2013 Edition

Morocco
in Focus
A Publication of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in New Delhi (India)
 C o n t e n t s
A Bright Future.........................................................................4
His Majesty King Mohammed VI on the national agenda

Morocco on The Move...............................................................6

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to India

EEPC India Exhibition in Morocco................................................9

Morocco-India Historical Ties....................................................10

Morocco Offers Investment Opportunities for Indian Investors....12

India-Morocco Business Ties....................................................23

Ibn Battuta: A Traveler Par Excellence......................................26

India Strengthens Africa Ties...................................................29

Morocco Wants Ties with India to go Beyond Food Security........30

Courting India, Morocco-Style..................................................32

India - Morocco Food Legumes Initiative...................................36

Offshoring Success..................................................................38

A Regional Role.......................................................................40

Shop ‘Til You Drop’..................................................................42

Facts for Visitors.....................................................................46

A Slice of Morocco on India’s Plate............................................48

India signs Protocol with Morocco.............................................50

Published by The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco

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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.

His Majesty King Mohammed VI on the national agenda
W
e have a Elected officials must serve
collective duty to
work together to
strengthen the foundations
of a modern Moroccan state
imbued with the values of
unity, progress, social justice
and equity, thus reflecting a
firm commitment to our
timehonoured identity. Our
nation has entered a new
era, not by coincidence
or because of unforeseen
circumstances, but rather as
the result of a well-thought-
out policy and gradually
implemented strategy.
These are based on our
sovereign will and are fully
consistent with the citizens’
legitimate expectations.
We have carried out
comprehensive economic
reforms to consolidate and
upgrade basic infrastructure
in urban areas, and
improve access to remote
rural zones by providing the
necessary services and facilities.
Similarly, we have sought to create
conditions conducive to promoting
investment, implementing a social
development policy. In this
respect, we gave fresh impetus to
social and development-oriented
projects by launching, in 2005,
the National Initiative for Human
Development, which builds on a
comprehensive vision designed to
fight marginalisation and poverty.
As our policy choices require that
we set priorities and determine
precise timeframes for their actual
implementation, we wanted,
through a specific approach, to
come up with a roadmap for
carrying out reforms.
Since the rule of law is the source
Morocco in focus
2013
A Bright Future
of all progress, the judiciary will be
the first to undergo major reform.
Given that the new constitution
puts the independence of the
judiciary at the heart of the nation’s
constitutional setup, I believe
conditions for the success of this
major reform project are now in
place. I hope, in this regard, that
the authority in charge of reform
will adopt an open, participatory
approach and prepare concrete,
practical recommendations as
quickly as possible. I also call
upon stakeholders and officials
in all institutions to be worthy
of the trust placed in them. In
addition to the executive and
judicial branches, I ask elected
institutions, at all levels, to
comply fully and at all times
with the new concept of authority.
4
the citizens and maintain
their trust, avoiding any
personal or narrow-minded
considerations.
The advanced regionalisation
initiative that I have launched
and that was endorsed by the
new constitution is a major
project that needs to be
managed with forethought
and the utmost care so as to
introduce gradual, in-depth
change to state institutions
and the relationship between
central government and
local authorities. At the
same time, special attention
should be given to the
major project of carrying
out the reforms needed
for the implementation
of the new territorial
management system, using
an approach based on good
governance that makes
human development the
foremost concern. Indeed, in
order to tackle the challenges of
territorial governance, we need
to achieve fair, equitable human
development that enables us to
rectify shortcomings in rural areas
and address the inadequacies that
hamper growth in urban settings.
Thanks to these policies, we
have been able to launch major
projects that have strengthened
our infrastructure and helped us
provide the services needed for the
country’s development. Sector-
specific strategies have been laid
down, using efficient criteria to
achieve the desired objectives. In
this respect, we have focused on
developing industrial and modern
technology sectors, creating hubs
and major integrated economic
centres that boost investment and
help our enterprises sharpen their
competitive edge.
We should further promote
Morocco’s Green Plan, which
is one of the key elements for
agricultural development in our
country. We therefore need to
increase the activities included
in the plan so as to expand
and diversify our production
base and upgrade smallholders’
capabilities through solidarity-
based programmes that improve
the living conditions of rural
populations, especially as
Morocco experienced challenging
climate conditions in 2012. I
must insist, in this respect, on the
need to further develop contract
mechanisms for partnership
between the public and private
sectors to make the best possible
use of available investment
resources.
As we are aware of the importance
of this partnership, we have
adopted a groundbreaking
approach by creating the Moroccan
Investment Authority, which
brings together national sectoral
investment funds. The authority
seeks to promote investment
in all sectors and encourage
partnerships between businesses
and government institutions. Our
goal is to enable our country to
access financing opportunities
offered by foreign sovereign funds,
especially investment funds in the
Gulf sister nations. In this regard,
we appreciate the decisions that
have been made concerning the
strategic partnership between
Morocco and the GCC, and I
should like to reiterate Morocco’s
firm commitment to expanding
its relations with the Gulf nations
and strengthening our ties in all
sectors.
In this respect, we should
underscore tourism’s important
role in promoting employment and
creating national wealth, given
Morocco’s varied natural assets
and its rich cultural heritage.
Since 2001, we have been
implementing a comprehensive
strategy, building on specific
programmes that have contributed
to the growth and development of
tourism in our country. As part
of Vision 2020, we have sought
to further develop the sector by
setting up the Wissal fund for
the promotion of investment
in tourism, which primarily
aims to promote sustainable
development. As a result, Morocco
is a preferred tourist destination
in the Mediterranean.
As I am keen to guarantee justice
and provide assistance to the
most impoverished segments of
our population, I have sought to
make sure a health care scheme
for the benefit of those in need
is implemented. The scheme is
the result of a long preparatory
process in which the Kingdom
has been involved for the last 10
years, the aim being to provide
assistance to the disadvantaged.
The government is therefore called
upon to do all it can to make this
scheme a success by carefully
identifying beneficiaries and
ensuring good service provision.
Our education system should
help young people ensure their
personal development so that
they may shoulder their civic
responsibilities in an environment
that preserves their dignity,
upholds equal opportunities
and enables them to contribute
to economic, social and cultural
development. To this end, we have
to reconsider our approach and
our education policies to go from a
system centred on the teacher and
his or her performance, in which
knowledge is simply transmitted
to learners, to a method that
promotes interaction, and enables
students to develop their abilities
and gives them opportunities
to show their creativity and
innovative thinking, in addition
to enabling them to acquire skills,
improve social interaction and
5 Morocco in focus
commit themselves to the ideals
of freedom, equality and respect
for difference.
Moreover, the school should
not be an institution based
on the principle of cramming
information into pupils, but one
which encourages critical thinking
and perceptiveness to prepare
students for the information and
knowledge-based society. The
government must to act along
these lines and to lay special
emphasis on upgrading state
schools as well as on developing
private education and ensuring
interaction and complementarity
between the two systems.
I also call upon the government to
meet citizens’ social demands and
to make sure the country’s finance
policy is properly managed in
order to preserve our development
potential as well as the nation’s
credibility in the international
arena. Since I am fully aware of
the need to safeguard the future of
coming generations, I have always
emphasised the indispensable
link between development and
environmental protection so as to
ensure sustainable development.
This is why we have been
working with great resolve to
preserve and manage our natural
resources properly, making sure
they contribute to our economic
development. The ambitious wind
and solar energy programme
I have launched falls within
the framework of this policy. It
is designed to help us reduce
conventional energy imports and
alleviate the energy burden on
our economy.
Based on speeches delivered by
His Majesty in 2012
Source: The Report: Morocco 2013,
Oxford Business Group
2013
 Morocco on The Move
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to India
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
Morocco in focus
2013
H.E. Mr. Larbi Reffouh
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
6
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 has 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
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
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.
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,
7 Morocco in focus
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 distinctive is it has
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
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
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.
2013
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 consolidated 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
Morocco in focus
2013
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
development of sectoral
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,
fisheries, tourism, mining,
renewable energy, handicrafts,
logistics, and promising sectors,
such as automotive, aerospace
and off-shoring.
During the last decade, Morocco
has launched large-scale
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
8
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.
 EEPC India Exhibition in Morocco
E
ngineering Export
Promotion Council (EEPC)
India, Kolkata organized
its 26th Indian Engineering
Exhibition (INDEE). The show
was a part of the 4th edition
of Le Salon International DE
L’INDUSTRIE exhibition in
Casablanca, Morocco from 13 to
15 December, 2012.
The event brought together the most
varied and complete exhibition
of the latest in machinery and
technologies in key industries.
About 90 Indian engineering
companies participated in the
event. Casablanca is Morocco’s
largest city as well as its chief port.
It is also the biggest city in the
Maghreb region [Morocco, Algeria,
Tunisia, Libya & Mauritania].
Casablanca is considered the
economic and business center of
Morocco.
Casablanca hosts headquarters
and main industrial facilities
for the leading Moroccan and
international companies based
in Morocco. Industrial statistics
show Casablanca retains its
historical position as the main
industrial zone of the country.
The Port of Casablanca is one
of the largest artificial ports in
the world, and the largest port of
North Africa.
Le salon International DE
L’INDUSTRIE: About the
Exhibition
As the Francophone area’s one of
the largest annual manufacturing
expo, Le salon International
DE L’INDUSTRIE has for long
been the connecting point for
the manufacturers and importers
of the neighbouring countries,
other parts of Africa & Europe.
The Show brings together buyers,
sellers and end users from around
the world.
In 2012, Le salon International
DE L’INDUSTRIE hosted 200
exhibitors from 10 countries.
About 12,000 business visitors
visited during the exhibition and
India proposed to be a Partner
Country.
The Event was a platform of
innovation, production and
development for sectors such as
mechanical engineering, steel and
metallurgy, automobile, textile
and clothing, hi-tech industries,
electrical and electronic, building
and construction, rubber, plastic
and packaging, agricultural
implements, household appliances
and products, air conditioning
and so on.
The previous exhibition was
held over 4000 sq meter area,
9 Morocco in focus
with participation from countries such
as Morocco, France, Spain, Italy and
Turkey. 9000 business visitors visited the
show of which 95% were professionals
and rests were individuals. This year,
the exhibition was held over an area of
6000 sq meter.
Why Morocco?
Morocco is considered a gateway
to West and Northern Africa. The
country is steadily progressing towards
greater internal modernization and
globalization, with the creation of
the country’s first commercial courts,
streamlined customs services and 16
Regional Investment Centers dedicated
solely to facilitating new business
ventures.
Strategically located along the Strait
of Gibraltar just a seven-hour flight
from JFK and three hours from Paris,
Morocco is seen more and more as a
regional hub in North Africa for shipping
logistics, assembly, production and
sales. The moderate Mediterranean
climate on 2,750 miles of coastline
and its developing infrastructure make
Morocco an attractive location for both
business and leisure.
While India exported only USD 76
million worth of engineering goods to
Morocco, the country’s demand for
engineering products is much more, and
is often compared to the likes of Nigeria.
2013
 Morocco-India Historical Ties

Late King of Morocco, HM Hassan II

with first Prime Minister of India, Late
Jawahar Lal Nehru

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.

