled and qualified human resources.

8. FDI

Against this background, and given all measures to improve overall investment attractiveness and channel financing to specific sectors, Morocco has seen some impressive growth in recent years in terms of direct capital inflows, mainly relying on the national privatization program, the conversion of foreign debt into investments and the operations of public services concessions.

Despite the context of the Euro-zone crisis and turbulence elsewhere in North Africa, FDI in Morocco hit a new record in 2013, growing by 25% to reach US$ 4 bn, becoming hence the recipient of the largest amount of FDI in the Maghreb region and among the top countries in the African continent.

The World Bank, in its “Global Investment Promotion Best Practices 2012” report, highlights the progress made by Morocco in investment promotion, and ranks the country as one of the best in the world in this field.

Historically, the majority of FDI inflow went to real estate and tourism, but this changed in 2012, under the “emergence plan”, since industries targeted are notably aeronautics and automotive sectors, attracting the lion’s share of foreign interest.

France, Saudi Arabia and Spain are the three main investors. Recently, hundreds of big multinational groups have installed their operations in Morocco in a variety of sectors.

9. Indian Investments in Morocco

Many Indian conglomerates are operating in Morocco, such as Birla Aditya, Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd., Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML).

TATA group has also a strong presence in Morocco with its various companies operating in the Kingdom, such as Tata M o t o r s , T a t a C h e m i c a l s , Tata Consultancy, Tata Steel, Tata Communications, which contribute to manufacturing and exporting of several products and services in Morocco.

India's Aditya Birla Group and the Tata Chemicals have an equal joint venture with a state-run company of Morocco, the OCP, at Jorf Lasfar, south of Casablanca,

to produce phosphoric acid, nearly all of which is exported to India.

The Tata motor is already working on the construction of buses in partnership with Morocco in Casablanca.

BEML aims to open a branch in Morocco in the framework of a joint venture.

The information technology company, Tata consultancy services, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Morocco to establish an off -shoring delivery center and a project to impart national training and e-governance.

Jubilant Bhartia Group plans to invest in the phosphate sector in partnership with OCP.

RJ Corp LTD bought in 2010, the subsidiary of multilateral firm "Pepsi Cola" in Morocco.

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, India's top drugmaker, launched in 2012 a production unit in Casablanca, with the medium-term project to distribute its generic medicine to all North African pharmaceuticals markets.

Numerous other Indian investments are implemented in the mining exploitation, namely, zinc, lead, gold and silver.

Given the bright prospects of relations with India, Morocco ambitions to deepen and expand this cooperation beyond trade and supply of phosphates , by es tab l i sh ing innovat ive partnerships and paving the way for new investments in areas such as auto industry, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, renewable energy, tourism and IT.

The ultimate goal will be to raise the level of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, which meets the aspirations of the two countries bound together by a longstanding friendship and common interests.

Moroccan Economy


Morocco's Economy

Adding Value: exports are Driving the sector Forward and Drawing in FDI

steel output annually and 1650 employees.

PHOSPHATES: According to the US Geological Survey 2011, Morocco possesses 77% of the world’s phosphate deposits (see analysis), with the local phosphate sector dominated by state-owned Office Chérifien des Phosphates Group (OCP), one of the largest three operators by exports in the world. Such is the size of OCP that according to the Ministry of Industry the firm represents as much as 69% of total industrial activity.

PROMISING SIGNS: While exports may have declined in 2013, the sector is anticipating general growth for the years ahead. To this end, OCP, which owns four mining centres and two processing plants, is aiming to double its annual capacity of phosphate between 2007 and 2017 by expanding current mines and launching new ones, with a particular focus on improving downstream activity. The kingdom will invest substantially between 2010 and 2020, which will translate into a total production of 50m tonnes, a rise over the current 30m tonnes. OCP will invest Dh130bn (€11.5bn) between 2011 and 2020, with Dh15bn (€1.3bn) and Dh28bn (€2.5bn) having already been invested in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The OCP investments will be partly used for constructing a phosphate cleaning plant in Merah, a 235-km-long pipeline between Khouribga and their Jorf site, and the opening of three new mines at the Khouribga mining

Wi th an inc reas ing focus on value-added expor t i ndus t r i e s

in manufacturing, industry in Morocco has transformed in recent years. This is in large part a result of the 2009 strategic plan to bolster six designated segments by investing billions of dirhams and facilitating new investments. The result has led to Morocco becoming one of Africa’s leading countries for industrial foreign direct investment (FDI).

INDICATORS: The broadly d e f i n e d i n d u s t r i a l s e c t o r contributed 14% to Morocco’s GDP in 2012. The sector also added 5000 jobs, which is critical for a country that eagerly seeks to slash unemployment rates.

FORWARD PLANNING: In many of the emerging markets in the MENA region, government strategies – while grandly announced and regularly lauded – often have only a modest impact on performance, and implementation generally lags targets. Morocco’s National Pact for Industrial Emergence (Pacte National pour l’Emergence Industrielle, PNEI), however, is very much an exception. Launched in 2008 as a more robust successor to 2005’s Emergence Plan, which had similar goals, the plan seeks to bolster six key sectors of the economy, including the aeronautics, automobile, agro-industry, offshoring, textiles and pharmaceuticals industries, with the aim of increasing exports and modernising its local industries

INDUSTRIAL PLATFORMS: The Moroccan government has

established a number of free trade and sectoral production zones in recent years in an effort to attract major foreign manufacturers to establish operations in Morocco. The industrial platforms fit within the PNEI plan, which foresees a total of 22 platforms to be created, centred primarily around Casablanca, Kenitra, Tangiers and Oujda, targeting in particular the automotive, aeronautics, electronics and offshoring sectors. Firms that establish operations within the industrial platforms benefit from a one-stop shop for administrative procedures, as well as on-site professional training for workers.

Efforts have been made to bolster the local aeronautics and automotive industries, and the strategy has proven successful with the arrival of Renault and Bombardier in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

In 2013 Tangiers Automotive City, a free trade zone aimed at the automotive industry, completed the first phase of its complex, which represents 55 ha out of a total 300. It is a subsidiary of the Tangiers Free Zone, a 3000-ha free trade zone that launched in 2009.

HEAVY INDUSTRY: Heavy industry firms in Morocco are active in a variety of areas, from chemicals to metals to large-scale manufacturing. Steel represents one of the busier fields of activity with 68 companies. Maghreb Steel, a privately owned and publicly traded local company, is the largest producer, with an estimated 2.9m tonnes of

Morocco Industry


site, which will expand production from 18.5m tonnes to 38m tonnes by 2020.

In 2013 the government signed a contract programme to help the sector grow its capacity, in order to generate Dh100bn (€8.9bn) by 2023. With the additional funds, the sector aims to improve the competitiveness of the plant chemicals, fertiliser, cosmetics, p las t ics and phosphorous chemicals sectors, as well as develop an industrial recycling industry. The government has set aside Dh1.07bn (€95m) out of a total Dh1.56bn (€138.5m) to be disbursed over the 2013-20 period.

