Moroccan government seeks to promote scientific research

In the latest move to promote national development, the Moroccan government pledged last week to provide new support for scientific research in the kingdom. Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi announced the initiative during the thirteenth board meeting of the National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) in Rabat on May 5th.

According to a statement issued by the prime minister's office, the government has increased the volume of its loans to the National Fund for Scientific Research and Technological Development over the past two years to 25 million dirhams. A further 50 million dirhams was contributed in 2007 for research by telecommunications operators.

This followed previous contributions of 52 million dirhams in 2005 and 32 million dirhams in 2006.

El Fassi said that promoting scientific research is now essential for sustainable development in priority sectors, "such as the environment, water management, energy, food processing, medicinal and aromatic plants, fish stocks, mining products, and agricultural produce."

"The new approach will lend support to the massive projects that Morocco has embarked on in several different sectors, such as the National Industrial Development Plan, the Plan Azur for the promotion of tourism and the National Energy Strategy," said the head of the CNRST's science and technology department, Abdelaziz Benjouad.

The government's new strategy is aimed at strengthening science infrastructures, the financial management of research activities, and basic and ongoing training. The objective is to keep up with the pace of technological development and to foster a culture of entrepreneurship within the academic community.

The prime minister stressed that the idea is to make universities independent in order to boost scientific research and help them pilot their own policies at both the regional and local levels.

"Under the Emergency Education and Training Plan, 183 million dirhams would be spent on scientific research running costs," Minister of Education and Higher Education Ahmed Akhchichine said at the meeting.

"Investments totalling 69 million dirhams would be made in 2009 – an increase of 5 million dirhams over 2008."

The minister explained that there are a number of hurdles to overcome. One important task is to provide incentives to students by means of a scholarship programme for scientific research. The private sector must play a role in financing the sector, he asserted. The government is hoping that investors will provide co-financing equating to more than 25% for sectors regarded as priorities for Moroccan development. Akhchichine stated that the current co-financing proportion is just 12%.

Offering incentives to companies is another necessary step. It is hoped that the system will be modelled on an existing scheme involving telecoms operators, which are bankrolling ICT projects at research institutions and universities.

"In France, scientific research constitutes a sizeable source of income for schools," explained engineer Ahmed Boudani. "Research contracts are entered into directly with companies interested in development, whereas in Morocco, scientific research is regarded as a drain on the budgets of schools and universities. If we had well-organised research bodies, the private sector would take an interest."

Morocco unveils Export Plus programme to boost foreign trade

European markets continue to face the global financial crisis and the Moroccan export sector - heavily dependent on customers in Europe - is feeling the fallout.

To maximise exports into the region, encourage greater co-operation with foreign partners and counter the anticipated downturn in 2009, Morocco last week launched new strategic plan.

The foreign trade ministry released details of the National Plan for the Development and Promotion of Exports at a press conference on Wednesday (May 6th) at the National Library in Rabat.

The goal of the new programme, dubbed "Maroc Export Plus", is to triple the volume of Moroccan exports over the next decade and recruit more than 2,000 companies into the process, said Foreign Trade Minister Abdellatif Maazouz.

The trade stimulus initiative - drawn up in partnership with consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton - will support other development programmes such as Plan Maroc Vert, Plan Azur, Emergence, Vision 2015 for the Development of Crafts and the Moroccan Energy Strategy to target large importers, neighbouring markets and specialty markets.

Speaking to Parliament last week, Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar said that the growth forecast for the global economy fell from 3% to -1.3% in April, while the volume of world trade plummeted from 3.5% to -8%.

"This contraction has had repercussions in certain areas of the national economy," he said, "in particular with regard to tourism (where revenues fell by 21%), remittances from overseas Moroccans (down by 14.3%), [and] exports (down by 30%)... while imports fell by 16.8%."

Meanwhile, the balance of trade fell by 31% in March. Jobs were lost in textiles, electronics, mechanics and the automobile industry.

Both business figures and Moroccan MPs believe that government measures to deal with the global crisis have been too modest.
Abdelhak Lahlou, who manages a Moroccan-Spanish electronics firm based in Casablanca that serves European customers, said the situation is difficult due to the country's exposure to the global economy.

"The whole problem has come from abroad, which is where most of our orders come from," he told Magharebia.

Moroccan opposition parties, meanwhile, cite redundancies within many companies and the decline in remittances from overseas residents as contributory causes to the financial problem.

Mohammed Benayyad, Secretary-General of the National Foreign Trade Council, however, argues that the crisis is structural and not merely linked to the current economic climate. For this reason, he believes that both short-term and systemic changes should be made.

Arabian Travel Market sees strong first day attendance

In addition, overall visitor numbers for the show, which includes press and buyers club members, is up 3.4% on last year (as of 2pm Wednesday May 6th 2009).

And according to Reed Travel Exhibitions, the rise in visitors underlines the industry's desire to target and utilise key trade events that foster greater business interaction and instigate discussion - critical factors in the sector's recovery.

'It's no secret that the industry is actively targeting the number one event in its sector to help generate essential business partnerships and leads. As marketing budgets continue to shrink, companies and government bodies alike know that if they commit to event, both in terms of finance and time, it needs to deliver...and deliver well. The rise in first day figures for Arabian Travel Market 2009, especially given that we are in the midst of some of the harshest trading conditions we have ever faced, speaks volumes about the show and, most importantly, the determination of the industry as a whole,'



said Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

'However, as we've said before, our focus is on quality not quantity, and that is what we are actively pursuing. We are encouraged by initial figures and I hope we maintain this momentum going forward, and we see a strong increase in repeat visitors over the show's four days.'

Arabian Travel Market 2009, taking place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre till May 8th, opened its doors this week with more than 2,100 exhibitors and stand-sharers, from 69 countries, including 70 new-to-market representatives. This year also saw sign-up from more than 60 national tourist bodies representing six continents, with the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Romania and Nigeria making their debuts.

Strong showings from Middle East and North African countries, representing more than 850 exhibitors, also saw Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Syria bring larger tourism contingents than last year.

As part of the show's enhanced knowledge delivery role, Reed Travel Exhibitions has introduced Consumer & Careers Day on Friday 8th May. The programme, which is held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Education, is designed to introduce exhibitors to members of the general public with a keen interest to work within the industry or developing an existing career. The initiative allows visitors to conduct face-to-face meetings with potential employers and attend specific career workshops and seminars hosted by established industry representatives.

Experts will also be on hand to discuss their roles and answer career questions via the Careers Day Panel - a dedicated seminar session, taking place from 15.30 - 17.30, which includes a Pilot, Air Hostess, General Manager, Travel Editor, Travel Agent and a Hotel Area General Manager.

'Careers Day opens up a new avenue for the show and we hope that it will drive members of the public, with an interest in the industry, to come down and see what's available to them. It really is a unique experience for those wanting to pursue a career in travel and tourism,' added Walsh.

Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai.

investing in Morocco presentation