Morocco in focus 10
2013
Late King of Morocco, HM Hassan II honouring the then Prime
His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco with
Minister of India, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee
Chairperson of United Progressive Allliance in
India, Mrs Sonia Gandhi

His Majesty Mohammed VI,

King of Morocco honoured
Indian film actor, Amitabh
Bachchan.

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

11 Morocco in focus
2013
 Morocco Offers Investment
Opportunities for Indian Investors

Morocco, more business

Morocco Overview

Capital Rabat 802 517 B DH (2011)

GDP
€72 B
Democratic and social Constitutional 24 320 DH (2011)
Institutional System GDP per capita
Monarchy €2 200
Area 710 850 km²
Average growth
Average growth 5% (over the last 5 years)
the last 5 years)
Climate Mediterranean GDP Distribution  Primary Sector 13.7%
Time Zone GMT (GMT+1 in summer) (2010) Secondary Sector 26.7%
Arabic(official),
Arabic (official),Amazighe
French, Spanish,
(official), Tertiary Sector 59.0%
Languages
English Spanish and English
French, Inflation Rate 0.9% (2011)
Source: Haut Commissariat au Plan et Office des Changes

Morocco in focus 12
2013
 Morocco: a stable political environment

A continuing drive for openness and democratisation

 A monarchy established in the year 788 (12 centuries ago)

 A bicameral parliamentary system
 Both chambers vote on all laws
 The Constitutional Council reviews the constitutionality of all laws
 The judicial branch remains independent from the legislative and executive branches
 A multi-party system
 Over
O 85 000 associations
i i and
d NGO
NGOs
 In July 2011, a referendum established a new Constitution, guaranteeing:
• Human rights
g • Improved
p moral standards in p
public life
• The legality of the State and its institutions • The plurality of the Moroccan identity
• Individual and collective liberty

A stable political environment:

Morocco, a true exception in the MENA Region
International analysts highlight the Moroccan …and praise its democratic push.
exception…
“Despite regional troubles, Morocco continues its “Morocco's stability and the constructive spirit of the Moroccan
progress Various factors point to encouraging prospects for
progress…Various society as well as its commitment to tolerance and openness
the Moroccan economy in 2011, namely an excellent harvest praised Morocco's institutional reforms and the adoption by the
and a continuous diversification of the Moroccan economy” Moroccan people of the new democratic constitution”.
International think‐tank Oxford Business Group (OBG)‐ Bernardino Leon, EU special representative for the Southern
29/07/2011 Mediterranean region – 07/26/2011

‘‘The Moroccan economy continues to be one of the best “The new constitution represents a "major and positive step" on 

“Th tit ti t " j d iti t "
performers in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) the path of democracy consolidation in Morocco”
Region’’. Carlos Carnero Gonzalez, Special  Ambassador for European 
Nema Shafik, Deputy Managing Director of the International Integration Projects‐ 07/22/2011
Monetary Fund(IMF) – 05/14/2012
“His Majesty the King and the people of Morocco showed great
political
l l maturity. Comparedd to what
h it is happening
h elsewhere
l h
in the region and around the world, Morocco is quite admired
“Morocco is a model to follow in the region. Together with
in the United State. We look to Morocco quite often as an
Tunisia, we will find the needed cohesion and dynamism to
example of how you create a climate in which businesses are
strengthen the role of the region in the Mediterranean “.
welcomed, investors are attracted, people have jobs because of
Moncef Marzouki, President of Tunisia – 02/08/2012
that”
Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State‐ 26/02/2012
“Morocco tends to align more with Europe than with its  “Morocco is one of the countries to have made the most 
significant progress in terms of investment, especially thanks 
Southern and Western neighbors“                                                                                              
CNN ‐ 21/02/2011 to the quality of the information MIDA provides investors 
and the high level of their presentations.”
World Bank – 05/22/2012

"The  European Council congratulates its cooperation with 
Morocco, the most advanced country in the Arab region in terms 
of democracy and respect for human rights.
Thorbjorn Jagland Secretary General at the European Council ‐
Thorbjorn Jagland, Secretary General at the European Council ‐
– 08/10/2012

13 Morocco in focus
2013
 Strong macroeconomic drivers
GDP Growth(%)

Sustained GDP
Successfully meeting 
growth the major 
1998-2000
1998 2000 2002-2009
2002 2009 2010 2011 challenges, 2011. 
g ,

Inflation (%)
10
6.2
Controlled inflation 5
2.0 0.9
0.9 Morocco maintains 
0
Mean 1990- Mean 200- A4  grade ‐ 2011
1995 2009 2010 2011

Unemployment Rate (%)

40 Urban National

Declining 22.0
13.9 Affirms
20 12.7 13.4
3
82
8.2 89
8.9 Morocco's 
'
unemployment
0 Investment rating‐
1999 2010 2011
2011
FDI ( in B DH)
29,5
30
17
Rising FDI 20
8
#1
10 4
In Africa
0
95-99 00-04 05-09 2010-2011

Public Debt (% of GDP)

100
68.1
Control of Public 50 52 #1
50
Debt Inflation control
0
2000 2010 2011

Source: Haut Commissariat au Plan & Ministère de l’Economie et des Finances

Ambitious sectorial strategies

INDUSTRY: EMERGENCE PACT
Launched in 2009
Objectives:
• 1.6 % in additional GDP growth
• 220 000 jobs created
• Key sectors: automobile; aeronautics; electronics; IT;
fishing and agriculture; textile

ICT: DIGITAL MOROCCO 2013
Launched in 2008
Objectives:
• General access to high-speed internet
• E-government
E
• To encourage the use of IT in SMEs
 The greatest increase in the number of internet users 
i N th
in Northern Africa in 2011
Af i i 2011

Morocco in focus 14
2013
Ambitious sectorial strategies

LOGISTICS
Launched in 2010
Objectives:
• To improve the country’s logistical competitiveness
• To reduce logistical costs from 20% to 15% of GDP
• An integrated national network of 70 multi-flow
logistical zones

TOURISM: VISION 2020
Launched in 2010
Objectives:
• 20 million tourists in 2020
• 200 000 new beds
• Tourism GDP: from US$6 billion in 2010 to US$17
billion in 2020

Ambitious sectorial strategies

AGRICULTURE: GREEN MOROCCO PLAN
Launched in 2008
Objectives:
• To modernise the agricultural sector
• US$10
$ billion in additional GDP from agriculture
• US$15 billion in public and private investments

FISHING: HALIEUTIS
Launched in 2008
Launched in 2008
Objectives:
• US$1.5 billion in additional GDP
• The creation of 75 000 jobs by 2020

15 Morocco in focus
2013
 Ambitious sectorial strategies
TRADE: RAWAJ 2020
Launched in 2008
Objectives:
• A GDP from trade of DH98 billion, representing
12.5% of the country’s GDP.
• The creation of over 200 000 jobs.

HOUSING
Launched in 2009
j
Objectives:
• To reduce the shortage of units
• To build 100 000 units per year
• To expand social housing
 Morocco is the first country in the world in 
the fight against slums (6th edition of the World 
the fight against slums  (6th edition of the World
Urban Forum in Roma)

Ambitious sectorial strategies

ENERGY: MOROCCAN SOLAR PLAN
Launched in 2009 (Solar) and in 2010 (Wind) with a budget 
Launched in 2009 (Solar) and in 2010 (Wind) with a budget
of US$ 15 billion
Objectives:
• Renewable energy >40% of national production by
2020
• Capacity: 2 000 MW of solar power + 2 000 MW of
wind
d power

FINANCE: CASABLANCA FINANCE CITY
Launched in 2010

Objectives:
• To make of Casablanca a regional hub for the
Maghreb and Western Africa.

Morocco in focus 16
2013
Important infrastructure improvements

Airports
• 15 international airports
• Casablanca is #1 Europe-Africa hub
Tramways
• Rabat and Casablanca
• €1 billion Tanger Med: world-class infrastructure in a
strategic geographical location.
location
• Annual capacity of 3 million containers.
• Capacity of 8.5 million containers by 2017
• Objective: reach World Top-15.
• Integrated industrial, logistics, and
commercial zones neighbouring the port.

Ideal maritime platform to serve Europe and

Western Africa.

Highways (number of Km) Railway Network
• 2000 - 2010: from 150 to 1 000 km (≈ x 7) • First high-speed train in Africa
• 2010 -2015: from 1 000 to 1 800 km ((≈ x 2)) (Tangier-Casablanca)
(Tangier Casablanca) in 2015 –
€1.8 billion

22 Integrated Industrial Parks (P2Is)

TANGER FREE ZONE
TANGER AUTOMOTIVE CITY
ATLANTIC FREE ZONE TETOUAN SHORE

TECHNOPOLIS TANGER
TETOUAN BERKANE OUJDA SHORE
KENITRA OUJDA CLEANTECH
RABAT FES
CASANEARSHORE MEKNES
CASABLANCA

NOUASSEUR FES SHORE

AEROSPACE CITY
MARRAKECH

AGADIR
AGROPOLIS

E
Emerging
i Real Estate
R lE t t

LAAYOUNE
MARRAKECH SHORE Main mission: to ensure the movement of
assets (through land searching and
localizing, administrative and legal
organizing, turnkey delivery, and site
DAKHLA management).

 Investments
I between
b DH 100 d 300
DH 100 and 300 
million encompassing between 5 000 m² 
OFFSHORING P2I AERONAUTICS P2I RENEWABLE and 20 000 m² 
ENERGY P2I
GENERAL P2I AUTOMOBILE P2I AGRICULTURAL  60%  of funds allocated to P2Is and 40% to
P2I non-P2I areas.