CEMENT: With the range of construction projects currently under way in Morocco, the building materials sector has generally benefitted from high margins, making it profitable for the five cement firms operating in Morocco, namely Ciment d’Atlas; Holcim, a subsidiary of the Swiss group; Lafarge Maroc, which is part of a French multinational; Asment Témara, a subsidiary of Portuguese firm Cimpor; and Ciments du Maroc, a subsidiary of Italy-based Italcementi Group.

As is the trend in many other sectors , Moroccan cement producers have set their sights on expanding operations elsewhere on the African continent. In 2011 Ciments de l’Afrique (CIMAF), for example, was launched by Anas Sefrioui, the CEO of Moroccan developer Groupe Addoha. CIMAF started operations in Côte d’Ivoire in 2013 and aims to produce 120m cement bags, 10m of which will be destined for the local market. The firm announced the opening of a grinding centre in Douala, Cameroon in 2014, and expects to begin operations in Burkina Faso, Congo, Gabon and Nigeria over the next two years.

PHARMACEUTICALS: The pharmaceut ica ls sec tor in

Morocco is the second-largest in Africa, with 32 production sites churning out between 250m and 300m units in recent years, and strong growth potential, due to rising demand at home and in North and West Africa. While the scope for future expansion is significant, current growth rates average around 4%, which is moderate compared to the averages of between 10% and 15% elsewhere in Africa. Some 65% of local consumption is produced domestically, with per-capita consumption hovering around €40 a year, although specialised treatments and care such as oncology are still generally dependent on imports. Imports have been increasing in recent years.

R o u g h l y 8 - 1 0 % o f l o c a l production is currently being exported to countries in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Indeed, according to the Moroccan Association for the Pharmaceutical Industry, exports rose by 16.1% by the end of November 2013, and look set to grow further on the back of an announcement by French pharmaceuticals firm Sanofi that it plans to open a €20m logistics facility in Casablanca to both supply the domestic market as well as export to neighbouring countries.

TEXTILES: The textiles industry is one of the country’s most established industrial segments with 1600 companies operating in the kingdom. Traditionally a major source of exports, it has grappled with an increase in competition from Asian producers including Thailand and China. The end of the multi-fibre accord, combined with the subsequent slump in demand from Europe, the primary export destination, has forced a number of producers to shift attention towards fast fashion – a field where the country’s fortuitous proximity to consumer markets in

Europe and the Middle East gives it an edge over Asian competitors. The sector still represents a key component of the country’s economic landscape, accounting for between 175,000 and 200,000 jobs in total and 40% of industry sector jobs, as well as 7% of the country’s GDP, according to the country’s textiles association. The sector also exports Dh31bn (€2.8bn) worth of goods annually.

AUTOMOTIVE: The automobile manufacturing sector has been one of the economy’s best-performing in recent years and in 2013 in particular. The industry has benefitted from sustained support from the government through targeted special economic zones and incentive packages, as well as through the PNEI – all of which have sought to boost not only assembly and manufacturing activities, but also component suppliers throughout the value chain. Projections are optimistic for the mid-term. “The sector is growing exponentially, but now it has to fill the order books and meet demand,” Abdelaziz Meftah, the director of Moroccan Association for the Industry and Trade of Automobile, told OBG.

According to a report by PwC, the kingdom will be the 19th-largest vehicle producer in the world by 2017. Most production is destined for export, given the limited size of the Moroccan market, where the average number of units sold hovers around 130,000 a year for the population of 33m, roughly 10% that of much more mature markets in Europe.

Morocco produced a total of 108,743 vehicles in 2012, according to the International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. This was up 83% from the previous year, positioning the kingdom as the largest car manufacturer in North Africa and the second-largest car manufacturer in Africa, behind South Africa.

Morocco's Economy


AERONAUTICS: A decade ago Morocco’s aeronautics industry was non-existent, but today i t is growing rapidly. The segment has benefitted from the Emergence Plan and the PNEI, as well as the establishment of vocational schools targeting the sector, such as the Moroccan Aeronautical Institute, and dedicated industrial zones like Midparc, outside of Casablanca. In 2013 the aeronautics industry represented 5% of Morocco’s GDP, according to the Group of Moroccan Aerospace Industries,

years , wi th the arr ival of Bombardier’s manufacturing plant among the most prominent. The Canadian manufacturer built a 13,935-sq-metre factory located in Midparc. The company projects injecting $200m in investment in Morocco, and by 2020 it will create 850 jobs.

AGRO-INDUSTRY: In 2008 the government launched the Green Morocco Plan (Plan Maroc Vert, PMV) to boost agricultural output through mechanisms such as increased private investment, improved efficiency and greater

by 5.1%, or Dh1.5bn (€133.2m), by November 2013, driven by agro-industry, which witnessed an increase of 9.9% in exports, or Dh1.6bn (€142.1m), according to AMDI. The food processing sector has transformed in recent years, with Moroccan brands such as El Jaouda, a diary company, and Agro-Food Industrie, which specialises in halal baby food, increasingly appearing on the shelves of both local and foreign grocery stores.

ELECTRONICS: The electronics industry, also a key pillar of the PNEI, has provided a hefty source of revenues, equalling Dh7bn (€621.6m) in 2013, with exports growing by 11.9%, according to the Ministry of Finance. Consumer electronics account for a limited part of the total activity, given the modest scale of the domestic market, with a focus on providing electronic components for the aeronautics and automotive sectors. According to press reports, targeted investments could boost the sector’s GDP contributions to Dh3.5bn (€310.8m) by 2015, allowing for the creation of 9000 new jobs, provided the field can expand as a supplier for the still-growing automotive and aeronautics industries through investments similar to Nexans’ $10m Mohammedia plant, which produces some 21,000 km of electrical cable.

SMES: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have also benefitted from major manufacturers, such as Renault and Bombardier, entering the market in Morocco, as they require subcontractors for their manufacturing needs. “Renault’s new factory in Tangiers was a boost to SMEs. For example, it has provided significant additional business to Moroccan wiring companies. The same is true for Bombardier’s new operations in Morocco,” Saad Hamoumi, the president of the SME committee of the General Confederation of Moroccan Companies, told OBG.

Soruce: Oxford Business Group

Morocco saw more than a 10% increase in exports in the aerospace industry

yet this figure has been growing at 20% annually. In 2012 the sector represented Dh6.6bn (€588.8m) in exports.

The sector employs 10,000 people – a figure expected to double by 2018 – in more than 100 firms, including subsidiaries and affiliates of Airbus, Boeing and EADS. In 2012 the aeronautics industry reached Dh6.5bn (€577.2m), representing 12% of exports, and by September 2013 that figure had increased to 18%, according to AMDI. By November 2013 exports rose by 12.2%, or Dh800m (€71m).

The field has received a steady spate of investments in recent

downstream processing. The PMV had the target of attracting from Dh110bn-150bn (€9.9bn-13.3bn) into as many as 900 different projects. According to the government, total sector investment increased 117% from 2008-13, rising to more than Dh70bn (€6.2bn). Private sector investment alone rose from Dh3.3bn (€293m) in 2008 to Dh6.3bn (€559.4m) in 2013, more than a 90% increase. Between 2015 and 2020 the government forecasts Dh125bn (€11.1bn) in investments, with Dh52bn (€4.6bn) coming from the private sector.

