Country Feature: The Kingdom of Morocco
Morocco Flag
Map of Africa Continent
Morocco Map with Rabat, Capital of Morocco
Brief Information on Morocco
| Country Name: | Morocco |
| Conventional Long Form: | Kingdom of Morocco |
| Capital: | Rabat |
| Population: | 32,987,206 (July 2014 est.)Rabat (Capital) – 1.77 million, Casablanca – 3.245 million, Fes – 1.044 million, Marrakech – 909,000, Tangier – 768,000 (2009) |
| Location: | Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara, strategic located along Straits of Gibraltar |
| Total Area: | 446, 550 sq km |
| Land Size: | 446,300 sq km |
| Land Boundaries: | 2,017.9 sq km (border countries: Algeria – 1,559 km, Western Sahara – 443 km, Spain – (Ceuta)- 6.3 km, Spain (Melilia) – 9.6km |
| Coastline: | 1,835 km |
| Government Type: | Constitutional Monarchy |
| Nationality: | Moroccan |
| Climate | Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior |
| Official Languages: | Arabic (official), Berber languages (Tamazight (Official), Tachelhit, Tarifit, French (often the language of business, government and diplomacy) |
| Ethnic Groups: | Arab-Berber – 99%, other – 1% |
| Religions: | Muslim 99% (official: virtually all Sunni, <.1% Shia), other 1% (includes Christian, Jewish and Baha’i), Jewish about 6,000 (2010 est.) |
| Independence: | 2 March 1956 (from France) |
| National Holiday: | Throne Day (accession of King Mohammed VI to the throne), 30 July (1999) |
| Legal System: | Mixed legal system of civil law based on French law and Islamic law, judicial review of legislative acts by Supreme Court |
| Climate: | Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior |
| Natural Resources: | Phosphates, iron, ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt |
| Land Use: | Arable Land (17.79%), Permanent Crops (2.6%), others: 79.61 (2011) |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $180 billion (2013 est.) |
| GDP – real growth rate: | 5.1% (2013 est.) |
| GDP – per capita (PPP): | $5,500 (2013 est.) |
| GDP – composition,by sector of origin: | Agriculture: 15.1%, Industry: 31.7%Services: 53.2% (2012 est.) |
| Agriculture – products: | Barley,wheat, citrus fruits, grapes, vegetables, olives, livestock, wine |
| Industries: | Phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism |
| Labour Force: | 11.73 million (2013 est.) |
| Labour Force – by occupation: | Agriculture – 44.6%, Industry – 19.8%, Services – 35.5% (2006 est.) |
| Exports: | $16.78 billion (2013 est.) |
| Exports – commodities: | Clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish |
| Export – partners: | France – 21%, Spain – 17.3%, Brazil – 5.4%, India – 4.9%, US 4.6% (2012) |
| Imports: | $38.66 billion (2013 est.) |
| Imports – commodities: | Crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics |
| Import – partners: | Spain – 13.1%, France – 12.1%, China – 6.9%, US – 6.8%, Saudi Arabia – 6.2%, Italy – 5.1%, Russia – 5%, Germany – 4.9% (2012) |
| Currency: | Moroccan dirhams (MAD)Exchange Rate: US$1 = 8.439 |
(2013 est.)Time Zone:UTC 0Internet Code:.maInternational Telephone Code:212
Above information extracted from http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mo.html
Economy – Overview
Morocco has capitalized on its proximity to Europe and relatively low labor costs to build a diverse, open, market-oriented economy. In the 1980s, Morocco was a heavily indebted country before pursuing austerity measures and pro-market reforms, overseen by the MF. Since taking the throne in 1999, King Mohammed VI has presided over a stable economy marked by steady growth, low inflation, and gradually failing unemployment, although a poort harvest and economic difficulties in Europe contributed to an economic slowdown in 2012. Industrial development strategies and infrastructure improvements – most visibly illustrated by a new port and free trade zone near Tangier – are improving Morocco’s competitiveness. Morocco also seeks to expand its renewable energy capacity with a goal of making renewable 40% of electricity output by 2020. Key sectors of the economy include agriculture, tourism, phosphates, textiles, apparel, and subcomponents. To boost exports, Morocco entered into a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the United States in 2006 and an Advance Status agreement with the European Union in 2008. Despite Morocco’s economic progress, the country suffers from high unemployment, proverty, and illiteracy, particularly in rural areas. In 2011 and 2012, high prices on fuel – which is subsidized and almost entirely imported – strained the government’s budget and widened the country’s current account deficit. In the fall of 2013, Morocco capped some of its fuel subsidies in an effort to gradually reduce the country’s large budgetary deficit. Key economic challenges for Morocco include fighting corruption and reforming the education system, the judiciary, and the government’s costly subsidy program.
Above information extracted from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mo.html
Courtesy Call on President of MASSA by H.E. Ahmed Faouzi,
Ambassador of The Kingdom of Morocco to Malaysia
on 14th March 2014
H.E. Ahmed Faouzi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Malaysia, made a courtesy call on Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President of MASSA. Executive Committee members of MASSA, namely, Tan Sri Dato’ Michael Chen Wing Sum, Tan Sri Dato’ Soong Siew Hoong, Dato’ J. Jegathesan, Dato’ Tan Seng Sung were also at the meeting. Also in attendance was Mr Alex Lee (from ACCCIM), Ms Ng Su Fun and Ms Florence Khoo (from MASSA Secretariat).
H.E. Ahmed Faouzi commenced his tour of duty in Malaysia in May 2013. Prior to this, he served as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Cote d’ Ivoire from 2008 to 2013.
(left) Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President of MASSA with (right) H.E. Ahmed Faouzi,
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Malaysia
Morocco is a country located in Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea between Algeria and Western Sahara. It is also strategically located along the Straits of Gibraltar.
Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country, with a young population of 32 million people. Morocco enjoys a diverse, open and market oriented economy. Since taking the throne in 1999, King Mohammed VI has presided over a stable economy marked by steady growth, low inflation and low unemployment.
Key sectors of its economy include agriculture, tourism, phosphates and textiles and apparels. Its GDP in 2013 was 5.1% while GDP per capita was USD5,500. To boost its exports, Morocco has a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. since 2006 and an Advanced Status Agreement with the E.U. in 2008.
H.E. Ahmed Faouzi welcomed MASSA to establish bilateral private sector business linkages with the private sector community in Morocco. Towards this end, His Excellency was prepared to assist to connect and link MASSA with the premier business chambers and organisations in Morocco.
His Excellency highlighted the fact that Morocco is well placed, given its excellent location, infrastructure and connectivity to serve as the hub to do business in West Africa. His Excellency sees a similarity, in that Malaysia is also well placed to serve as the hub to do business in ASEAN. His Excellency welcomed MASSA to establish strategic linkages with the Moroccan business community.
Contact Details
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Kuala Lumpur
Box 9, Wisma Selangor Dredging
3rd Floor, East Block, 142-B, Jalan Ampang
50450 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSA
Tel: (603) 2161 0701, (603) 2161 0705, (603) 2161 0708
Fax: (603) 2162 3081