Daily Press Review - Thursday, April 25, 2024

Morocco, Under the Leadership of King Mohammed VI, Is the Arab-Islamic Country Most Committed to Al-Quds Acharif
Source: Al Bayane

Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, is the Arab-Islamic country that shows the greatest commitment to the Holy City of Al-Quds, according to Palestinian Minister for Al-Quds Affairs, Ashraf Al-Aawar.

During a meeting on Monday with Morocco's ambassador to Ramallah, Abderrahim Mouziane, the Palestinian minister commended Morocco's ongoing support for the Palestinian cause and its efforts to protect Al-Quds Acharif from judaization while preserving its Arab-Islamic landmarks.

Al-Aawar praised the efforts of the Al-Quds Committee, chaired by King Mohammed VI, in preserving the Arab-Islamic identity of the Holy City, according to a statement from Morocco's embassy in Ramallah. He also lauded the notable work of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, emphasizing the gratitude and satisfaction of the city's residents for the high-quality services provided by the agency.

The minister expressed a desire to establish partnership and twinning agreements with Moroccan cities, aiming to benefit from Morocco's experience in heritage preservation and to develop joint programs to support the families of Al-Quds in their resistance against judaization efforts.

Al-Aawar also stressed the importance of continuing consultations to establish bilateral cooperation projects between Morocco and Palestine, particularly regarding support for development in the Holy City.

SIAM 2024: EU Opens Its Market to Moroccan Honey Imports
Source: Al Bayane

At the 16th edition of the International Agricultural Exhibition in Morocco (SIAM) in Meknes, the European Union (EU) Delegation to Morocco and Morocco's Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fishing, Rural Development, Water, and Forests celebrated the opening of the EU market to Moroccan honey imports. The event, held on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, was presided over by Minister Mohammed Sadiki and the EU Ambassador to Morocco, Patricia Llombart Cussac.

This celebration follows Morocco's inclusion, in February 2024, on the list of countries from which honey can be imported into the EU. This development allows Moroccan beekeepers to access the world's largest honey market. Although the EU is a significant honey producer, it must import up to 40% of its total consumption, valued at over one billion euros (more than 10 billion dirhams).

"The partnership between the EU and Morocco is mutually beneficial, and the opening of the honey market to Moroccan producers is a prime example," stated Patricia Llombart Cussac, EU Ambassador to Morocco. "Moroccan beekeepers will now have significant economic opportunities, while European consumers can enjoy new honey flavors thanks to Morocco's unique expertise and natural resources." She also praised Morocco's Ministry of Agriculture and the National Office for Food Safety, whose efforts enabled the EU to open its market to Moroccan honey.

Decarbonization of the Transport Sector: Morocco Reiterates Its Commitment to Clean Mobility
Source: Aujourd'hui le Maroc

Morocco's efforts to decarbonize its transport sector were highlighted on Wednesday in Rabat during a meeting organized in collaboration with the International Transport Forum (ITF). Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohammed Abdeljalil, emphasized the Kingdom's commitment to sustainable development. "Morocco's ambitions for sustainable development are high," he noted. He also underscored the critical role of clean and efficient mobility in achieving national economic performance, enhancing the quality of life for citizens, promoting social inclusion, and boosting tourism.

Minister Abdeljalil stressed the need to adapt infrastructure and mobility systems to changing climate conditions to ensure transportation functionality and avoid economic losses or humanitarian disasters. The meeting provided a platform for participants to discuss scenarios for decarbonizing transportation in the context of climate change and recent global economic challenges. ITF Secretary General Young Tae Kim noted that "Morocco, as a strategic crossroads for international trade and transportation, plays a key role in regional and global contexts."

Air Traffic in Morocco Soars by 14% in Q1 2024
Source: Aujourd'hui le Maroc

Moroccan airports had a strong start to 2024, with air traffic increasing by 14% in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2023. A total of 6.87 million passengers passed through the country's airports during this period, driven by robust international traffic.

This growth is attributed to several factors, including new flight routes, increased weekly frequencies, and an aircraft occupancy rate approaching 90%, with some routes even reaching 100%. The number of flights also rose by 11%, with 51,282 movements recorded in the first three months of the year.

Given these promising results, Morocco's National Office of Airports (ONDA) anticipates a total annual traffic volume exceeding 30 million passengers in 2024. Airports in Marrakech, Agadir, and Tanger are expected to lead this growth with increases of 23%, 22%, and 13%, respectively.

To meet the growing demand and align with Morocco's ambitions, ONDA continues its ambitious investment program, with various projects underway or planned. These include expanding Rabat-Salé Airport, enlarging Tétouan Airport, constructing a new terminal in Tanger, and renovating airports in Agadir and Marrakech.

Akhannouch Presents His Government's Mid-Term Report
Source: Le Matin du Sahara

In a detailed presentation, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch outlined the achievements and progress of his government at its mid-term mark. The presentation addressed various sectors and provided insights into the government's priorities for the coming years. Further details on this mid-term report were not available at the time of this press review.

**Prime Minister Akhannouch Presents Mid-Term Report to Parliament**
*(Source: Le Matin du Sahara)*

Presenting the government's mid-term report to both Houses of Parliament, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch highlighted the notable achievements and expressed the government's strong determination to meet its commitments, despite the challenging crises that have hit the country.