Exports for the sector increased

Morocco's Economy


Re-imagining Africa: In trying to elevate the Development Discourse,

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI shares Complementarities with narendra Modi

By Rudroneel Ghosh Times of India

October 20, 2014

international because the world simply can’t shut its eyes and wish the epidemic away. Already the disease has showed its potential for infecting people outside Africa. This is natural in a globalised world. Hence, the international community must step up medical aid to the affected countries. Having said that, there’s no escaping the fact that the long-term solution to the Ebola problem is development.

For far too long Africa has been perceived as a basket case by the international community. This has led most donor nations to view their efforts in Africa as charity. But African problems cannot be solved by charity alone. African problems need African solutions. In this regard, one African leader who has been extremely forthright in challenging the continent’s existing development paradigm is Morocco’s King Mohammed VI. The latter has been championing greater cooperation between African countries to develop a unique African model of growth that relies on African resources and skills.

In fact, in his speech to the UN general assembly King Mohammed urged the West to not look at African development processes through the prism of its own high standards. More

In a dire warning recently the World Health Organization stated that unless international

efforts are stepped up West Africa could see as many as 10,000 new Ebola cases per week in another two months. The statement not only highlights the gravity of the epidemic but also exposes the harsh material reality of Africa. There’s no denying that Ebola is a highly contagious disease. But

its spread in West Africa has as much to do with poverty as it has to do with the virulent nature of the Ebola virus. Countries such as Liberia and Sierra Leone are plagued with gut-wrenching poverty and poor infrastructure, making it impossible to fight an Ebola outbreak of this magnitude.

It is this reality that needs to be factored into the international f ight against Ebola. I say

Economic Diplomacy

senegal’s President, H.E. Mr. Macky sall welcomes King of Morocco, His Majesty King Mohammed VI at Leopold sedar

senghor Airport in Dakar, senegal, on May 21, 2015


recently, in a message to the 9th African Development Forum in Marrakech, he called on the West to adopt an objective approach to African development issues while simultaneously emphasising the need for greater sub-regional cooperation among African sister countries.

King Mohammed’s clarion call for Africa to trust Africa so that countries on the continent pool their resources to take advantage of the opportunities presented by globalisation is a real game-changer. For it represents a rare occasion where an African leader has chosen to ignore the pall of gloom and hopelessness that plagues the continent and focus on Africa’s potential to emerge as a pole of global growth. In sharp contrast to the poverty of ideas that has traditionally dominated the African discourse, King Mohammed’s emphasis on African resourcefulness and self-reliance comes as a breath of fresh air.

In that sense , what King Mohammed is seeking to achieve

politically and economically for Africa is akin to what Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to achieve for India. Both leaders have sought to elevate the development discourse to a higher plane while re-defining equations

between politics and economy. If Modi is pushing economic development as a means for socio-political empowerment, King Mohammed’s sustainable development pitch represents a holistic approach to deal with African problems of poverty and growing threat of extremism. Both are calling for Western investments for their respective countries, not as charity but as a lucrative opportunity.

King Mohammed’s pitch for a ‘New Africa’ resonates strongly with Modi’s pitch for a ‘New India’. Thus, it makes eminent sense for both Morocco and India to enhance bi lateral cooperation as they try to tackle the developing world’s pressing problems. Morocco already has a proven record of championing intra-Africa cooperation. India under Modi’s leadership can use Morocco as a springboard for launching a fresh African engagement. With Rabat by its side, New Delhi should not pass up the opportunity to help shape a new African development paradigm.

Economic Diplomacy

His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco talks with Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara at Felix Houphouet Boigny airport

His Majesty King Mohammed VI meets with Guinea-Bissau's President


Focus Africa: Modi’s Robust Foreign Policy should expedite Cooperation

with this Vital Continentby Rudroneel Ghosh

The Times of India, June 12, 2015

So far Modi’s foreign policy has touched upon India’s immediate neighbourhood — as exemplified by his recent successful trip to Bangladesh — looked to enhance cooperation with East Asia as part of the government’s Act East strategy, sought to improve strategic ties with global heavyweights the US, Japan and China, and attempted to boost business with middle powers such as France, Germany and Canada.

In all of this it’s evident that Modi’s foreign policy is based on the principle of using diplomacy as a tool to facilitate domestic growth. Investment and economic

With the Narendra Modi government having completed its first year

in office, even its harshest critics will acknowledge its achievements on the foreign policy front. There’s no denying that Modi has injected a new verve into India’s foreign relations. I say Modi because it’s the PMO that has been directing India’s diplomatic initiatives rather than the ministry of external affairs. And because Modi himself has lent his weight and charisma to these initiatives that the international community has begun looking at India with greater interest.

ties have been the main focus of Modi’s high-profile foreign tours. Under the Make in India initiative the government is vigorously trying to attract foreign funds to boost India’s infrastructure development and kick start its next economic growth spurt.

Whether foreign investments start flowing into India’s economy in large quantities is something that only time will tell. Nonetheless the Modi government deserves high marks for its foreign policy efforts. That said, it ought to make sure that the impressive beginning in the first year of office does not peter out over time. After all this government has another four years to go and the next time Modi visits the US, China or Germany, much of the initial euphoria would have worn out.

But if India wants a permanent seat at the international high table it must display the appetite to sustain its foreign policy initiatives even as they become more transactional from here on.This would require the Modi government to focus on new areas of opportunities that may not be immediately evident to the Indian audience.

One such area is Africa. Hitherto the Modi government has given little attention to African nations. It postponed the India-Africa Forum Summit that was to be held last year due to concerns over the Ebola outbreak in West

senegal’s President, H.E. Mr. Macky sall welcomes King of Morocco, His Majesty King Mohammed VI at Leopold sedar

senghor Airport in Dakar, senegal, on May 21, 2015

Economic Diplomacy


Africa — something that was seen as poor form on New Delhi’s part. To make up for it the summit will be held this year in October and all African heads of state have been invited.

Why is Africa important for India? Apart from the fact that the continent has a wealth of natural resources, Africa also represents a huge market for Indian investors, much of which remains untapped. There’s no denying the fact that China has stolen a march over India in this respect. Chinese presence in Africa is ubiquitous as Beijing is heavily involved in building infrastructure in multiple countries. In fact, China’s overall trade with Africa stands at $200 billion compared to India’s $70 billion (2013 figures). However, this gap can close fast if the Modi governments engages in some deft diplomacy.

And this is the opportune moment for such a strategic foray. Africa today is rising. In 2013 it was declared as the fastest growing continent. True, much of this growth is driven by rise in commodity prices. But what is under-reported is the huge improvement in economic governance across Africa. This in turn has significantly reduced the cost of doing business on the continent. Add to this the fact that Africa’s population is growing. The UN estimates that by 2035 half of all Africans will live in cities. Put together, that means Africa has one of the fastest growing middle classes in the world. These statistics have even forced the US to change its perception of Africa — the continent is no longer viewed as an aid-guzzling basket case but a vibrant market with unlimited business potential.