17 Morocco in focus
2013
 Morocco: a strategic geographical location

Europe

14 km

Tanger
Tangier Med
Med Port

Morocco

Morocco: at the crossroads of the continents

7h
2h 3h
10d
NEW YORK 2d 3d
PARIS FRANKFURT

2h
1h
2d
1d ROME
MADRID
22h
4h 30d
5d 4h BEIJING
ACCRA 4d
3h CAIRO
4d
DAKAR

18h
25d
SAO PAULO
Flight duration
Sea/land route

Morocco in focus 18
2013
Tanger Med Port: Connections to 130 ports in 65 countries

A total traffic of 27 million tonnes in 2011, a rise of 17% from 2010

Ranking of Moroccan
shipping routes

Morocco: an unparalleled connection between Europe, the

Middle East, and Africa

Number of international  Direct connections to 32  Direct connections to 24 cities 

passengers:  European cities in Africa and the Middle East
Steadily growing

Source: Office National des Aéroports & Royal Air Maroc

19 Morocco in focus
2013
 Competitive costs

Exportation costs* Competitive salaries Corporate Tax Rates

(average)

US$ per container US$ per month 62.80% 63.80%

990 3787
884 43% 44.50%
3046 41.70%
730 737 773 2736
700
+ 47%

1081 1226
360 393 530
302

Maroc Egypte Turquie Tunisie Chine

The cost measures the charges perceived

on a 20-foot container in U.S. dollars. All
the costs associated with the procedures
to export or import the goods are
included.

Source: World Bank 2012

Access to custom fee exemptions

Agreement under negotiations
with Canada

Association Agreement with European Union 
(1996) 

Located just 14 km
f
from Europe
E
Agreement with  Turkey (2003) 
Agreement with United States of 
America (2005) 

Agadir
di Agreement (2004) 
( )
United Arab Emirates Agreement 
(2003)
Arab League Agreement (1998)
Agreement under negotiations with the 
Economic Community of West African
Economic Community of West African 
States (ECOWAS & CEMAC)

Morocco in focus 20
2013
An attractive incentive package

Investment Promotion
Funds Hassan II Fund Energy Funds
(IPFs)

 Eligibility Conditions:  Eligibility Conditions:
 Eligibility Conditions:
• Total investment ≥ DH10 • Investment in equipment
• Investment ≥ DH200 million
million goods ≥ DH2.5 million
And/or
• Investment in goods and • Signature of an investment
• Jobs created ≥ 250
equipment ≥ DH5 million contract with the State
• Sectors:  Budget of DH10 billion
 Land Assistance: A contribution
up to 20%
20% off acquisition
i i i costs A t
Automobile,
bil aeronautics,
ti nan
otechnology, microelectronics  Objectives: 
, and biotechnology. • To finance new energy
 External Infrastructures: 
 Contributions are limited to a facilities, especially in the field
assistance of up to 5% of total 
maximum of 15% of the total of renewable energy.
amount of investment
investment and DH30 million as • To offer subsidies to project
programme
the following: leaders.
 Training: A contribution of up to  • Land Assistance: 30% of costs
20% of training costs. of land acquisition and
development.
• Equipment: 15% of costs of
new equipment (excluding
taxes and import duties).

An attractive incentive package

Moroccan Fund
General Tax Casablanca Finance
for Tourism
Code City
Development (FMDT)

 Size   Eligibility Conditions  Eligibility Conditions

Currently DH1.5  • Investment ≥ 200 millions  • Activities with non-
billion increasing to DH15 billion
billion, DH15 billion DH resident businesses
over the next 10 years. • Compliance with financial
• Objectives  VAT exemption for the importation legislations and
- To support the carrying out of of equipment regulations.
“Vision 2020” goods, materials, and tools for the  Full exemption for the first 5 years
- To
T produce
d a significant
i ifi iimpact 36 months following
h f ll the
h start off off activity
ti it and t off 8.75% 
d a rate 8 75%
on the Moroccan economy and the activity. thereafter.
to ensure financial stability for  Reduced corporate tax rate of 10
investors. %
 Eligibility Conditions :  Income tax set at 20%
• The projects in question will
operate in the fields of hotel
infrastructure, recreation, en
tertainment, business
tourism and touristic cultural
infrastructure.

21 Morocco in focus
2013
 Free zones in Morocco

Incentive benefits in Free TANGER FREE ZONE

TANGER AUTOMOTIVE CITY
Zones ATLANTIC
FREE ZONE

TANGER
TETOUAN
OUJDA
KENITRA

 Exemption from custom fees and TECHNOPOLIS

RABAT FES
MEKNES
simplified customs procedures RABAT CASABLANCA

 Full exemption from corporate tax  MARRAKECH
OUJDA SHORE
for first 5 years and a rate of 8.75%  AGADIR CLEANTECH
for the following 20 years.

 Full exemption from income tax for

first 5 years and a reduction of 80% LAAYOUNE

for the following 20 years.

 No restrictions on capital or
NOUASSER AEROSPACE CITY
dividend transfers. DAKHLA

A business environment favourable to investment

• 51 Double Tax Avoidance Agreements
• 62 Investment Protection Agreements
Investor
• Member of OECD Investment Committee
Protection • Member of International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
• Member of MIGA (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency)

• The creation of the Business Environment National Committee (CNEA) to facilitate

procedures and access to information, and to carry out legal reforms
• The modernisation of business law
Legal Reforms • The strengthening of intellectual property protection
• A new law on arbitration and mediation
• New banking regulations
• Administrative simplification

An Incentive Tax • Reduction of tax burden

System • The creation of funds specifically for investment promotion

• Morocco adhered to the OECD Declaration on Propriety, Integrity and Transparency in the
International Conduct of International Business and Finance and to the OECD Declaration on Green
Instruments Growth

Morocco is "the most improved" country in business regulations in 2011

+21 positions in global ranking

Morocco in focus 22
2013
 India-Morocco Business Ties
Mr. Goutam Ghosh, Head-Arab Division
Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Moroccan Economy
The Moroccan economy
displayed a degree of resilience
in a particularly difficult economic
context, growing by 3.2% in 2012,
driven by internal consumption
and public investment.
Morocco has a coherent strategy
in place since the early 2000s to
achieve its medium-term vision
and has made a good start on
structural change, with Morocco’s
phosphate industry – the world’s
biggest producer and exporter –
playing a key role both from a
financial point of view and as a
source of growth for other sectors
of the economy, though the textile
industry is among those needing
to reposition quickly in the face of
international competition.
Thanks to its economic
development model, which
combines openness, liberalisation
and structural reform, Morocco
has shown resilience in a difficult
national and international context.
Nevertheless the slowdown in
activity in Europe, which is the
country’s chief economic partner,
and below-average agricultural
production resulted in a distinct
slowdown in growth, which was
3.2% in 2012.
However, growth should pick up
in 2013 to reach around 4.6%,
driven by the consolidation of
internal demand. Some industries
have been given a boost by the
implementation of the 2009-
15 National Pact for Industrial
Emergence (Pacte national
d’émergence industrielle, {PNEI})
23
and they should make a vigorous
contribution to growth.
Business Climate &
Competitiveness
Various assessments on the
business climate show that the
country is adopting international
best practices. The measures
taken include, at the institutional
level: (i) establishment of
the Moroccan Investment
Development Agency (AMDI) in
February 2009 to support and
streamline the country’s efforts to
attract foreign direct investments
(FDIs), welcome investors and
contribute to removing obstacles
to investment; (ii) establishment of
an Inter-Ministerial Committee for
Improving the Business Climate
(CNEA) in September 2009 to
Morocco in focus
2013
 India-Morocco Economic
Relations:
Quantum of bilateral trade, which was
For long, India has been one of
US$ 1.15 billion in 2010-11, reached the major markets for Moroccan
US$ 1.7 billion in 2012-13 (including phosphate and its derivatives.
Other main items of export to
India’s exports to Morocco at US$ India are metallic ores and metal
426.38 million and India’s imports from scrap, semi-finished products
Morocco at US$ 1300.35 million) and inorganic chemicals. The
main items of India’s exports to
Morocco are cotton yarn, synthetic
fiber, transport equipment,
pharmaceuticals, agricultural
implements, chemicals, spices
and manufactured metals. The
balance of trade has been in
favour of Morocco because of
imports of phosphoric acid and
rock phosphate by India. The
quantum of bilateral trade, which
was US$ 1.15 billion in 2010-11,
reached US$ 1.7 billion in 2012-
13 (including India’s exports to
Morocco at US$ 426.38 million
and India’s imports from Morocco
at US$ 1300.35 million).

India-Morocco joint venture

Mr. R. V. Kanoria, Immediate Past President FICCI speaking at
the India-Africa Partnership Day during African Development
Bank-AGM at Marrakesh
prepare action plans that would
guarantee better coordination
between the various Ministries,
as well as simplification and
enhancement of the transparency
of administrative procedures;
and (iii) creation of 16 regional
investment centres to serve as
decentralized one-stop shops.
Other institutions are also
involved in the promotion of
investments, particularly the
Private Sector Incentives Support
Funds (Fonds Hassan II and
Investment Promotion Fund).
In addition to simplification
of the corporate tax system,
other efforts have been made
to develop investment poles
(integrated industrial platforms,
free trade areas, agropoles,
clusters, etc.) providing private
sector development opportunities.
Morocco moved up 20 places on
the World Bank “2012 Doing
Business report” ranking, from
115th to 94th out of 183 countries.
This was the outcome of three
major reforms initiated in 2011
on building permits, protection
of investors and tax payment
facilities. However, the challenges
are still many, in particular the
modernization of the judicial
system, ease of access by SMEs
to loans, and flexibility of the
labour market.
An India-Morocco joint venture
in fertilizer sector in Morocco,
called IMACID, located at Jorf
Lasfar, about 150 Kms south
of Casablanca, was set up in
November 1999 between M/s
Chambal Chemicals & Fertilizers
Ltd. of the Birla Group and
Office Cherifien des Phosphates
(OCP) on the Moroccan side
to produce phosphoric acid. In
2005, Tata Chemicals Ltd. joined
as a third equal partner in this
joint venture. At present, the JV
is producing around 430,000 MT
per annum of phosphoric acid,
nearly all of which is imported by
India. The Moroccan phosphate
organization, OCP, has invested
in Paradip Phosphates Ltd. in
India.
Among other business activities,
TATA Motors has a plant in
Casablanca for manufacturing bus
bodies. Ranbaxy has a technical
collaboration with Afric-Phar
for distribution of their finished
products. It has set up their

Morocco in focus 24
2013
manufacturing plant for medicines
in Casablanca and commercial
production is expected to begin.
PepsiCo India has acquired the
beverage maker’s entire franchise
bottling operations in Morocco.
Tata Consultancy Services
(TCS) signed an agreement with
Moroccan Government to establish
an offshoring delivery centre and a
project to impart national training
and e-governance. TCS opened
its office in Casablanca in 2007.

