CITIZENSHIP EQUALITY DIGNITY PROGRESS
Archive for February, 2012
Secretary Clinton Praises the Work of the Local Advisory Boards for the U.S. in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
February 29, 2012
While in North Africa, Secretary Clinton met with the local advisory boards for the U.S. – North Africa Partnership for Economic Opportunity (NAPEO) and praised the work being done by these private sector leaders and innovators.
NAPEO is a regional public-private network launched last year in Algeria by the U.S. Department of State jointly with the Aspen Institute to advance the goals of the flagship global partnership initiative, Partners for a New Beginning. NAPEO Local Advisory Boards exist in Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia, with one currently in formation in Libya. Members of NAPEO in these countries work with American and North African business and civil society leaders within the network to foster entrepreneurship, develop market-relevant skills training, and create opportunities for job matching and cross-border exchanges.
The Global Entrepreneurship Program (GEP), part of the Department’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, is scheduled to launch in Morocco and Tunisia this spring in partnership with USAID. It will lead entrepreneurship efforts in the Maghreb for the U.S. – North Africa Partnership for Economic Opportunity. The Department of State regularly engages public sector leaders in the Maghreb through bi-annual NAPEO Economic Ministers meetings to discuss the business-enabling policy environment in the region for entrepreneurship and youth employability. (more…)
Sahara : The Polisario divided in Manhasset
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
Written by Khalid Ibrahim KhaledFriday, 24 February 2012 10:20
The next round of negotiations on the Sahara divides the ranks of the Polisario because of the recent warming of the inter-Maghreb relationships. A situation which torments the Chief of the Front, Mohamed Abdelaziz, less than three weeks before the meeting of 11 March in Manhasset, in the suburb of New York. From well informed sources in Tindouf, it is the recent Maghreb rapprochement which is at the origin of the disagreement between the main leaders of the separatist Front. The discords have appeared during the meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Maghreb countries, on February 18, in Morocco. For certain members from the Polisario leadership, the exchanges happening between the five UMA delegations are signs which do not deceive. Time is from now on for the rapprochement of the Maghreb countries and the Polisario cause is paying the cost of it. (more…)
Arab spring News : Feb 29, 2012
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
| Arab Spring tackles Russia’s winter Adelaide Now SPRING is in the Russian air but the civilian unrest in Moscow is unlikely to rival theArab spring, which saw a succession of governments toppled in the past year. After two presidential terms and a stint as prime minister, Vladimir Putin retains a … |
| Arab spring inspires Burma’s 88 generation The Nation One of them admits that the events of “Arab Spring” prove that Burma will inevitably follow the path of democracy.”We are not afraid to be arrested again. It’s perhaps part of Burma’s political culture. Jail is our second home anyway,” said Mya Aye, … (more…) |
Morocco’s New Constitution Enables Woman Empowerment -Minister
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
New York (UN) - Moroccan minister of solidarity, woman, family and social development Bassima Hakkaoui said, on Tuesday in New York, that Morocco’s new Constitution provides many opportunities for the empowerment of women.
Hakkaoui told the 56th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which opened on Monday at the UN headquarters, that Morocco witnessed the democratic momentum triggered by the Arab Spring in accordance with its own specificity reflected by the broad political and national consensus, with the reform process crowned by a new Constitution which anchored a new democratic rights-based era.
Indeed, the Minister said, the new Constitution provides, from the preamble, for the fight against all forms of discrimination, noting, in this regard, that the government platform “is an action plan which reflects the provisions” of the Constitution. (more…)
Morocco Presents Candidacy To UNHRC For 2014-2016 Mandate
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
Rabat - Morocco submitted, in Geneva on Tuesday, its candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 mandate, Minister of Justice Mustapha Ramid said.
Ramid made this announcement on the occasion of signing the third optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure, at a ceremony organized by the UN on the sidelines of the High Level Segment of the 19th Session of the Human Rights Council held from February 27 to March 23.
The minister called, on this occasion, on brotherly and friendly countries to support the candidacy of Morocco.
He said that Morocco decided to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances, recalling that the Kingdom used the provisions of this protocol in its experience of transitional justice.
MAGHREB UNION: POLEMIC ABOUT “ARAB”
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
SOURCE: MAGHREB UNION: POLEMIC ABOUT “ARAB”
Washington / Morocco Board News–The Moroccan Foreign Minister, Saad Eddine El Othmani, unexpected proposal to rename the “Arab Maghreb Union” as “”the Maghreb Union” is reinvigorating the debate over the social, linguistic and political status of the Amazigh people in “post-Arab Spring” North Africa. Activists from both sides of the debate view Mr. El Othmani’s suggestion to drop the word Arab form the appellation of the five-nation Arab Maghreb Union (known in French as the UMA) as thought provoking and controversial. The Tunisian and Algerian delegations rebuked immediately the Moroccan proposal.