That President Barack Obama hosted the first-ever US-Africa business summit in Washington last year is a clear sign of the

changing times. Of course, Africa has its challenges too — conflicts, corruption and poor infrastructure affect several countries. But things will improve and investing in Africa today will yield huge dividends in the long run. Which is why India needs a reliable partner to help it navigate the fast-changing developments on the continent. One such partner can be Morocco. Guided by the vision of its monarch, King Mohammed VI, Morocco has been playing a pivotal role in championing development in North, West and Sub-Saharan Africa on the basis of South-South cooperation.

Encouraging African nations to help each other in combating poverty and facing security challenges, Morocco’s emphasis on unlocking the potential of the African people is praiseworthy. For the only way Africa can enjoy the fruits of sustainable development is if African solutions are found for African problems. This is precisely the message Morocco has tried to deliver through King Mohammed VI’s recent tour of West African nations. Whether it was the signing of 15 public-private and private-private

economic partnership agreements with Senegal, the donation of two tonnes of medicine to Ivory Coast’s Anti-Aids Program, the handing over of drinking water production equipment to Guinea-Bissau or the human development initiatives with Gabon, King Mohammed VI’s visit to these brother countries underlined the need for African self-reliance.

All of this makes Morocco the ideal partner for India in Africa. Besides, it’s well known that the Modi government likes to tap into the Indian diaspora to further its foreign policy objectives. However, most of the sizeable Indian diaspora in Africa is concentrated in Anglophone African nations. Focusing our efforts here alone will not suffice if India wants a true pan-African presence. In this respect, Morocco can be India’s gateway to Francophone African nations, opening up new avenues of cooperation. In light of the huge potential, New Delhi should waste no time in partnering with Rabat and making the upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit a grand success.

His Majesty King Mohammed VI at the Presidential Palace in Libreville, Gabon with Gabonese President, H.E. Ali Bongo Ondimba on June 8, 2015

Economic Diplomacy


Agricultural Crops in Morocco

wheat, 26% durum wheat, 39% barley and 5% corn).

The production is higher in traditional regions, mainly such as Chaouia, Oriental, Doukkala-Abda (15% per région) and at a minor scale in Haouz, Taza-El Hoceima, Gharb, Meknes and Tadla-Azilal (7-9% each), all providing more than 84% of national production. In the other 8 regions, production is very low (1-5%) or not existing (in the desert) prompting the Green Morocco Plan to advocate conversion to more appropriate activities.

Covering an area of 351,600 hectares, pulses production reached 335,000 tons, in 2011. It is concentrated in the regions of Fez-Boulmane, Abda-Doukkala, Chaouia-El Hoceima and Taza

fodder) are distributed throughout the Kingdom.

However, the cereal sector remains dependent on intra and inter-climatic variations. So Morocco imports 11 to 66 million quintals of grain annually (on average 53.8% of wheat, 11.7% of durum wheat, 10.6% and 23.9% of barley corn). The same situation is seen in legumes sector, since Morocco, which has been exporting these products for the past 20 years after independence, is now importing a large part of the domestic market needs.

National area covered by four major cereals exceeds five million hectares and production varies according to weather changes, ranging from 17.5 to 103.6 million quintals (on average 30% of

Morocco has opted for a strong agriculture since independence

Moroccan Economy

Regions of Souss Massa Draa, Gharb, Doukkala, C h a o u i a , s o u t h e r n

prov inces , Or ien ta l . . . a re geographical areas where the Kingdom produces very diverse cultures.

Due to its soil, climate, socio-economic and human conditions, Morocco has a diversi f ied agriculture. In the 16 regions, Kingdom can produce everything from major crops and livestock linking the farmer to his land to the high value export crops as well as the vegetable and tropical crops which have recently been introduced to Morocco.

Crops: Increased dependence on climate

The major crops (cereals, legumes,


Moroccan Economy

(12-26%) which together with Tanger-Tetouan (8.6%) 3/4 of the national production.

Arboriculture: between export and import

With a total production of 6.7 million tones covering an area of 1.5 million hectares, the Moroccan orchard is as diverse as are the relief and climate in the Kingdom. All types of fruits are produced from rosaceous fruit in cold and mountainous climate, ranging from the dates produced in southern oasis to the plains with citrus, cherries, avocados... Overall, fruit production is not enough for Moroccans consumption, especially for certain Rosaceae requiring cold weather (apples,

pears ...) whereas for other species, production exceeds consumption, ensuring even substantial exports.

As to the olive tree, Mediterranean symbol of fertility and longevity is at the top of arboriculture (covering 60% of the area). It is grown, in almost all regions of the country. It produces ancient oil for local consumption and is also highly demanded worldwide (extra virgin). The Green Morocco Plan in fact, with the almond tree, makes out of it one of the main axes of the reconversion.

Another essential component of arboriculture is citrus which represent a dynamic export culture, and is in constant search for new markets.

Citrus production requires highly technical expertise and advanced equipment (drop by drop irrigation system, degreening, cold ...). It is concentrated in certain regions, since more than half of the 16 regions of the country produce little or nothing at all. The 1.8 million tons produced annually are provided by Souss 87%; Massa Draa (40%) and the regions of Tadla-Azilal, Gharb and Oriental totaling 47% of the total. The rest is divided between Taza-Al Hoceima, Tangier-Tetouan and Haouz (2-7% each).

The date palm which is the subject of numerous modernization and equipment programs could help, in the medium term, to significantly reduce our imports and in long term, meet domestic demand and even ensure exports according to forecast MOROCCO GREEN PLAN. Currently, Morocco produces about 100,000 tons of dates in a favorable year, or about 3% of world production.

Market garden/maraichage:

Fruit and vegetable culture in

Morocco is one of the most important areas of irrigated agriculture, given the jobs it generates in the areas o f production and packaging, and all income generating activities centering around it (especially small industry, services ...).

This sector is also known for its high investments, high technology stakeholders, agribusiness, the currency provision, ...

The main crops are fruit and vegetables ( tomato types , peppers, aubergines, courgettes, cucumbers, peas, ...) stems or roots vegetables (asparagus, potato, carrot, radish, . . .) , vegetables with leaves (lettuce, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, endive, spinach, onion, ...) and flowers vegetables (cauliflower). In the same category, are considered melon, strawberry and red fruits, watermelon, etc.

M o r o c c a n p r o d u c t i o n o f vegetables is constantly in search for the best quality, to fulfill the highest international standards and is being continually diversified to meet the changing demands of foreign consumers.

The Market Garden covers an area of over 31 600 ha (including 13,400 under greenhouses) and provides an output of 1.7 million tons of which about 731 000 tons are exported.

The natural assets of the Souss Massa Draa region turns it as the main provider of products ( such as tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, ...) supplying almost 70%, while Doukkala-Abda region, provides more than 3/4 of national production.