FICCIs engagement with

Morocco
• In its pursuit to catapult India’s
economic engagement with the
Maghreb region, Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce
and Industry (FICCI) took
strong business delegation to
Morocco in October 2010.
The FICCI initiative, supported
by Government of India,
was organised in association
with Casablanca Chamber
of Commerce & Industry in
Morocco. The objective of
the visit was to familiarise
the Indian businessmen of
the business opportunities
available there.
Indian businesses, representing
textiles, ICT, Packaging
machinery, Agricultural
equipments including tractors,
Spices, automobiles tyres and
consumer products participated
in this FICCI delegation.
• FICCI signed a cooperation
agreement with Casablanca
Chamber of Commerce &
Industry on 8th October, 2010.
The cooperation agreement
would intensively engage India
and Morocco economically to
explore new business other
than the existing ever growing
trade on phosphates between
the two countries.
• Another noteworthy initiative
is a recent visit of a FICCI
delegation to Marrakesh
on the occasion of African
Mr. Goutam Ghosh, Head (Arab Division), FICCI, receiving memento
from the President of Casablanca Chamber of Commerce
Development Bank Annual
General Meeting in May 2013.
As Indian African Partnership
day with focus on Morocco was
also organised on this occasion.
Senior industry members
from Tata Motors, Escorts,
KEC International, IL&FS
Transportation Networks, Jain
Irrigation, Jindal Power and
Steel, Apollo International,
WAPCOS and State Bank
of India shared India’s
experiences, knowledge, ideas,
policy options and information
on facilitating and financing
sectoral cooperation through
mechanisms including the
PPP model. The initiative was
formed on synergizing the
priority area for engagement
between Indian private sector
and African countries including
Morocco and supported by
African Development Bank,
Exim Bank & Department of
Economic Affairs – Govt of
India.
Conclusion
Morocco has achieved good
economic performance
over the past few years; this
performance is the outcome
of sound macroeconomic
management, backed by
structural and sector reforms
geared towards strengthening
economic diversification. In order
to consolidate these achievements
and create conditions for sustained
growth, the Government has
embarked on an aggressive policy
to strengthen the institutional
framework through the promotion
of governance and infrastructure
development.

25 Morocco in focus
2013
 Ibn Battuta: A Traveler Par Excellence
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
I
bn 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
Morocco in focus
2013
By Asif Javed
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
26
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
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
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 continued 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
27
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
Morocco in focus
2013
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.
Morocco in focus
2013
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 exiting 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
28
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.
 India Strengthens Africa Ties
FICCI and Exim Bank recently hosted an ‘India-Africa
Partnership Day’ in Morocco.
KABIR TANEJA NEW DELHI | 1st Jun 2013
I
ndia is continuing its efforts to
build closer ties with Africa as
the continent slowly becomes
the new frontier of development
and diplomacy. With the African
countries picking up steam and
economies showing signs of growth,
Indian companies are looking to
gain the upper hand in areas such as
minerals, oil and other such natural
resources.
On the sidelines of the African
Development Bank’s 48th Annual
General Meeting in Marrakesh,
Morocco, the Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI) and Exim Bank
hosted the ‘India-Africa Partnership
Day’. New Delhi has re-affirmed its
commitments of developing Indian-
African trade which has increased
manifold from under $ 1 billion in
1991 to $ 68 billion in 2011-2012
and now accounts for 5.8% of
Africa’s global trade. India’s trade
in 2011-2012 registered a 28.2% rise
over the last year. Even in 2012-
2013 where India’s overall trade
declined by 1.28% in the 10 months,
its trade with Africa posted 8.32%
growth. Encouraged by the growth
in bilateral exports and imports in
the current fiscal, target for India-
Africa trade has also been raised to
$100 billion over the next two years.
“Africa is a resource-rich continent
and has huge potential in coal,
minerals, infrastructure, agriculture,
pharmaceuticals and FMCG sectors,”
said R.V. Kanoria, immediate Past
President, FICCI.
Companies such as Airtel, which
entered Africa in 2010 by acquiring
African operations of Zain for $10
billion, the Tata Group which
has investments in the continent
of nearly $2 billion and others
such as Videocon, Jindal Steel
and Power Ltd (JSPL) etc. have
made strides in penetrating the
African markets. However, Indian
companies face tough competition
from China, specifically Chinese
state companies which operate
with massive budgets, in gaining
an upper hand in both natural
resources and general business
in the continent.
Meanwhile, India has continued
to move forward in Africa’s much
contested oil and gas sector. After
reports of India’s state owned
ONGC being on the cusp of losing
a much contested oil & gas deal
in Mozambique, latest reports
suggest that the company has
decided to split the $5-6 billion
deal with British giant Shell.
Both companies will be buying
the stakes from Videocon and
Anadarko respectively. Along
with success in new areas such
as Mozambique, India already
enjoys significant presence in
countries such as Sudan, South
Sudan, Angola, Nigeria, Libya
29
and so on. In fact, India is now the
biggest importer of oil from Nigeria,
beating the United States which is
cutting its imports from abroad.
However, not all news of India’s
inroads in Africa has been positive.
Earlier in the year, a report by
a US based think tank blamed
Indian companies operating in
Ethiopia of grabbing land away from
indigenous people in order to use it
for industrial activities. The report
by think tank Oakland Institute
said that over 600,000 hectares
of land in Ethiopia’s Gambella
and Afar provinces accessed by
Indian companies to grow palm
oil, commercial cultivation of roses
and so on.
Nonetheless, continuing the process,
New Delhi is also getting ready
to host the ‘India-Africa Business
Series’ which will be focussing on
energy security for both India and
Africa as both face energy as a major
challenge in their development.
Many government officials dealing
with energy and mining along with
businessmen from the region are
expected to attend.
Morocco in focus
2013
 Morocco Wants Ties with India to go
Beyond Food Security
M
orocco 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 the top trading partner
of Morocco in Asia and the
third largest globally. This is
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.
Ambassador of Morocco to India, Mr. Larbi Reffouh and
Mrs. Reffouh welcoming Chief Guest during 2012 National Day
event, Mr. E. Ahamed, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs
“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 in focus
2013
Morocco, which shared bilateral
trade worth USD 1.6 billion
with India in 2011, 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 4,30,000 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.
30
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.
Among the incentives given to
foreign investors in Morocco
include freehold land ownership
and financial 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 such
capital 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.
“The next meeting of the joint
commission will be held sometime
in the first quarter of 2013,” the
ambassador said.
Morocco and India share a
common vision in a host of both
regional and multilateral forums,
notably in the UN where the
 India-Morocco Bilateral Trade
As on 25th July 2013 Values in US $ Millions

S.No. \Year 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013

1. EXPORT 242.85 250.47 318.57 372.10 426.38
2. %Growth 3.14 27.19 16.80 14.59
3. IMPORT 948.15 861.51 839.64 1,635.33 1,300.35
4. %Growth -9.14 -2.54 94.77 -20.48
TOTAL TRADE 1,191.00 1,111.98 1,158.21 2,007.44 1,726.72
%Growth -6.63 4.16 73.32 -13.98