El Othmani’s decision to remove of the word “Arab” from the UMA name was an attempt to make the union of five nations, where a sizable number of citizens are not of Arab descent, more inclusive. However, political and social realities in Algeria and Tunisia hampered this reasonable proposition. Even in Morocco where the idea enjoys some traction, few voices voiced displeasure with the “rebranding” of the UMA. (more…)
Morocco to create National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
Prevention Web
Geneva/Cairo – Morocco is taking steps to join 78 other nations whose governments have created National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction to support policies for building resilience to disasters.
“The future National Platform will help the work of all sectors to converge into one common objective, which is to construct a country that is safer for current and future generations,” said Mehdi Chalabi, Director of Surveillance and Prevention of Risk at the Department of Environment.
Morocco is one of the Arab region’s most hazard-prone countries and the economy is frequently affected by dry spells, floods, landslides and invasion by locusts. Parts of the country are also exposed to seismic risk; 12,000 people lost their lives in a massive earthquake in the coastal town of Agadir in 1960. Cities and rural communities alike face the danger of sea-level rise and desertification as a result of climate change. (more…)
EU-Morocco FTZ For Industrial Products Becomes Effective As Of March 1, 2012
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
Rabat - The EU-Morocco free trade zone (FTZ) for industrial products will become effective as of March 1, 2012, the deadline by which the gradual dismantling of the customs services will come to an end, the European Delegation in Morocco said.
The FTZ will be reinforced in the future through the implementation of the advanced status and the different trade agreements notably the agriculture agreement which was adopted by the European Parliament, the agreement of services’ liberalization which is being negotiated, in addition to a possible free trade agreement that is detailed and comprehensive, the Delegation said Wednesday in a statement. (more…)
Why Everyone Should Travel Globally as a Teenager
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
THE HUFFINGTON POST
Taylor Michie | 2 hours ago
As I detailed in my last post, Morocco was one of the coolest places I’ve ever visited. Before Morocco, my farthest journey from home previously was to San Francisco, a great city that I absolutely love, but not one that compares to the sights and sounds of Morocco.
This past summer, I was afforded some incredible opportunities. Morocco for a wedding, Belgium for a vacation after that, and then to Spain for a mix of work and fun. I flew across the Atlantic four times in four weeks, and I think I have the approach pattern to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport pretty much memorized. It was a pretty cool time in my life, and I would encourage teens to take advantage of opportunities like I had. Not everyone will be fortunate enough to take trips like I did, and I realize that. But if you’ve got the time, the desire, and the means, it’s a great way to spend your time. Spending nearly a month out of the United States changed the way I thought about a lot of things. (more…)
France Telecom Plans Regional Sales Clusters to Build Deals
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
By Marie Mawad
“If we had units everywhere in a given zone, say west Africa, then we could launch the same phone package, maybe with the same price, across countries in that region,” Elie Girard, the Paris-based company’s head of strategy and development, said in an interview at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. “We could get economies of scale on the cost side and synergies on the sales side.”
France Telecom is considering smallacquisitions in regions such as West Africa, where Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin are the few blank spots left in its footprint, he said. “We’re not actively seeking targets, but we will look at specific opportunities.” (more…)
Women : À l’occasion de la Journée Internationale de la Femme Six Marocaines à l’honneur
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
À l’occasion de la Journée internationale de la femme, «Massarat de la création» consacre 6 femmes marocaines.
Une soirée sera organisée le 6 mars au Théâtre national Mohammed V pour leur rendre hommage.
Pour la deuxième édition de «Massarat de Femmes», Doha Azami, conceptrice du projet, place la barre plus haut et porte son choix sur des figures emblématiques du paysage marocain, toutes disciplines confondues. Il s’agit de l’écrivaine et psychiatre Ghita El Khayat, la coordinatrice et conseillère internationale Alia Dalli, la chanteuse Karima Skalli, l’artiste plasticienne et formatrice à la culture soufie Souada Mae Alaynain, la journaliste reporter Touria Souaf et la journaliste et réalisatrice d’émissions Fatima Baroudi. Toutes sont encore présentes dans le paysage social et culturel à travers leurs multiples actions. Leur sélection n’a pas été fortuite, car elles ont fait du chemin et gagné beaucoup de paris. (more…)
52 ans après le tremblement de terre d’Agadir, la capitale du Souss se souvient : Mohammed Bajalat , président du Forum Izoranes n’Agadir
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
Propos recueillis par M’BARK CHBANI | Mercredi 29 Février 2012
“Nous avons raté l’occasion d’offrir le modèle de développement urbain dont le pays avait besoin”
Libé :Quel(s)souvenir(s) gardez-vous de cette nuit du 29 février 1960 ?
