Country Profile
From The Report: Morocco 2014
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The only monarchy in North Africa, Morocco contains a blend of Arab, African, indigenous Berber and European cultures. The kingdom has long maintained close diplomatic, economic and cultural ties to Europe that it continues to deepen and has a reputation as a stable and tolerant state. Morocco encompasses a landmass of 446,500 sq km and is located on the north-western tip of Africa, sitting astride both the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. It has one of the more diversified GDP mixes in the region, and the mainstays of the economy include agriculture, tourism, and the textiles and garments industry; higher-end manufacturing (such as the automotive and aeronautics industries), information technology and communications, and outsourcing are also all becoming increasingly important. The past few years have seen Morocco undergo some significant changes, yet the kingdom has remained stable, both socially and politically, even amidst the broader regional turmoil. This chapter contains interviews with King Mohammed VI; Abdelilah Benkirane, Head of Government; Salaheddine Mezouar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon; and Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Bringing it all together: Divergent cultures and peoples converge in the kingdom
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Part of the western-most region of North Africa, Morocco is known as Al Maghreb, “the West”, in Arabic. The only monarchy in North Africa, Morocco contains a blend of Arab, African, indigenous Berber and European cultures. The kingdom has long maintained close diplomatic, economic and cultural ties to Europe that it continues to deepen and has a reputation as stable and tolerant state. Even amidst the turmoil of the Arab Spring and the upheaval that shook the country’s neighbours, Morocco managed to maintain a steady hand on the tiller, and as a result benefitted from steady growth and welcome reforms. GEOGRAPHY: Morocco encompasses…

Viewpoint

His Majesty King Mohammed VI on the national agenda
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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.…

Viewpoint

His Majesty King Mohammed VI on the national agenda
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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.…

Overview

Stable transitions: Political power is being shared more widely
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The past few years have seen Morocco undergo some significant changes, yet the kingdom has maintained its tradition of social and political stability even amidst broader turmoil. The 10-year anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s ascension to the throne in 2009 offered Morocco the chance to take stock of its political evolution over the past decade, and with some satisfaction. The western-most Arab state has come a long way since the turn of the millennium, and has taken large strides over the past couple of years, rolling out a new constitution in 2011 that introduced significant reforms while moving to leverage its diplomatic clout in regional…

Analysis

Integrated development: Efforts to improve social indicators making an impact
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In the last two decades, Morocco has accelerated broad-based efforts to expand access to social services and encourage inclusive growth. Most notably, a spate of reforms adopted in the early 2000s helped to expand women’s rights and increase recognition of Berber cultures and languages. The impact has been noticeable and on the whole, Morocco has strong socio-economic indicators compared to other countries in the region. Morocco’s gross national income per capita falls behind that of regional leaders Algeria and Tunisia, but grew annually by 2.5-3.5% over the last five years to reach $2445.2 in 2012 (constant 2005 prices). Unemployment levels,…

Interview

OBG talks to Abdelilah Benkirane, Morocco Head of Government
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Interview: Abdelilah Benkirane What main reforms should be put in place in 2014 to further reduce the public deficit? ABDELILAH BENKIRANE: The government has made it a key priority to reduce the fiscal deficit in a sustainable manner and has adopted clear and strong measures towards this objective, including rationalising expenditures and optimising tax revenues. In this regard, several reforms have been initiated, including, most notably, the subsidies reform, the tax reform and several measures…

Analysis

Helping hand: Partnerships are the foundation of growing trade volumes
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While Morocco has good relations with a broad range of countries, it has long maintained particularly close ties with three key partners, namely the US, Europe (both the EU as a bloc and several key member states individually, above all France) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The areas of cooperation between the kingdom and these partners include trade, investment and security; all three have also been significant sources of private capital flows and economic assistance in recent years. The kingdom continues to deepen its relationship with the trio, for example recently beginning negotiations for an expanded free trade agreement…

Interview

OBG talks to Salaheddine Mezouar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
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Interview:Salaheddine Mezouar What strategies will Morocco pursue to foster its integration into the global economy? SALAHEDDINE MEZOUAR: Economic openness and integration have long been a priority for Morocco, particularly after the EU-Morocco Association Agreement signed in 1996. This has been followed by free trade agreements (FTAs) signed with the members of the Agadir Agreement (Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan), the US and Turkey. This approach should be maintained in the next few years.…

Analysis

African expansion: Working to position itself as a gateway to African markets
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Morocco has long been a cultural and economic crossroads between the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Waves of immigration from the Middle East from the 7th century onward have largely shaped the country’s distinctive heritage, and sizable capital flows from the Middle East continue to have an important role in financing development projects today. Morocco is also working to further deepen its economic ties with its primary trade partner, the EU, through its Association Agreement with the body, while the cultural and social links the country shares with France and Spain remain strong. However, with high-growth markets just to the south…

Viewpoint

Proud partners: Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon, on bilateral ties between Morocco and Gabon
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There is a remarkable strategic partnership between Gabon and the Kingdom of Morocco. I praise the extent of this historic alliance, one that is characterised by a series of significant bilateral agreements; regular bilateral forums; frequent meetings at international summits; and a strongly integrated Gabonese and Moroccan diaspora in our respective countries. These strong ties were patiently built by our illustrious predecessors, to whom I would like to pay respect. The success of this special…

Interview

OBG talks to Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire
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Interview: DanielKablan Duncan How can trade between Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire be improved and expanded? DANIEL KABLAN DUNCAN: In recent years, trade volumes have increased between the two countries, but one cannot deny that figures remain low. In 2011 Morocco represented a mere 1.02% of Côte d’Ivoire’s foreign trade and 1.3% in 2013. Morocco is only Côte d’Ivoire’s 25th-largest supplier; however, trade flows are accelerating, especially in terms of investment, leading to greater…