Source : Department of Commerce, Government of India

two nations are currently non-permanent members of the Security Council. India was among the very first
countries to recognize Moroccan independence. It was also the first to establish diplomatic ties and open
an embassy in our country.
“India-Morocco ties, in fact, date back to the 14th century when the Moroccan explorer Ibn Butata travelled
to India.”
Source: http://www.cuts-citee.org/IndiaCorner_July12.htm
 Courting India, Morocco-Style:
Bollywood, Business and Luxury Travel
I
n Morocco, “India”
immediately conjures up
pictures of “Bollywood”
stars to the locals. But that’s not
the only connection between
the two countries. In fact, ever
since the formal establishment
of diplomatic relations between
India and Morocco in 1957, the
ties between the two countries
have grown stronger to encompass
diverse areas. Morocco considers
India as its top trading partner in
Asia and the third largest globally.
Bilateral relations have expanded
beyond trade and supply of
phosphates, a key ingredient for
fertilizers of which Morocco holds
two-thirds of global reserves, to
investment in services and a slew
of other segments. Home to over
70 pristine tourist destinations
Morocco, the North African
country, is proactively seeking
investments from India in the
Apeejay Surrendra Group has invested in luxury Hotel Taj Marrakesch
Morocco in focus
2013
Source: Hoihnu Hauzel,
India Writes Network (IWN)
hospitality sector as it courts
Indian travellers to come and
explore its natural beauty.
The Tata group is perhaps the
only Indian chain to have opened
a luxury property, Taj Palace
Marrakech, a 130-acre resort that
overlooks the Atlas Mountain, last
November. Following the Taj’s
32
entry would be a host of brands
like Banyan Tree, Mandarin
Oriental, among others, who
are literally making a beeline
in Morocco. Now, home-grown
brand like La Mamounia, an
iconic property that seldom
needed much marketing for its
sheer popularity, is left to venture
out of its comfort zone seeking
a new market. Considered a
destination in itself, La Mamounia
has been the favourite of people
like Winston Churchill, who stayed
there through many winters.
So did the legendary Franklin
D. Roosevelt. With a beautiful
landscaped garden dotted with
trees and plants, the resort has
never been large enough to satisfy
all the guests who wanted to be
accommodated. Until the end of
thirties, the hotel had only fifty
rooms. But it was expanded in
1946 to include 100 rooms, then
refurbished successively in 1950,
1953, 1986 and finally in 2006
for a reopening with 210 keys on
September 29, 009. Seeped in
history, the property which dates
back to the eighteenth century is
a true monument combining the
traditional Moroccan architecture
with the Art Deco style.
Didier Picquot, the affable
General Manager, La Mamounia,
who has played a pivotal role
in entrenching the hotel’s global
reputation, recently visited India,
wooing new clients to come and
experience his property. In this
interview with Hoihnu Hauzel,
Picquot speaks about cultural
connections between India and
Morocco and how Morocoo’s
hospitality industry is looking
at the growing market for luxury
travel anew.
(Excerpts from the interview)
Y ou have a very negligible
percentage of guests from
India, particularly in your
property. Now, what makes
you think that India is a
potential market for your
hotel/country?
Indeed, India is currently
considered a niche market for
La Mamounia and Marrakech in
general; we have ended in 2012
with less than 1 per cent. Being the
official partner of the Marrakech
Amitabh Bachchan at Marrakech Film Festival
Prince Moulay Rachid, brother of HM King Mohammed VI
conferred Morocco’s prestigious Medal of Honour to Actor
Shahrukh Khan at the 2012 Marrakech International Film Festival
Film Festival during the last
edition of 2012 when India was
the country being honoured, we
believe it is a great platform for us
to work on penetrating this market
with high potential. The Indian
market is becoming very mature
for the European destinations and
it will show a bigger interest for
Marrakech in the upcoming years.
In addition, we thought that the
opening of a new Taj property
33
in Marrakech will also generate
media focus on Marrakech as a
lifestyle and leisure destination.
Would the opening of Taj
Palace Marrakech in some ways
be considered a competition
for your brand? In what way
will it impact your occupancy?
Taj is a landmark brand in
India and La Mamounia is the
landmark hotel in Marrakech; the
future opening of Taj Marrakech
will definitely help us to stir an
interest toward the destination
and introduce our property to the
Indian high-end travellers. Taj will
be a competitor as it is a strong
luxury brand which has very high
quality standards. It will also
attract a new kind of travellers,
and thus further strengthen the
position of Marrakech as an
upscale luxury destination.
During your recent trip to
India (through Rajasthan),
what are the cultural affinities
between India and Morocco
that you noticed?
As in Morocco, there is in India
a very strong family bond. There
is also the delight to display and
Morocco in focus
2013
share the various food of the
country as well as enjoyment
of music and dance. There is
respect for ancestral rites and
legacies and concomitantly
a great interest towards
modernity. Tradition and
modernity — which is also
the equilibrium which La
Mamounia straddles.
How would you make
your property or the
destination appealing for
Indian customers?
La Mamounia is one of
the most iconic hotels in
the world. This year, we
are celebrating our 90th
anniversary. La Mamounia
is a lifestyle destination in
itself, combining a unique
sensory experience with
handcrafted architecture
and decoration, gastronomy
from Morocco, France and
Italy, Spa and Wellness,
personalized service. We are
also a children-friendly hotel. The
location of La Mamounia is ideal
to discover Marrakech as we are
located just five minutes away
from the most famous square in
Marrakech: The Jammaa El Fna
square. In addition, our legendary
gardens of eight hectares are silent
witness of our long and fabulous
history.
What kind of tourists are you
targeting from India?
We are targeting all travellers who
are luxury-sensitive and looking
for a one of a kind experience.
How is Indian culture perceived
in Morocco? What do you
think connects us?
Indian culture is well known and
loved in Morocco! Moroccans are
big fans of Bollywood. Movies
are the way to export culture so
you will find lots of Moroccans,
who are very familiar with all
Morocco in focus
2013
Kaftan dress is made from
Indian fabric
the customs you have in India
as weddings, family celebrations
or food, culture, familiar habits,
food are the biggest connections
between us but they are also some
small similarities like the way
women are dressed in Morocco
and in India: for instance, the
traditional Indian wear, sari, is
very popular in Morocco and is
used to make traditional women
Moroccan dress: Kaftan.
You (your hotel) has played
host to our top film stars
during the recently-concluded
international film festival. In
what manner can Bollywood
be used as a ticket to further
connect our cultural bond?
Celebrities are always a way
to attract people as they are
considered as opinion leaders.
When we were in India we realized
34
how film stars like Shahrukh
Khan or Amitabh Bachchan
are adored and respected.
We sincerely believe that
having welcomed them in
our hotel is a ‘plus’ for La
Mamounia and will certainly
play a big role in attracting
travellers who wish to visit
Marrakech.
What are you specific
plans/strategies for
Indian market? How do
you plan to reach out?
As we do in all our markets,
we focus on direct contact
with travel agents, the
media and consortia. We do
believe that a direct contact
and a close relationship with
our partners is the best way
to strengthen and reinforce
our presence in a market.
We will definitely return
next year and will keep in
touch with our partners and
new contacts we have met during
this visit.
Would you at any time
consider introducing Indian
cuisine as a part of the menu
in your coffee shop or any
restaurants in your property?
Not for the moment….we do
believe that offering Moroccan
food is a good way to introduce
the Moroccan culture. In addition,
we do offer two gastronomic
restaurants “Le Français by Jean-
Pierre Vigato” and “L’ Italien
by Don Alfonso”; both are two
stars Michelin chefs. We propose
vegetarian recipes in all our
restaurants and room service.
HOIHNU HAUZEL has been a
journalist for the past 13 years and
worked with various leading dailies
like the Asian Age, The Indian
Express, Hindustan Times, Times of
India and The Telegraph in Delhi.
She is now an Independent journalist
who contributes for a broad spectrum
of publications in India. Apart from
writing on travel and hospitality, she
also writes on various social issues.
 International Tractors Limited Success Story
Sonalika’s presence felt in Global market
Sonalika is today India’s
Leading Agriculture Equipment
manufacturer making a wide
range of tractors from 30 to 90
HP, Farm Equipment and
Implements. It has
international distribution
network of over 1800 dealers in
over 74 countries currently.
Starting with small exports to
India’s neighboring markets
like Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, Sonalika has now taken
major leaps forward by
exploring new markets like
USA, Australia, Serbia,
Suriname, Chile, Syria, Peru,
Argentina, and Iran.
Working on its vision to
become worlds leading tractor
manufacturing company and
major Player in automotive,
products, ITL has established
new Assembly line in Nigeria
along with a local partner to
cater to local market needs.
Currently Sonalika is India’s
largest exported tractor to
Africa.
Sonalika Engines and Tractors
also comply with tough
American EPA norms as well
as Euro Homologation for
several models has been done
to enable enter the European
markets.
sales facilities at over 60 points in
South Africa.
an
LANDINI-SOLIS TRACTOR AT AN
EXHIBITION IN SOUTH AFRICA.
ITL has been made the production
hub for major sourcing of
components an Agricultural
implements from Italy, Japan,
Turkey, Brazil, which shows the
depth confidence of leading brands
in ITL products and company
ITL has further expanded its
footprint in Europe with
distribution network setup in
Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Serbia
and Bulgaria.
SOLIS TRACTOR IN MOROCCO.
Sonalika had also received one of
the largest order for agricultural
equipment from India under Govt.
of India line of credit to
Cameroon for 1000 Tractors
and implements, valuing USD
38 million.
CAMEROON PRESIDENT ON SONALIKA
TRACTOR
ITL’s USP like ISO Certification
9001:2000 and ISO 14001, Zero
defect policy, 3A’s Advantage –
Affordable price, Adaptability
and Appropriate technology
provides ITL with truly an
outstanding platform of success
and competitive edge over other
tractor companies in India.
The zest of Sonalika to be known
as a Complete Agricultural
Solution Provider has made
Sonalika become a truly
International Agricultural
Equipment manufacturer.
For more information on Sonalika
Visit: www.sonalika.com
Email:exports@sonalika.com

‘LANDINI-SOLIS’ Tractor
range has been successfully
introduced in Southern African
countries with several key
government orders and after

35 Morocco in focus
2013
 India - Morocco Food Legumes Initiative
Increasing food legumes production by small farmers
to strengthen food and nutrition security through
adoption of improved technologies and governance
within South-South Cooperation

Background and justification
Food legumes play an important
role in food and nutrition security
in a sustainable way:
• Role in human nutrition
• Improving soil health
• Income growth
• Employment generation
In recent years, overall production
areas of food legumes have
steadily fallen and certainly not
in accordance with their potential.
Productivity of food legumes
has remained low and variable
because of:
• Low yield potential of existing
varieties,
• Poor seed multiplication
systems,
• Susceptibility of cultivars to
environmental stresses and
depredation by diseases, insect
pests and parasites,
• Limited use of inputs
• Access to market,
• Labor cost and availability and
low degree of mechanization
• Weak farmer organization
Goal
The initiative aims to improve
food and nutritional security,
livelihood of resource poor
farmers, and conserve natural
resource base for sustainable
production systems in India and
Morocco.
Initiative objective
Dissemination and adoption
of improved technologies
and governance to increase
productivity of food legumes
through participatory knowledge
management systems and South-
South collaboration
Major outcomes
1. Value chains, add value,
marketing and pro-food
legumes policy interventions;
2. Eco-technology options for
sustainable food legumes
productivity, profitability and
product quality;

3. Farmer/producer aggregation
and empowerment (CBO) to
improve technology adoption
and market access;

4. Knowledge connectivity system

using different ICT tools for
rural communities and project
communication;

5. Capacity building/farmer
empowerment and networking
of all stakeholders, and South-
South collaboration;

6. M & E s y s t e m f o r
implementation, management
and social cost benefit.

Target food legume crops

Raising productivity: Delegates at the India-Morocco Review and
Planning meeting in New Delhi • In India: Black Gram, Green
Gram, Groundnut, Pigeon pea,

Morocco in focus 36
2013
 Chickpea (Desi and Kabuli),
Lentil, Faba bean, Grass pea.
• In Morocco: Faba bean,
Chickpea, Lentil, Peas
Target areas and
communities
• Countries: India and Morocco
• Watersheds in arid and semi-
arid areas
• Vulnerable socio-economic
groups with poor access to
market
• 15000 farmers reached in India
• 10000 farmers reached in
Morocco.
Target areas
• In India: Tamilnadu, Orissa,
Bihar, Karnataka, Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal.
• In Morocco: Sais-Taounate,
Zemmour-Zaers, Chaouia-
Ouardigha, Abda-Doukkala,
Tadla-Azilal.
Methodology
• On-farm participatory testing
and demonstration with target
farmers
• Farmer field schools, travelling
workshops and training
• Value chain analysis and
farmers organization for agri-
business initiatives
• ICT tools for knowledge
dissemination and sharing
• S t a k e h o l d e r s c o n c e r t e d
action for sustainability and
influencing policy.
Consortium Partners
• From India: ICAR/Universities,
MSSRF, ICARDA, ICRISAT,
AGRIWATCH
• From Morocco: INRA/IAV,
CRP2, ICARDA, OCPF.
Expected impacts
• 15-20% increase in production
in project areas
• 15 % increase in the household
income
• 20% increase in cropping
intensity
• 100 Village Based Seed
Enterprises established
• 10 agri-business associations
initiated in Morocco;
• Up to 2500 jobs created in
project areas of Morocco
• 10% Increase food legumes
consumption per capita in
project areas
• Improve soil fertility in cereal
based cropping system
• Enhanced food and nutrition
security.
Source: International Center for
Agricultural Research in the Dry
Areas (ICARDA)