Akhannouch emphasized the progress made in implementing the strategic royal project for the social state, including direct support to citizens and housing assistance. He also noted the extension of mandatory health coverage to over 10 million citizens, previously under the RAMED system, with an annual budget of 9.5 billion dirhams.

The Prime Minister underscored Morocco's advancements in constitutional, democratic, developmental, diplomatic, and sports domains, attributing them to the foresight of the royal vision. He mentioned progress in managing the global health crisis and the growing international recognition of Moroccan diplomacy, particularly regarding the Sahara issue.

Despite criticism from the opposition, which accuses the government of failing to address economic and social challenges and overlooking the problems in rural areas, exacerbated by years of drought, Akhannouch defended his cabinet's effectiveness and cohesion.

Intellectual Property: WIPO Supports Morocco's Efforts
Source: Le Matin du Sahara

The Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, held a working session in Geneva with Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), focusing on the protection of Morocco's cultural heritage and lifestyle.

"WIPO supports Morocco's efforts to preserve its lifestyle and intangible cultural heritage," said Daren Tang during the meeting with Bensaid. He highlighted that intellectual property touches all aspects of life in Morocco, including traditional zellige (mosaic), both in cities and rural areas. He pointed out that Morocco's 2016 registration of zellige with WIPO was an international recognition of Moroccan mosaic art. Tang noted that WIPO's cooperation with Morocco is well-developed, and expressed enthusiasm for future collaborations.

The discussions also covered Morocco's heritage and the creation of the new "Label Maroc." Tang explained that WIPO aims to support Morocco's efforts through branding, marketing, and packaging expertise. He mentioned an ongoing project with the city of Essaouira to promote its traditional products globally. Furthermore, Tang indicated that WIPO and Morocco are considering new legislation to push the boundaries of copyright and related rights, with a focus on leveraging artificial intelligence to boost Morocco's industries and start-ups.

Czech Deputy Speaker Reaffirms Support for Moroccan Sahara Autonomy Plan
Source: Liberation

The first vice-president of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, Věra Kovářová, reaffirmed her country's support for Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara region. During her visit to Morocco, Kovářová reiterated that the Czech Republic views Morocco's autonomy plan as a credible and realistic solution to the Sahara conflict.

The vice-president emphasized the strong and growing ties between the Czech Republic and Morocco, acknowledging Morocco's significant role in regional stability and development. She also noted that the Czech Republic is interested in enhancing bilateral cooperation with Morocco, particularly in trade, industry, and technology.

Kovářová's statements were made during a meeting with high-ranking Moroccan officials, where she underlined the Czech Republic's continued support for Morocco's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The meeting focused on ways to strengthen collaboration between the two countries, especially in light of the Czech Republic's support for Morocco's position in international forums.

Czech Republic Reaffirms Support for Moroccan Sahara Autonomy Plan
Source: Le Matin du Sahara

The first vice-president of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, Vera Kovarova, reaffirmed her country's support for the Moroccan autonomy plan as a solution to the artificial conflict surrounding the Moroccan Sahara. This reaffirmation came during her meeting in Rabat with Rachid Talbi Alami, president of the Moroccan House of Representatives, according to a statement from the lower chamber of Parliament.

Kovarova, who is visiting Morocco with a significant parliamentary delegation, praised the reforms undertaken by the Kingdom under the wise leadership of King Mohammed VI. She stated that Morocco is "a key partner for the Czech Republic in Africa and a model to follow in many areas."

For his part, Talbi Alami acknowledged the historic and excellent relations between the two friendly countries, noting that cooperation between their respective legislative institutions is facilitated through parliamentary delegation exchanges and an institutional twinning project between the Moroccan House of Representatives and several European parliaments.

The discussions, attended by El Hussein Ben Tayeb, president of the Morocco-Czech Republic Parliamentary Friendship Group, and Ladislav Škeřík, the Czech ambassador to Morocco, focused on various aspects of bilateral parliamentary cooperation and common challenges, such as water management, climate change, clean energy, agriculture, education, artificial intelligence, industry, and other topics of mutual interest.

Housing Aid Program: Almost 8,500 Beneficiaries in Search of a Home
Source: L'Opinion

Nearly five months after its launch, Morocco's direct housing aid program has garnered significant interest from Moroccans, reflecting a growing need among households to acquire their own homes, a goal many have found challenging amid inflation and its impact on overall purchasing power.

This ambitious program, which spans from 2024 to 2028, aims to make housing more accessible to all social classes, especially low-income and middle-class families. With an annual budget of 9.5 billion dirhams, the program also seeks to revitalize urban landscapes by reducing the housing deficit and accelerating the completion of the "Cities Without Slums" program. From an economic perspective, it aims to transform the real estate sector, which constitutes 6.6% of Morocco's GDP, and boost the private sector and job creation.

The housing topic was discussed during a plenary session at the Chamber of Advisors on Tuesday, where the Department of National Territorial Planning, Urbanism, Housing, and City Policy presented a scenario in which the housing crisis might soon be a thing of the past.

In response to a written question read by Ghita Mezzour, the minister delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, on behalf of Minister Fatima-Zahra Mansouri, it was noted that there has been a significant influx of Moroccans onto the direct housing aid platform, "Daam Sakane." As of April 19, over 65,000 applications had been submitted, up from 52,000 in February. This increase indicates a high level of interest in the program, suggesting it could make a significant impact on the housing landscape in the years to come.