Mohammed Bajalat : Bien que je n’avais que 4 ans à l’époque, j’ai encore quelques images qui sont restées gravées dans ma mémoire : je fus réveillé brutalement par feu mon père qui me traînait par le bras dans l’obscurité vers la sortie. Maman,qui était enceinte, était accrochée à sa djellaba…Des bruits assourdissants,des cris de nos voisins dans le noir total, de la poussière épaisse…et les appels de feu Haj Bahssine, ami de mon père qui, courageusement, s’est porté à notre secours pour nous aider à nous installer sur un terrain dégagé face à une mer déchaînée et des grondements sourds venant d’en haut, dus à l’effondrement d’Agadir O’fella…Passé les quelques instants de panique, et les femmes et les enfants à l’abri, les hommes se sont organisés pour porter secours aux blessés et chercher de quoi se couvrir. (more…)
Contract delays will hit Depa’s profits
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
By BFN News | 11:02 AM | Wednesday 29 February, 2012
Depa, one of the world’s leading interior contracting companies, says revenues for 2011 are expected to be in line with the previous year, slightly down on prior market guidance. Despite this, gross profits are likely to be higher than 2010 due to timely and efficient project execution and at a margin level similar to 2009. Net profits will be impacted by higher than normal G&A costs due to the retention of a larger number of staff to strengthen the company’s Middle East business in anticipation of major contracts coming on stream, which took longer to sign, and therefore start, than expected. Net profit will also be hit by further amortisation of intangibles at Design Studio and depreciation and amortization of the recently installed ERP system. Over the course of last year Depa signed a number of major new projects including its largest ever contract for the 27 lounges at Doha’s new international airport. It also continues to have a strong pipeline of contract letters of intent and is close to signing contracts in Saudi Arabia and in Singapore for significant new projects. The company has continued its diversification strategy winning an increasing amount of business outside the UAE with major projects in Azerbaijan, India, Malaysia, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Singapore. In addition, Depa increased the proportion of work from government related infrastructure work including airports and medical centres. As part of its vertical integration strategy, Design Studio opened its new factory in China in September to support its manufacturing requirements. Its balance sheet remains strong and, as in previous years, the company saw strong cash collection in the final months of 2011 and consequently an improvement in receivables.
Story provided by StockMarketWire.com
Catalonia President in Morocco to boost economic ties
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
Mas says Morocco offers huge investment opportunities, Catalan government values importance of bolstering ties with Rabat.
Middle East Online
 |
| Artur Mas |
RABAT – The President of the Catalan Government Artur Mas started on Tuesday a three-day visit to Morocco aimed at promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
During his visit, Mas will hold talks with a number of Moroccan cabinet members on ways to promote friendship and cooperation ties between Catalonia and Morocco.
“Morocco is one of the south Mediterranean countries with which Catalonia has consistently maintained more intense economic and institutional relationships,” said Mas, adding that the Catalan government values the importance of bolstering institutional relations and bilateral trade with the north African kingdom. (more…)
Le beau voyage d’Ibn Battouta
0Feb 29
Posted by MoroccoTomorrow
Le Matin.ma
Il y a 708 ans, le plus grand explorateur marocain naissait à Tanger. Ses voyages l’ont conduit jusqu’en Chine
● Le 24 février, si le monde célébrait l’anniversaire d’un grand homme, le Maroc, dont il est pourtant natif, a totalement passé sous silence cet anniversaire. Pourtant, Ibn Battouta est l’un des plus grands explorateurs de tous les temps.
● Il est allé en Syrie, en Perse, en Asie Mineure et jusque dans la Russie méridionale et en Chine. Il fascine encore aujourd’hui par l’exception de son exploit et l’ampleur de son œuvre.
Le Prince des voyageurs a parcouru le Nord de l’Afrique et une partie de l’Arabie. Il se rend en Syrie, en Perse et jusque dans la Russie méridionale. Plus tard, il traverse la grande Boukharie, l’Afghanistan, les Indes pour enfin arriver en Chine. (more…)