Krest Publications extends

its best wishes to the

Embassy of
the Kingdom of Morocco in New Delhi
for the 2013 National Day
 Offshoring Success
The country aims to maintain its lead in outsourced services
W
ith European
businesses bent on
reducing expenses in
cost-sensitive sectors, Morocco
is becoming a leading provider
of offshoring services, especially
for the French- and Spanish-
speaking markets. The kingdom
has now begun emphasising
nearshoring – the relocation
of customer-oriented services
to neighbouring countries – to
spur growth and job creation.
ON TOP: Morocco was named
2012 “Offshoring Destination
of the Year” by the European
Outsourcing Association,
validating the efforts expended
in recent years to develop the
industry. Its strategy, dubbed the
“Moroccan offer”, aims to sharpen
its comparative advantage in this
sector by providing infrastructure,
training and similar incentives,
falling in line with initiatives like
those of MedZ Sourcing, created
to support the local offshoring
Morocco in focus
2013
industry and a subsidiary of
the state-run Caisse de Dépôt
et de Gestion. Supported by
the National Pact for Industrial
Emergence, offshoring, which
earned Dh800m (€71.1m) in 2004,
generated Dh7bn (€622.3m) in
2011. The industry created eight
times more positions in 2010
than in 2004, reaching 46,000
jobs in 2010, up from 5500 six
years earlier, according to the
Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Regulators believe the sector can
create 70,000 jobs and earn over
Dh20bn (€1.8bn) by 2015.
Currently, Morocco is said to
account for up to half of all
Francophone offshoring services.
Its appeal includes wages up to
half those in France, a relatively
high proportion of university
graduates and many French-
speaking citizens. The cost of
telecommunications infrastructure
is brought down by the fact that
early on Morocco placed an
38
emphasis on making its offshoring
industry cost-efficient.
RESTRUCTURING: However,
while the kingdom has successfully
attracted a high volume of clients,
it is now looking to capture
more of the value added market,
particularly as more cost-
competitive rivals in the region
look to increase their share of
the business. Until now Morocco
mostly focused on call centres,
which bring in less profit than
other, more sophisticated services.
New segments that will help
differentiate the kingdom include
business processes, such as
finance, human resources (HR)
and information technology (IT).
Offshoring services are typically
grouped in three categories:
call centres, business process
outsourcing (BPO), where profit
is higher, and knowledge process
outsourcing (KPO), which is even
more profitable and requires more
skill. In BPO, the biggest potential
is in customer relationship
services, followed by HR and
financial accounting. A ministry
report predicted that HR could
rake in Dh1.1bn (€97.8m) in
2013, while financial accounting
could earn Dh300m (€26.7m).
Call centres are common, but
bring little added value. Rachid
Alaoui, director-general of
CasaNearshore and Technopolis,
told OBG that he envisioned
basic call centre jobs moving
south to Francophone West
African countries after Morocco
develops more sophisticated
services. “A focus on value-
added services will allow Morocco
to stay competitive, even if it
faces pressure from lower-cost
countries.” The local offshoring
industry has dedicated sites:
Technopolis in Rabat housing a
mix of BPOs; Fez Shore in Fez,
which is to become a value-added
location for customer relationship
management and call centres;
Casanearshore that is mainly IT-
related in Casablanca; and Oudja
Shore in Oudja.
The local offshoring industry has
dedicated sites: Technopolis in Rabat
housing a mix of BPOs; Fez Shore in
Fez which is to become a value-added
location for customer relationship
management and call centres;
Casanearshore that is mainly IT-related
in Casablanca; and Oudja Shore in Oudja
MUTUAL BENEFIT: In a global the lower prices that result from
context of job shortages and outsourcing certain operations.
economic uncertainty in the EU, “Offshoring should be seen as a
however, there has been political form of co-development, whereby
pressure in EU countries not both countries benefit from the
to “export” jobs. Those who activity,” said Alaoui. “What is
support offshoring usually say more, offshoring can even lead
that protectionist sentiments to adding jobs on the side of the
are misplaced and that, far country that saw operations move
from reducing home-country abroad.”
employment, offshoring may Source: The Report: Morocco 2013,
stimulate economic growth at Oxford Business Group
home as the country will then be
able to concentrate on activities
where it has comparative
advantage. Additionally, home-
country consumers benefit from
39 Morocco in focus
2013

Flagship project aims to attract a growing share of investment in Africa
W
orking to position its
commercial capital,
Casablanca, as
financial centre for investors
eyeing the African continent,
Morocco has been drawing
support from the City in London,
Singapore and Luxembourg.
Casablanca is now using its
strategic location, near Europe
and at the tip of Africa, to try
to become a regional financial
centre at a time when investors
are looking to Africa for new
opportunities.
As Morocco’s ambition continues
to take shape, 11 multinationals
had secured Casablanca Finance
City (CFC) status as of end-2012,
granting them special privileges,
such as exemption from corporate
taxes for five years and a reduced
rate thereafter.
According to professional services
firm Ernst & Young, foreign direct
investment projects in Africa
grew from 339 in 2003 to 857
in 2011. This growth shows that
foreign investors are getting more
Morocco in focus
2013
A Regional Role
confident about putting their
money into Africa. Johannesburg
at present serves as the main
conduit for inflows, making it the
kingdom’s key competition for
investment.
BEGINNINGS: The Moroccan
Financial Board (MFB) was
created in 2010 to build the CFC.
The seed capital was brought
equally by six institutions: Bank
Al Maghrib, Caisse de Dépôt et
de Gestion and the Casablanca
Stock Exchange (CSE), as well
as three banks, Attijariwafa Bank,
Banque Centrale Populaire and
BMCE Bank.
Besides its location, Morocco is
depending on its sophisticated
banking sector to carry the project
along. Moroccan banks, many
of which are partly European-
owned, have operations in more
than two dozen African countries,
as well as a handful of European
states, where they specialise in
services to the large Moroccan
diaspora. Those bridges and
proven cross-cultural expertise
40
are strong selling points for the
CFC, which promotes trade
with Africa as well as within it.
Naturally, the larger body of the
MFB also offers a platform for
foreign investors wishing to start
or grow their operations in Africa.
SUPPORT: The project enjoys
strong backing from the Moroccan
government, which has offered
a range of support, including
providing the mandate for the
project under Law 44-10 in 2010,
building infrastructure for the
CFC, developing services such
as a planned court of arbitration,
and awarding tax breaks to
attract investors. It has also fast-
tracked immigration processes for
companies obtaining CFC status.
The financial sector has also
rallied behind CFC, even though
at the moment its ambitions may
seem somewhat out of reach
given the low volume and rate
of activity on the CSE over the
last two years. “It is urgent for
us to reform our capital markets
and more specifically for the
CSE to be able to live up to
the expectations of CFC,” said
Youssef Benkirane, president of
the Professional Association of
Stockbroking Firms.
A deal signed in early October
2012 between CFC and the
TheCityUK, which promotes UK
financial and professional services
abroad, to increase cooperation
between the two bodies should
help. The objectives of this
partnership include facilitating
the roll-out of a derivatives
market in Morocco, improving
the competitiveness of domestic
insurers, and expanding training
and educational programmes.
“CFC seeks to position Casablanca
as a financial hub at the forefront
of business in the region and
facilitate deal-flow into Africa,” regulator has been meeting with “Connectivity and the movement
Said Ibrahimi, the chief executive its counterparts in other African of people and of capital are
of MFB, told OBG. countries to lure companies among the things we are looking
from within the region to list on into,” said Hicham Zegrary, the
NEXT STEPS: Drawing regional
its exchange. One obstacle to acting director of operations and
capital would help the stock
that, however, is the kingdom’s institutional affairs of the MFB.
exchange to further diversify,
stringent exchange controls.
hedging its position vis-à-vis Source: The Report: Morocco 2013,
local macroeconomic downturns Oxford Business Group
Meanwhile, although the physical
and reducing its exposure to site of the CFC is still under
the troubled economies of the construction, marketing efforts
eurozone. Morocco’s market are already well under way.

Varun Beverages Limited

extends its best wishes to
the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco
in New Delhi