It is worth emphasizing that in recent years, fruit and vegetable culture in the region of Oued Dahab Lagouira has begun to experience a notable growth especially in greenhouses with high added value for export (cocktail tomato, melon, ...). Thanks to favorable


Moroccan Economy

environmental conditions in this region, it is possible to obtain all kinds of products at desired timing and in accordance with the market demand.

The season gardening, covers 277,000 hectares and provides 7.2 million tons of vegetable production, 3/4th of which are produced in 7 regions. The 4 main areas, which provide half of the national production, are Meknès-Tafilalet, Tanger-Tetouan, Gharb and Souss Massa (between 10 and 16% each). The rest comes from Chaouia, Abda-Doukkala and Laâyoune Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra (7-9%).

Organic farming: Multiply the area by 10 by 2020

Growing organic production has been for longtime weakly practiced by a few Moroccan farmers whose activity was limited to exports, because of the difficulties they encountered in producing and marketing such products. For example, 1 ha of organic tomato produces 30 tons compared with 80 to 120 tons of conventional tomato.

The development prospects of this sector were revised upward from

almost 13 000 tons (vegetables, citrus and processed products) to 60 000 tons. The objective seems utopian but it is the ambitious goal of the program agreement signed on the sidelines of the 4th edition of the foundations of agriculture in April 2011 between the State and the AMABIO association, a total of 1.121 billion dirhams, including 286 million for the state and 835 for the profession. The contract program plans to increase the area of production from 3 800 hectares to 40 000 in 2020.

In the domestic market, organic products are virtually unknown and even surplus of non exported production is used as conventional products.

However, in recent years, attempts to propose organic products to Moroccan consumers are emerging either in specialized shops, in supermarkets fresh food aisles or organic baskets. This system establishes a direct relationship between the producer and the consumer, who gets (e.g in Casablanca) a basket of 15 kg of seasonal vegetables for 20 US$.

Industrial crops

Industrial crops include all plants

whose products are used in the food industry, such as, sugar crops, sugar beet and sugar cane. Industrial crops cover 82,700 ha and produce 3.2 Million tons of which 87% are divided between Doukkala-Abda ( 4 0 . 6 % ) , t h e Gharb (26.3%), Oriental (10.6%) and Tadla- azilal (10%). It has to be noted that M o r o c c o c a n p r o du c e i n a favorable year

up to 500 000 tons of sugar for a currently estimated consumption of 1.2 million tons.

Oilseeds

The cultivation of oilseeds (groundnut, sunflower, rapeseed, linseed, etc.) has benefited, for fifteen years of a government subsidy to cut down the seed oil consumption bill. Morocco imports 80% of i t s needs amounting to 7 billion dirham. Thus, sunflower peaked in the 1990s covering an area of 200 000 hectares, with a guarantee of market and price support. However, after the withdrawal of the state support and the opening of the market, the profitability of this production turned to be insufficient to compete with import prices.

Today, oilseeds cover an area of 55,600 hectares and produce 91,000 tons of seeds, mainly in Gharb (70%), Tangier-Tetouan (22%) and Meknes (6%). It should be noted that for the consumer, olive oil cannot be substituted for cooking oils.

Edited from la Vie Economique Magazine


Ninety years and counting

As it edges towards its 100-year anniversary in 2020, the global integrated phosphate and fertilizer producer OCP Group has much to celebrate. With sole responsibility for Morocco’s vast phosphate reserves, OCP has adapted its role over the decades with dynamism and flexibility, setting itself new priorities that reflect the changing global economic landscape and growing demand, in an era where challenges differ greatly from those faced decades earlier. Today the Group is a major player in the global drive to boost sustainable agricultural productivity, with a particular focus on protecting

the environment and supporting African farmers.

About OCP

OCP was set up in 1920 to oversee the extraction and development of Morocco’s vast phosphates reserves, which are the largest in the world and amongst the richest in variety and quality. Today, the Group is active across the entire phosphate value chain, with operations that include extracting, processing and transforming, alongside the marketing and selling of both phosphates and finished products. OCP currently holds the number one spot in the phosphate market global rankings

and is the world’s largest exporter of phosphate rock and phosphoric acid. It also features on the global list of top five fertilizer producers.

Worldwide presence

An annual phosphate rock capacity of 30m tonnes has enabled OCP to acquire a third of the world phosphate export market. Its reach extends across all five continents, giving it a presence in over 150 countries. OCP operates four mining centres and nine chemical manufacturing facilities in Morocco and beyond. Access to the Moroccan ports of Casablanca, JorfLasfar, Safi and Laayoune on the Atlantic Ocean

oCP Group, MoroccoA World Leader in Phosphate and Fertilizer Production Committed to Feeding the Planet sustainably and Responsibly

Business Profile


supports its export activity and has helped the Group to build up a customer base of more than 160 clients.

Operational excellence

OCP’s proac t ive bus iness strategy, based on offering clients tailored solutions in the form of customised products and logistical services, lies at the heart of its modern-day operations. The Group has developed a portfolio of innovative and high-quality products that can be adapted for use on a wide variety of soil and plants.

Its operations today are the legacy of an in-depth industrial t ransformat ion, developed through an outstanding R&D arm, which has brought broad-based change and innovation in production tools, processes, technologies and practices. OCP’s R&D team includes over 170 researchers, working across the entire industrial value chain. By combining methods and practices developed in-house

with international best practices, OCP has been able to create a global production system capable of serving its world-class ambition and excellent standards of delivery. Major milestones have included the rolling out of soil knowledge enhancement programmes, which transformed OCP’s entire operation. In a separate development, the launch of the slurry pipeline in 2014 proved pivotal, revolutionising phosphates t ranspor t and transforming the group’s industrial value chain by facilitating the use of an integrated method based on the hydraulic conveyance of phosphate pulp.

Supporting Africa

As an African company, OCP is committed to promoting a prosperous agriculture industry across the continent by helping local farmers to increase their crop yields. The Group provides producers with know-how, expertise and other assistance, including soil fertility maps and good practices, across the value

chain, making it easier and more affordable for African farmers to use fertilizers. Figures show that in the five-year period to 2012, the quantity of fertilizers exported by OCP to the continent increased six-fold to reach almost 1m tonnes.

Its commitment to helping develop a ‘rising continent’ has also seen OCP embark on several collaborative ventures, including a number of innovative South-South partnerships. The joint development of fertilizer plants and proactive support of local industrial and economic ecosystems has helped to create myriad jobs and boost local economies across the continent.

On a nat ional level , OCP contributes to Morocco’s wealth and well-being through exports and close collaboration with smallholder farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the local communities that surround its operations. Its projects range from related industrial ventures to real estate and leisure facilities.


The OCP story in numbers

• Number one globally for phosphate exports

• One third of the global market share of phosphates

• 95 years of operations• 23,000 collaborators• 19% share of Morocco’s

exports • A presence in over 150

countries across all five continents

• Over 160 customers• Phosphate rock annual

capacity of 30m tonnes• Targeting annual phosphate

rock production of 55m tonnes • Looking to double mining

production capacity and triple fertilizer production capacity by 2025

Feeding the future

Faced with several complex challenges when it comes to feeding both the earth and the planet, OCP’s dynamic approach and enterprising spirit have proved essential in plotting growth. OCP is strengthening its anchorage in the international phosphate markets and responding to rising global demand by undertaking a major capital investment programme on the back of a successful $1bn bond loan. The funds raised will be used to finance an ambitious industrial development plan, which aims to increase annual phosphate rock production in the coming years, doubling mining production capacity and boosting fertilizer production capacity three-fold by 2025, while also financing its ongoing operations.