41 Morocco in focus
2013
 Shop ‘Til You Drop’
The growth of the middle class is changing spending habits
I
ncreased exposure to
international retailers,
rising purchasing power
and continuing urbanisation
has led to a rapid evolution
in Moroccan urban consumer
habits. Multinational retailers are
increasingly investing in brand
development, contemporary retail
spaces and more developed
supply chains to tap into a
burgeoning middle class and a
growing interest in high-quality
products.
In 2012 Morocco was named as
one of 10 new major markets most
likely to attract multinational store
groups in the next several years
by consultants Deloitte and Planet
Retail. According to their report,
net retail sales have increased
Morocco in focus
2013
from $36.5bn in 2010 to $41.13bn
in 2011, with a rise in net retail
sales per capita from $1146 to
$1278 between 2010 and 2011.
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE:
In 2007 the Ministry of Trade,
Industry and New Technologies
launched a national plan to
encourage the development of the
kingdom’s retail sector, known as
Rawaj Vision 2020. The strategy
outlines a number of general
sectorial objectives that include
the modernisation of current
stores, the promotion of major
national brands through the
establishment of commercial
networks and the attainment
of 8% annual growth in the
sector. Rawaj Vision 2020 also
aims to increase the retail sector
42
contribution to national GDP to
15%, up from 11% in 2006, and
triple the sector’s GDP while also
increasing the contribution of
domestic trade to GDP to Dh98bn
(€8.17bn).
Other more specific objectives
include: the establishment of 15
malls to house 3000 franchise
stores, creating an estimated
21,000 jobs; the development
of 600 hypermarkets and
supermarkets by 2020, of which
50 hypermarkets will account for
80,000 jobs; and the launch of
15 factory outlets and discount
stores, generating 5000 jobs. In
total, this ambitious programme
seeks to create more than 450,000
new employment opportunities to
combat national unemployment,
adding to the estimated 1.2m
Moroccans employed in the
sector, which would constitute
12.8% of the national labour
force. The state also invested
approximately Dh200m (€17.7m)
annually between 2009 and
2012 to fund local community
projects that provide development
sites and commercial space
for informal traders, notably
wholesale markets, fish markets
and slaughterhouses.
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE:
The stable performance of the
country’s economy in 2011
against the backdrop of global
uncertainty helped underwrite a
sense of optimism both on the
supply and demand side, to such
an extent that Morocco climbed to
a rank of 17th on the AT Kearney
Global Retail Development Index
for 2011, a measure that ranks
the top 30 developing nations for
retail development in the context
of global investment.
Consumer optimism was partly
encouraged by a rise in disposable
incomes that led to increased
spending on basic foodstuffs
and non-essential products like
electronics and clothing. Major
investments by largescale retailers
in 2010 and 2011 also encouraged
sector development. However,
by the fourth quarter of 2011,
consumer confidence began to fall
again, due to delayed effects of
the global economic crisis, a trend
that continued through to the
second quarter of 2012, according
to Morocco’s High Planning
Commission (HCP). From April
to June 2012, the consumer
confidence index measured a fall
of 5.1 points from the same period
in 2011 and 2.2 points from the
first three months of 2012.
An HCP study attributed the
decline to expectations of rising
food prices in the next year
accompanied by a declining
standard of living. Growing
unemployment and rising
consumer and energy prices,
among other economic woes,
have lead 57.9% of Moroccans
to reduce their spending, while
36.6% of the population said they
were taking on debt or relying on
their savings and only 5.5% were
reportedly saving their money.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
RETAILERS: The development
of the grocery sector has evolved
significantly in recent years.
According to the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry and
the Agricultural Affairs Office,
at the end of 2011 Morocco
had an estimated 48 large
Breakdown of food retail stores by type, 2011
Store Type
Large supermarkets
Small supermarket & convenience stores
Small self-service grocery stores
Hanouty small convenience stores chain/
franchise
Mom & pop stores (305+ metres)
Mom & pop stores (69-305 metres)
Mom & pop stores (less than 69 metres)
Small convenience gas-marts
Source: USDs, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Agricultural Affairs Office
supermarkets (over 3716 sq
metres), 70 small supermarkets
and convenience stores (over
1115 sq metres) and 200 small
self-service grocery stores (over 93
sq metres). Approximately 5000
stores between 21-93 sq metres
and around 285,000 stores of less
than 21 sq metres were recorded
the end of 2011.
Though 80% of Morocco’s retail
food sector is accounted for by
traditional small grocery stores,
the entry of large retail food outlets,
national and international, has
steadily increased, representing
around 13% of food retail sales
in Morocco, according to a 2011
study conducted by marketing
company Nielsen.
The contributions of large-scale
distribution outlets are expected
to grow due to a number of
reasons, namely competitive
promotions, prices and discounts
that smaller stores are unable
to match, the expansion of
consumers pursuing Western
lifestyles, a rising middle class
with less time to shop for food,
and the growing acceptance of
packaged and processed products
by Moroccan shoppers.
As of 2012, the leading grocery
retailer was the Société Nationale
d’Investissement’s subsidiary
Groupe Marjane with 65% of
the market in terms of turnover
estimated at $1bn in 2011, a sum
that the firm hopes to increase
43
Estimated number
48
70
200
150
550
5000
285,000
33
through a $142m investment in
the opening of 40 new stores by
2015. “We believe in the potential
of the Moroccan market. If we
follow the example of Turkey,
which is more advanced than we
are, the turnover for the sector
could double in five or six years.
For that to happen, we would have
to make our presence denser in
the big cities and target medium-
sized cities. There is little supply
and big expectations to meet in
the provinces,” said Mohamed
Lamrani, the CEO of Marjane.
The company is represented
in the sector by 23 Marjane
hypermarkets (129,000 sq metres)
and 32 Acima supermarkets
(35,000 sq metres).
ELECTRICAL GOODS: With
predictions that consumption of
electronic goods will increase
major producers such as South
Korea’s Samsung and LG have
begun investing in the market. The
market’s current value is estimated
to be about $1.5bn. Mobile phone
sales and television sales were tied
at $300m. While LG, Samsung,
Sony and Panasonic lead the
domestic market, Chinese firms
offering cheaper products have
entered in recent years. The
market for consumer electronics
is steadily growing, but has seen
the arrival of various Chinese
companies that make competition
for the lower segments of
consumer electronics particularly
fierce, according to Yong Geun
Morocco in focus
2013
Choi, the former director of LG’s
operations in Morocco, and
Soufiane Benabadji, the firm’s
corporate marketing manager.
Expectations for rising consumer
demand for highend products
have encouraged LG to move into
the supply of more expensive,
higher-end goods despite the price
sensitivity present in the kingdom,
demonstrating optimism for future
sectorial growth. Samsung also
sees the growth of the market in
coming years being especially
fuelled by the development of
business-to-business areas.
Once dominated by mobile
network operators, the retail
telecoms market has now fallen
under the direct control of mobile
phone manufacturers and retail
stores, with Samsung maintaining
approximately 70% of the market,
a feat facilitated by its coordination
with major Moroccan retailers
such as Electroplanet, Marjane
and Carrefour. LG has also
announced plans to enter the
mobile phone market in 2013 in
partnership with Meditel, Maroc
Telecom and Inwi.
Room remains for growth in the
TV market, with Samsung holding
a 50% market share, which it
aspires to increase towards 70%,
and LG maintaining around
30% of the market. Within the
Morocco in focus
2013
market, the sale of smart TVs
has risen, though currently TV
sets are equipped with digital
video broadcasting technology.
“In general, the key to developing
the consumer electronics market
is to change people’s mindsets to
make them want the products on
offer and not remain too price-
conscious,” said Chris Chung,
president of Samsung Electronics
Morocco.
DOMESTIC VS. FOREIGN
RETAILERS: In terms of value
sales, local firms continue to
dominate the retail sector, with
the top three revenue generators
in 2011 Moroccan brands:
Marjane Holding, Hyper SA and
Groupe Chaabi. All three are
in grocery retailing and benefit
from large budgets that facilitate
considerable investments in
opening new outlets, expanding
current stores and offering regular
promotional schemes.
However, these stores are
withstanding rising competition
from global companies like BIM
that are investing in additional
stores and providing new
services to entice customers.
Despite a decline in consumer
confidence over the past year,
some multinational brands
are becoming attracted to the
Moroccan market due to its
sustained economic growth, its
rapidly growing youth population,
44
and the relative underdevelopment
and fragmentation of the retail
sector.
The Moroccan franchise sector
has demonstrated a potential for
impressive growth, posting an
average annual growth of around
18% between 2000 and 2010. As
of 2010, there were 3653 outlets
and 407 franchise networks in the
kingdom, the Ministry of Industry
Trade and New Technologies
told local media. The number of
outlets and franchise networks has
continued to rise since 2008, posting
8% growth in networks from 342 in
2008 to 370 networks in 2009 and
12% growth in outlets from 2290 in
2008 to 2560 in 2009.
Franchise development has been
particularly strong in the equipment
sector, which comprises 39% of
total franchise growth, followed by
a sector share of 16% for the food
industry and 7% for furniture stores.
Franchise operators in Morocco are
approximately 45% French, with
major contributions from Spanish,
Italian and American franchise firms
as well, while 15% of the market is
comprised by Moroccan companies
like Hanouty Group, which oversees
networks of convenience stores
through franchisees. Around 27% of
franchises are located in Casablanca,
with another 11% in Rabat and 8% in
Marrakech. Franchising operations
are dominated by distribution
activities, at 55% of total activity,
while 45% of activity is devoted to
service. In general, home furnishing,
shoe retail, clothing and food
services account for around 45%
of the market.
MALLS: Rabat’s Mega Mall, built in
2005, was one of the country’s first
large-scale contemporary spaces
and has helped to foster a burgeoning
mall culture. More recently, after
four years of construction and an
investment of $250m, Casablanca’s
Morocco Mall, was inaugurated in
December 2011. With a total retail
floor area of 250,000 sq metres
spread out over 10 ha, 30,000 sq
metres of outdoor space and 14,000
sq metres of landscaped gardens,
the shopping centre houses over 350
stores, including Galeries Lafayette
and an IMAX cinema. The mall
anticipates 12m annual visitors, of
which 20% are expected to be tourists,
particularly from Africa and Europe,
Jenane Laghrar, the mall’s secretary
general, told the media in 2012.
Anfaplace, a mixed-use project
on the Casablanca waterfront that
was developed by Spanish firm
Inveravante, has been open since
February 2013. It includes a 234-
room hotel and 36,000 sq metres of
retail space.
“The construction of new malls is always
a good thing for us. Though we cannot
properly speak of competitiveness in
its natural form in Morocco because
the sector is still developing, new
shopping centres bring a dynamism
to the sector,” said Malik El Harim,
the general manager of Mega Mall.
Growing competition has ensured a
steady source of retailers for Mega
Mall, which has around 80 stores and
20 restaurants and cafes. Though it
contains several Moroccan stores,
including the popular brand Marwa,
the majority of Mega Mall’s shops
are European stores that tailor to the
preferences of a major consumer base
of professionals. The global economic
downturn and the eurozone crisis have
led to changes in purchasing power for
both tourists and domestic shoppers
alike, leading to a decline in turnover
for the retail sector. Mega Mall, for
example, saw a decline of 10-15%
between 2011 and 2012.
Nevertheless, optimism remains for
future growth in the mall sector. “Due
to its geographic location, Morocco
has always served as an economic,
commercial and tourist platform for
Europe and it will increasingly do so
with its growing number of economic
agreements with the EU. Morocco will
also become an important platform for
those in sub-Saharan Africa looking
abroad, allowing for the country’s
malls to continue to grow and diversify
themselves to satisfy the maximum
customers possible,” El Harim told
OBG.
Key players in the retail sector, 2011
Retailer Ownership
Marjane 100% Moroccan as of August 2007
(Marjane Holding)
Carrefour Cash & Carry* Managed by HLV SAS; 95% owned by
Label'Vie SA, 5% owned by Carrefour
Carrefour hypermarkets Managed by HLV SAS; 95% owned by
Label'Vie SA, 5% owned by Carrefour
Aswak Assalam 100% Moroccan
Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Agricultural Affairs Office, USDA
*formerly Germany’s Metro Cash and Carry
However, tourists from Africa while online purchases and sales
comprise less than 5% of the increased by 2.4% from 115,000
kingdom’s visitors, while the euro to 277,000 transactions over the
crisis has added to a decline in same period of time.
European tourists acutely felt
in the retail industry, casting Although the number of
uncertainty over the potential for transactions has grown, average
sustained increases in growth over spending amounts per order
the next several years. Morocco have fallen, with the cost of
Mall also stands in stark contrast e-commerce purchases averaging
with the abject poverty of much of at approximately Dh800 (€71.12)
Morocco’s population. Designed in 2011 in comparison with
and built by International Concept Dh2000 (€177.80) in 2010. The
Management, the $255m project change in order size has been
was undertaken by Groupes attributed to an increase in the
Aksal, Nes Investment and the number of online shopping sites
Akhnouch family, of which half and changes to supply with the
of the funding was supplied by entrance of new players, Samira
the Saudi Al Jedaie Group. The Gourrom, the development
mall is expected to create 5000 director at Maroc Telecommerce,
direct employment posts and up told local media in September
to 20,000 indirect jobs. 2011. By the end of 2011 more
than 120 retail websites utilised
ONLINE SHOPPING: With over Maroc Telecommerce’s online
13m internet users and a steady payment system.
increase in the number of debit
and credit cards to over 7.3m, OUTLOOK: Important challenges
e-commerce is steadily growing. remain in the local market,
According to the National notably consumer uncertainty
Federation of Ecommerce in over food prices and the lack of
Morocco, total online transactions affordable real estate (see Real
enjoyed a turnover of over Estate chapter). Nevertheless,
Dh504.2m (€44.8m) in 2011, up the rapid expansion of foreign
72% from 2010. participation in the market
demonstrates the impressive
Growth has also been facilitated potential of the retail sector,
by technological improvements highlighting the opportunities for
in online security for internet continued growth.
transactions. The first six months Source: The Report: Morocco 2013,
of 2011 saw an increase in Oxford Business Group
revenues from Dh120m (€10.66m)
during the same period in 2010
to over Dh230m (€20.44m) in
2011, according to the Centre
for Interbank Payment Systems,
45 Morocco in focus
2013
 Facts for Visitors
Useful information for travelers