OCP’s mult i -bi l l ion dol lar capital investment campaign comes against a backdrop of rising demand for agricultural products. Figures suggest that world agricultural production

will need to increase to 7.5bn tonnes in 2015 to meet demand, heightening the role played by fertilizers. OCP’s integrated factory in JorfLasfaris set to be boosted by the addition of four new units, pushing up annual fertilizer production capacity to 2m tonnes.

Going forward, OCP will maintain its focus on protecting and promoting global agriculture through sustainable development, championing environmental protection through the use of the most advanced technologies available. A culture based on the exchange of ideas and a collective thought process is also key, highlighting OCP’s commitment to making a major contribution to the global debate on sustainable agriculture production.

OCP will continue to collaborate with partners and undertake joint actions to promote agriculture prosper i ty , mainta in ing a particular focus on promoting innovation and investment in

Africa, as part of a broader bid to revitalise agriculture across the continent and elsewhere in the Global South.

Business Profile


Morocco is a country full of exquisite treasure; a treasure of culture,

beautiful mountains, rugged coastlines, markets and mosques. Yet it does not only restrain to this. The country has immense potential in the world of energy, chemical, oil and gas, and various engineering industries.

We like the country, people are positive and OCP has been supporting Indians. In fact, my company is looking forward for further cooperation.

strong Business Relationship with Moroccan Market

By Basheeruddin Abdul Rehman Chairman & Managing Director, Furnace Fabrica

Indian success story

One such example was witnessed when we, Furnace Fabrica (India) Ltd. successfully completed the project of OCP, named JPH / U 263 Sulphur Melting and Filtration Unit at Jorf. With a capacity of 6000 TPD, our scope consisted of detailed design engineering, supply, fabrication and erection of Mechanical, Structural, Civil, Electrical and Instrumentation works. The execution of the project not only highlighted the talent of Morocco’s skilled personnel, but also on their graceful and helpful nature.

22 Indian workforce is currently engaged in this project at Jorf. I have personally visited Morocco more than eight times. My son Riaz Basheruddin speaks fluent French and is involved in this project.

We are obliged to say that Moroccan client is by far the most understanding and the best of the clients we have worked for until now. Well maintained work sites, pleasing locations and favorable weather conditions, Morocco proves to be a highly preferred locations in building industries.

Sulphur melting and filtration unit at Jorf, Morocco being executed by Furnace Fabrica (India) Limited for OCP


raiz Basheeruddin, Director Furnance Fabrica

Furnace Fabrica (India) Limited is always willing to stretch its hands across the horizon and develop a trust worthy and strong business relationship with the Moroccan market. With the rich potentials of its market, we would love to help Morocco build into a world

wide industrial competitor.

Morocco’s culture and life is close to European culture. There are plenty of opportunities for Indian businesses. Country is peaceful and there is no ill feeling towards the expatriates.

Sulphur melting and filtration unit at Jorf, Morocco being executed by Furnace Fabrica (India) Limited for OCP


Moroccan Women on the Move

the latest figures, there are 5000 women entrepreneurs, accounting for 10% of Moroccan enterprises. With this number, Morocco is well ahead of several emerging countries and stands out as the dominant country in the African continent.

Since its independence in 1956, the Kingdom of Morocco has made the promotion of women's rights

the very pillar of the democratic society it seeks to build.

Over the past decade, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has achieved a great deal in terms of Moroccan women's institutional and democratic empowerment by encouraging their participation in public life and employment in the civil service without discrimination, and by ensuring fair, increased representation in central and local government, parliament and all decision–making positions.

Today, Morocco has seven female Ministers, thirty four women MPs and twelve female Ambassadors, one woman Mayor and one governor and thousands of female local councilors.

Moroccan women associations on the ground are everywhere in Morocco and undertake a multidimensional action, by working on the social, cultural, political and economic issues, including those related to Human Rights in general and

the rights of women and children in particular.

On the economic front, the number of women entrepreneurs who own or run a company in various sectors has been on the rise since the 1990s. According to

Human rights

Nawal El Moutawakel, the first Arab Muslim Woman Olympic Champion and former Minister of sports of Morocco


In January 2004, a new family law was introduced, which aims to achieve gender equality and family balance. It is known today by its Arabic name Moudawana.

This law was hailed as one of the most progressive laws on women's and family rights in the Arab world, as it eliminates language degrading to women, raises women’s status as full partners with men and upholds equality between the two spouses.

It raised the minimum age of marriage for girls from 15 to 18 and gave wives joint responsibility of the family with their husbands, and equal rights to property upon divorce, gave custody of their children to the mother, abolished the unilateral repudiation of the wife and made a man’s taking of a second wife subject to the

approval of his first wife. This law ushered in profound changes in Moroccan society, and helped to promote women’s participation in society and politics to reinforce their rights and eliminate gender discrimination in private and public affairs. This reform set the stage for rapid advancement of women in Moroccan business and politics.

The review in 2007 of the Citizenship Act now makes it possible for a Moroccan mother to pass on her nationality to her offspring, regardless of her husband's nationality.

Morocco's large-scale anti-poverty National Initiative for Human Development, launched in May 2005 by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and which has benefited so far 10 million people,

about a third of the nation's population is focused on women who are considered as part and parcel of the development process and women’s organizations are actively involved.

In the religious field, which is in most Muslim countries a preserve of men, Moroccan women are also well represented. In 2004, four women became full-fledged members of the Supreme Council of Ulema or religious leaders. Their appointment to this rank was a mark of the Royal trust in Moroccan women's capacity to shoulder high responsibilities in all walks of life, even in the religious field.

Morocco was also a pioneering country in the Arab-Muslim world in nominating in April 2004 a new group of female religious instructors known as murshidat whose mission is to conduct campaigns for raising female and youth awareness, in mosques across the Kingdom and in Moroccan immigrant communities abroad, against extremism and introduce a tolerant and mainstream version of Islam.

In April 2015, His Majesty the King gave instructions to increase the number of “Alimates” female religious leaders both in the Supreme Council and Regional Councils of Ulema, to ensure the spiritual guidance of Moroccans.

Human rights

President, General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises

Morocco Female Police Officers Moroccan Woman casting her vote


Facts for VisitorsUseful information for travelers

DRESS: Being a Muslim country, it is generally advisable for visitors to dress modestly. However, in major urban centres and tourist areas, people dress more liberally. When entering a mosque, shoes should be removed and women should cover their heads. As a rule, non-Muslims are not allowed to enter mosques.

VISA: Most visitors to Morocco do not need a visa and are

LANGUAGE :While classical Arabic is Morocco’s official language, its local dialect,

Darija, is the most commonly spoken. In business, government circles, schools and universities, French is also widely spoken. In fact, most people mix Arabic and French when speaking. Tamazight, the Berber language is also an official language and can also be heard in the Rif region and in major cities. In the north, Spanish is widely understood, in particular around Tetouan. English is becoming more common, and is spoken by senior businessmen and government officials, and can be spoken in major hotels and tourist accommodations across the country.

ETIQUETTE: During greetings it is generally appreciated to inquire about the family. In business settings, a handshake is usually the first introduction. Once a relationship has been established, it becomes more common to kiss on both cheeks starting with the left and shaking hands, men with men and women with women. In a greeting between a man and a woman, the woman must extend

her hand first. If she does not, a man should bow his head in greeting. Items should never be offered with the left hand.

BUSINESS HOURS: Morocco is located in the UTC zone and business hours are similar to those in Western countries, going from 9am to 6pm, although public sector institutions typically close at 5pm. These hours are likely to change during Ramadan.

Menara gardens, West of Marrakech

Did You Know


allowed to remain in the country for 90 days on entry. Some exceptions do exist, however, so it is advisable to check the most updated visa requirements prior to travel. A three-month, single-entry tourist visa costs about $26. To enter the country, the passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry.

CURRENCY: The dirham (Dh) is the local currency. In February 2013, Dh100 was approximately €9. ATMs can be used to withdraw cash using internationally accepted cards. As a rule, people use coins and bills with denominations up to Dh200. However, for small transactions, change is sometimes not available for bills of Dh200. Due to exchange controls, foreign credit cards cannot always be used.

TIPPING: Hotels add a 10% service charge on top of the 10% tax. Some restaurants add a service charge of 5-15%. If a service charge is not applied, it is advisable to add 10-15% to the bill. For taxis and other services, it is common to round up to the nearest Dh5.

Agadir beach

ELECTRICITY: The electrical outlets are standard 220V/50 Hz AC type C or F, the same as in most European countries. Bringing an adaptor is advisable as they are not readily available outside the major cities.

TRANSPORT: In general , Morocco is equipped with a very good public transport system made up of modern trains and intercity coaches connecting the

main urban centres and beyond. It also has a good motorway network, all of which require paying tolls. Domestic flights are also available, and recommended for destinations south of Agadir. Within cities, trams are available (Rabat and Casablanca) as well as buses and taxis.

Drivers drive on the right side of the road and the initial fee for taxis is typically Dh2. The standard fee for taking a taxi from Mohammed V airport to downtown Casablanca is Dh250, or Dh300 during night hours.

HEALTH: High-quality health care is available in private facilities and pharmacies are widespread, often with extended opening hours. No specific vaccinations are required, unless one travels from, or transited through, countries that are cholera-infected. Typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccinations are recommended.

COMMUNICATION: Mobile phone use is widespread and it is advisable to buy a local SIM card upon arrival, which typically costs approximately Dh20 (€2). Wireless internet is widely available, although the connection may not always be optimal, even in urban areas.

Getting into the swing with the Atlas Mountains in the background

Did You Know


Ibn Battuta dictated these lines to Ibn Juzayy after he had returned to his native Morocco having

put behind him 73,000 miles in three continents, an area equivalent to 40 modern countries. He began his globe tottering at 24 and did not return until he was 47.

During this lengthy absence, both his parents died while he himself went through enormous hardships. But in doing so, he has left behind a remarkably detailed record of the places that he visited and the people he met. The reading of Rihla -- the book of his travels -- is a fascinating experience.

Rihla provides very few details of his personal life. All we know is that he was a Berber from a family of legal scholars in Tangier and had some training in jurisprudence. It appears that his original intention was to

Ibn Battuta: A traveler Par excellenceBy Asif Javed

I have indeed -- praise be to God - attained my desire in this world, which was to travel through the earth, and I have attained in this respect what no other person

has attained to my knowledge. - Ibn Battuta

perform Hajj and he set out from Tangier with this purpose in mind in1325. It took him eight months to make it to Egypt, a distance of almost 2,000 miles. Egypt and Syria at the time were ruled by Mumluks who enjoyed great prestige among the Muslims for having inflicted a crushing defeat on Mongols of Persia that saved Egypt from the catastrophe that had befallen Abbasid khilafet and many other countries.

The Cairo that Ibn Battuta visited had a population of 500,000 and thus was 15 times bigger than London at the time. We also hear about the enormous size of caravansary’s in Cairo, some of which could accommodate up to 4,000 guests. Having spent some weeks in Cairo, he moved on to Hijjaz through Syria, on joining

the official Mamluk Hajj caravan. About Meccans, he reports: “They are elegant and clean in their dress -- use perfume freely -- and the women are of rare and surpassing beauty, pious and chaste”.

His religious obligation over, Ibn Battuta had a change of plans. Instead of returning to Morocco, he decided to move on to Persia. Indeed, he was to be a relentless traveler for almost thirty years that took him to the very boundaries of the Islamic world and well beyond. Since he was no longer part of the Hajj caravans, he ended up making his own travel arrangements. He spent weeks in the camel litters in the Middle East and Africa; horse was used in the Indian subcontinent while ships of various kinds were used at sea.

Reading Rihla, one is amazed at the young Moroccan’s ability to befriend and gain favors from private citizens as well as high officials. During his time on the road, he stayed in all kinds of places including Sufi hospices, private residences, colleges, madrassas and survived on charity and gifts. Traveling in those days was far from safe but he continued his single-minded quest to explore the world. In the process, he came close to losing his life a few times and lost all his possessions once when he found himself on the south coast of India.

There were also sicknesses including one that made him so weak that he was tied to the horse saddle to prevent from falling.

From Hijaz, he went to Persia through

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Iraq, both being part of the Ilkhanid Mongol empire founded by Halaku Khan. At the time of Ibn Battuta’s visit, it was ruled by Abu Sa’id whose father had converted to Islam. Ibn Battuta liked Abu Sa’id: “He is pious, tolerant, generous and a committed Sunni and is the most beautiful of God’s creatures”. Shiraz got high praise too: “Its inhabitants are handsome in figure and clean in their dress. There is no city except Shiraz that approaches Damascus in the beauty of its bazaars, fruit-gardens and rivers”. On the contrary, his description of Baghdad is quite depressing: “Her outward lineaments have departed and nothing remains of her but name. There is no beauty in her that arrests the eye, or summons the busy passer-by to forget his business and to gaze”.

The next stop was Anatolia (Asian Turkey of today). There he had the good fortune to meet and be a guest of Orkhan, son of legendary Usman, the founder of the Ottoman Empire. His kingdom was still in infancy. Here is what Rihla says of Orkhan:”This sultan is the greatest of the kings of Turkmens and the richest in wealth, lands and military forces. Of fortresses, he possesses nearly a hundred - he fights with the infidels continually and keeps them under siege”. Ibn Battuta may not have realized he was witnessing the historic rise of an empire that was to see a non-stop expansion - -in all directions -- for almost 70 years and was to last more than five centuries.