L
ANGUAGE :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.
a greeting between a man and a 9am to 6pm, although public
ETIQUETTE: During greetings it woman, the woman must extend sector institutions typically close
is generally appreciated to inquire her hand first. If she does not, at 5pm. These hours are likely to
about the family. In business a man should bow his head in change during Ramadan.
settings, a handshake is usually greeting. Items should never be
the first introduction. Once a offered with the left hand. DRESS: Being a Muslim country,
relationship has been established, it is generally advisable for visitors
it becomes more common to kiss BUSINESS HOURS: Morocco to dress modestly. However, in
on both cheeks starting with the is located in the UTC zone and major urban centres and tourist
left and shaking hands, men with business hours are similar to those areas, people dress more liberally.
men and women with women. In in Western countries, going from When entering a mosque, shoes

Morocco in focus 46
2013
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
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
Casablanca Tramway
bill. For taxis and other services,
it is common to round up to the
nearest Dh5.
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.
T R A N S P O R T : In general,
Morocco is equipped with a very
good public transport system
made up of modern trains and
intercity coaches connecting the
47
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.
Morocco in focus
2013
 A Slice of Morocco on India’s Plate
M
any of us would initially
be a little stunned
upon hearing about a
Moroccan Food Festival in town.
There could be two reasons
behind the surprise, first we don’t
find Moroccan dishes to be often
featuring on menus at food joints
and second is our ignorance in
general hold us back from getting
into the nitty-gritty’s of African
food culture.
Moroccan Tagine
The 10-day long food festival
North African cuisine was
celebrated at The Cafe in The
Hyatt Regency, New Delhi which
was a boon for Indians to explore
and experience a culinary culture
that is not only in many ways
than one similar to Indian cooking
style but also something our food
consciousness is unaware of.
Morocco in focus
2013
The dishes which were
exhibited in the festival:
A warm welcome with Moroccan
tea: Maghreb mint tea is a drink
of hospitality in North Africa and
tradition has it that it is prepared
by the head of the family, yes,
the man and not the woman of
the house unlike most Indian
households. Here at the festival,
Indians sipped on the Moroccan
“Friday in Morocco is known as the
‘Couscous Day’, also a holy day when
Muslims offer prayers in mosques and
connect to the divine power. On their
return, the meal that they are served
comprises couscous
48
Mint tea as a refreshing precursor
to an elaborate spread to follow
soon. The pouring of tea aroused
the quiet mint leaves inside the
glass with life while they watched
the magic unfold. What ensued
was a series of sumptuous dishes
that couldn’t get enough of. A
short walk through the buffet
stations with the chef made us
marvel at the array of delicious
African food we couldn’t resist
any longer digging in. The tiny
lamb samosas with a thin crust
and stuffed with minced meat
was the hands down winner in
entree. Who wouldn’t go for
a second helping of that? The
Seafood Pastilla that we gorged
on was a pie with crispy layers
and a delicious filling of shrimps
and rice noodles.
Friday is ‘Couscous Day’: There
is a unique blend of food and
religion in Morocco that unites
people in a heartwarming manner.
“Friday in Morocco is known as
the ‘Couscous Day’, also a holy
day when Muslims offer prayers
in mosques and connect to the
divine power. On their return,
the meal that they are served
comprises couscous (a North
African Berber dish that resembles
rice, only its grains are tinier and
is cooked with steam) as one
of the main dishes traditionally
 India. The geographical ties
The geographical ties that India shares that India shares with Morocco
for centuries on pretext of trade
with Morocco for centuries on pretext of exchange are “The business
trade exchange are “The business route route from the Indian Ocean to
Marrakesh (former imperial city
from the Indian Ocean to Marrakesh in Morocco) helped develop a
(former imperial city in Morocco) helped relationship and one could guess
develop a relationship and one could that India and Morocco found
their common ground in food.”
guess that India and Morocco found their
Desserts all the way... We were
common ground in food.” quite full to the brim but excuses

savoured with almost seven kinds

of vegetables and assortments of
soups,”. That evening no one was
on way back from a spiritual tour
but could not miss the opportunity
to relish the dish with a similar
community feeling that binds
people together in the spice-rich
country of Morocco.
Slurpy, soupy and silky: To
keep partially informed about
the soups on offer at this festival
would be unfair and with every
slurp, the taste gets even better.
Among the many options that
included Harira soupe, lintel,
vegetable, shourba and pumpkin;
what followed was absolutely
delightful. For those who are not
big fans of this vegetable can
dispel all myths with this sweet, Moroccan Couscous
pleasant and subtle soup. You can
fish that beckoned while they were are always in place for desserts.
pair it with slices of bread which
readied their plates to be served ‘Oum Ali’ also ‘Omali’ made with
is considered the base food in the
portions of the same. Needless to puff pastry (similar to bread and
country.
say, a cracker of a dish! butter pudding), this sweet is an
Chicken Tagine, the star dish: explosion of dried fruits, lots of
The ‘Moroccan’ spice route: cream and nuts. Moroccan rice
Lemon, as we know that it is one
Subtle on the palate, yet textured pudding with pistachios and
of the most used and preserved
and spice-coated, a Moroccan rose essence, Kataif, Orange &
ingredients in Moroccan cuisine.
meal shows mercy to its diners Cinnamon tart, Mohalabi and
The juice lends a zesty flavour
who are not really warriors on the Baklava were some of the other
otherwise missing from the dish.
spice front. Slow cooking (some show stopping desserts.
The Spring Chicken Tagine with
preparations take upto 3 hours);
Lemon Confit gave a spectacular
olive oil and the coming together Must-try dishes: Spring Chicken
display as the fresh green olives
of spices like saffron, cumin Tagine with Lemon Confit, Kefta
dressed the dish quite well. Beef
and powdered ginger are the Lamb (Lamb samosa in spring
is the preferred choice there that,
strengths of Moroccan delicacies. roll), Couscous with 7 vegetables
however, could not make its way
It is super healthy because the and Fish Tagine with vegetables.
into the Indian kitchen here.
culinary process involves fresh
Moving ahead with the course Source: Times of India
vegetables straight out of the
you simply could not take your
farms and spices imported from
eyes off the gorgeous Red Snapper

49 Morocco in focus
2013
 Morocco Signs Protocol with India
for Effective Exchange of Information
with Respect to Taxes
“It is a great honor for me to sign, on behalf of the Government
of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Protocol amending the
Convention between Morocco and India for the avoidance
of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with
respect to taxes on income.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone whose
dedication and efforts have contributed to the finalization of
this Protocol. In particular, I would like to thank Dr. Sudha
Sharma, Chairperson of the Central Board of Direct Taxes,
and her colleagues from the Ministry of Finance and the
Ministry of External Affairs.
As a matter of fact, this Protocol marks a step forward to
strengthen and enrich the already varied legal framework
between Morocco and India, and will contribute in enhancing
Morocco in focus
2013
bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the
area of capital and investment flows.
In this regard, apart from providing effective exchange of
information on tax issues in conformity with international
transparency standards, this Protocol will not only
encourage the Indian investments in Morocco and the
Moroccan investments in India, but also will give existing
and potential investors more confidence and reassurance
to explore new opportunities and hereby establish new
partnerships.
It is worth mentioning that investment flows from both
countries have recorded an upward growth in the recent
years, particularly through the joint ventures in the field
of phosphate and fertilizers either in Jorf Lasfer (Morocco)
or Orissa (India), which reflects one of the best examples
of real south-south cooperation.
To conclude, with the signing of this protocol and our
mutual commitment to the promotion and consolidation
of investments, we are expressing the strong political will
of our two governments to take the bilateral relationship
to a new level in different areas of common interest, and
to continue to develop even stronger rapprochement and
friendship between the people of Morocco and India, and
between two nations among of the oldest and brilliant
civilizations in the world.”
(Speech of H.E. Mr. Larbi Reffouh, Ambassador of the
Kingdom of Morocco to India, on the occasion of the signing
of the protocol amending Morocco-India Double Taxation
Avoindance Convention on August 8, 2013 in New Delhi.)
50