From Anatolia, he went further north in to Crimea on a boat through the Black Sea. The next few months were spent in the Caucasus region and Central Asia. Ozbeg Khan, the Mongol ruler of Golden Horde, was a new convert to Islam. IBn Battuta noted with obvious surprise that Mongol and Turkish women enjoyed freedom, respect and near equality in that land. Ibn Battuta, then turned west and traveled with Ozbeg Khan’s wife, who was to visit her family in Constantinople. He thus traveled as part of the royal entourage, did meet the emperor Adrionus III of Byzantium and toured the historic city, almost 130 years before it fell to Sultan

tall, robust, white-skinned man, his legs tucked beneath him on a gold plated throne” and Delhi as “a vast and magnificent city, the largest in India, nay rather the largest of all the cities of Islam in the east”. He also reports on a severe famine when “thousands upon thousands of people perished of want”.

Ibn Battuta’s fall from grace in the court of Delhi was quite sudden and unexpected. It was brought about by his Indian wife’s father who rose in rebellion against Mohammad Tughlaq. Being related to the rebel, Ibn Battuta naturally came under suspicion. As a result, he lost his job, remained under house arrest for a while and even feared for his life. After some time, the Sultan relented and asked him to go to China as the head of his delegation. Ibn Battuta, being a compulsive traveler, jumped at this opportunity. As the head of the delegation, he was to carry with him some very precious presents for the emperor of China. As fate would have it, there was a terrible storm in the Arabian Sea and the ship that was bound for China sank off the coast of Calicut with all the presents on board. Ibn Battuta miraculously survived the disaster but decided not to return to Delhi being fully aware of Mohammad Tughlaq’s wrath and unpredictable nature.

Having spent some time on the south coast of India, he sailed to the Maldives Islands where he secured another judicial post but soon left and ended up in Southern China having passed through Ceylon, Java and Sumatra. The sea voyage lasted many weeks. China under the Mongol rule impressed him: “ China is the safest and the most agreeable country in the world for the traveler. You can travel all alone across the land for nine months without fear, even if you are carrying much wealth”.

Being away from home for years and probably having grown homesick, he started the long trip back from China in December 1346 and made

Mehmat, the conqueror. Upon returning, Ibn Battuta turned south and passed through the kingdom of Chagatay. He paints a very depressing picture of the historic city of Bokhara which had been plundered by Gengis Khan a few decades earlier. “Its mosques, colleges and bazaars are in ruin”. The great center of learning was not to recover from the havoc caused by the Mongol hordes for a long time.

Ibn Battuta cont inued his southward journey towards India and crossed into Afghanistan through the Hindukush Mountain. This route went through the famous Punjsher Valley where Ahmad Shah Masud led a fierce resistance against the Soviets in the 1980’s. His entourage went through the Khyber Pass and eventually was led to Multan that was the western-most military post of the sultanate of Mohammad Tughlaq.

Ibn Battuta’s arrival in India was quite unlike his previous travels and needs some explanation. Indeed it is believed that he had heard about the prestige and glamour of the court of Mohammad Tughlaq way back in Egypt. He may have been aware of the attractive job opportunities there, particularly to scholars from the Middle East. Being a faqih, fluent in Arabic and with a resume that included extended stay in Hijjaz, Damascus and Cairo, he may have hoped to impress the sovereign and he was not to be disappointed. Soon after his arrival in Delhi, he managed to get an audience with Sultan Mohammad Tughlaq who was sufficiently impressed and appointed the young scholar as the qadi of Delhi. His annual salary was to be 12,000 silver dinars.

Ibn Battuta spent almost ten years in and around India and devotes a considerable part of his book to it. He describes the Sultan as “a

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it to Morocco in November 1349, having seen the horrors of Black Death (plague) ravaging around him. He reports up to 2000 deaths a day in Damascus. However, his traveling was not over yet. He was soon crossing the strait of Gibraltar and spent some time in the Islamic Kingdom of Granada. These were difficult times for Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula. The Islamic power in Spain had been in decline for some time and the Christian reconquista had already begun. It was during his short stay in Granada that he met Ibn Juzayy who would collaborate with him for his memoirs later.

His last journey was to the South in his own backyard in West Africa but this may have been the most disappointing of all. He went through enormous hardships to cross the vast and treacherous Sahara Desert where there was only one source of water in a stretch of 500 miles. This was undertaken to see the gold rich, Muslim kingdom of Mali. During

the course of his travels, Ibn Battuta had pretty much come to expect a preferential treatment and expensive gifts from the kings. But Mansa Suleiman, the king of Mali greatly disappointed him. His predecessor, Mansa Musa had become a legend in that part of the world, having spent a fortune in Cairo on his way to Hajj, just a few years earlier.

It is said that Musa’s entourage spent gold so freely in Cairo that its price depreciated. But this is how Ibn Battuta describes the king of Mali in Rihla: ”Suleiman is a miserly king from whom no great donation is to be expected. Mansa Musa, by contrast had been generous and virtuous”.

Having returned to Fez in Morocco, Ibn Battuta was asked by Abu ‘Inan, the Marinid ruler in his homeland to write his memoirs. Over the next two years, he dictated -- from memory alone -- while Ibn Juzayy took notes and did the editing. His work finished and presented to the king, he retired to a quiet life of a private citizen in a provincial town. Ibn Battuta died in 1368. Not much is known of his later years.

Ibn Battuta’s life was by any standards, an exit ing one. He traveled far and wide and interacted with extraordinary

people and saw extraordinary events (He reports seeing the self-decapitation of a subject to impress a Hindu prince in the Far East). But during his extended time on the road, he did not forget his own private pleasures. Frequently, he traveled in great style and luxury, in the company of his slaves and

servants (He reports buying a very beautiful slave girl from Silhet). At one stage, he became quite wealthy, having received the most expensive gifts from various kings. He married and divorced frequently and fathered quite a few children, some of who may have survived. It is quite possible that his descendants are living among us. In one sense, he was lucky too, since most of his journeys took him through regions which were at peace but that changed soon after his departure. Some of the kingdoms and dynasties he had visited vanished altogether ( Granada, Mongol Persia and Yuan China) while the rest experienced great turmoil.

What is Ibn Battuta’s legacy? Traditionally, he has been placed well below Marco Polo who died in Venice a year before Ibn Battuta started his epic journey to the East. The Rihla remained largely ignored and was almost forgotten until the last 150 years or so. In recent times, however, it is being given its well-deserved recognition. This is how his biographer, Ross Dunn, summarizes the famous traveler’s place in history

For the history of certain regions, Sudanic West Africa, Asia Minor, or the Malabar Coast of India, the Rihla stands out as the only eye-witness report on political events, human geography, and social and economic conditions for a period of a century or more. Ibn Battuta has inevitably been compared with Marco Polo and usually taken second prize. Yet, Ibn Battuta travels to, and reports on, a great many more places than Marco did, and his narrative offers details, sometimes in incidental bits, sometimes in long disquisitions, on almost every conceivable aspect of human life in that age and his story is far more personal and humanly engaging than Marco’s.

History revisited

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