Daily Press Review - June 13, 2024

Omar Hilale at the UN: Algeria Must Recognize the Failure of Its Separatist Project in the Sahara

During the regular session of the UN's Committee of 24 (C24), Morocco's ambassador to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, emphasized on Tuesday in New York that Algeria, the main party in the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, must acknowledge the failure of its separatist project.

Mr. Hilale stated that Algeria is at a decisive crossroads: it must choose to follow a peaceful approach that respects the principle of good neighborliness and peaceful dispute resolution, or persist in an expensive and fruitless agenda of supporting the Polisario, financed by billions of dollars at the expense of the Algerian people's well-being. "Today, Algeria faces a choice: to engage in a peaceful approach respecting the principle of good neighborliness and peaceful dispute resolution, or to get bogged down in the costly fiasco of its Polisario agenda," the ambassador emphasized.

The ambassador called on Algeria to learn from the failure of its separatist project and to recognize three immutable realities: the Sahara has always been and will always remain Moroccan, the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative is the only viable solution within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty, and Morocco will continue to develop its southern provinces. "Algeria would do well to acknowledge three immutable facts: the Sahara has always been and will forever remain Moroccan, the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative is the sole and unique solution to this dispute within the framework of the Kingdom's sovereignty and territorial integrity," stated Mr. Hilale.

Source: Le Matin du Sahara
 

Barid Al-Maghrib Prepares for Major Digital Transformation

Barid Al-Maghrib is accelerating its digital transformation. Starting next July, the group will implement its ambitious digital strategy aimed at modernizing its services and enhancing its competitiveness.

This extensive digital transformation will affect several key segments of the company, including Big Data, IT governance, postal back-office, human resources, finance, e-commerce, audit and control, IT function, and IT architectures.

"Facing an increasingly demanding competitive environment, Barid Al-Maghrib is committed to structural development projects to improve its productivity and performance," explains the group. "Aware that future growth depends on a successful digital transformation, the group has outlined an ambitious roadmap that includes an annual portfolio of projects in key areas such as artificial intelligence, chatbots, Big Data, modern applications, and microservices."

Source: Le Matin du Sahara
 

Cafés and Restaurants in Crisis: Owners Appeal to the Prime Minister

The café and restaurant sector, hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, is struggling to recover. Faced with multiple difficulties, professionals in the sector, grouped under the National Federation of Café and Restaurant Owners (FNPCR), are urgently appealing to the Prime Minister to stop the wave of closures.

In a memorandum addressed to the country's highest authorities, the FNPCR paints an alarming picture of the sector's situation. More than 4,000 cafés and restaurants have closed since the beginning of the crisis, and many more are threatened with bankruptcy.

The professionals point to several factors that weaken their activity: excessive tax burdens, difficulties in paying overdue CNSS contributions, and the absence of a clear and adapted legislative framework.

Source: Le Matin du Sahara
 

Payment Deadlines Between Companies: A Positive First Assessment

The new system of financial penalties for late payments between companies, established by law no. 69-21, seems to be bearing fruit. An initial assessment, presented at the sixth meeting of the Observatory of Payment Deadlines, reveals a wide compliance of companies with the requirements of this mechanism.

Since its entry into force on July 1, 2023, 4,769 declarations have been made by the companies concerned for the third and fourth quarters of 2023. This figure indicates significant adherence by economic actors to the new system and a notable improvement in payment deadlines between companies.

"These encouraging results suggest a positive evolution of the business environment and the unleashing of entrepreneurial energies," noted the stakeholders at the meeting.

The Observatory of Payment Deadlines, co-chaired by Nadia Fettah, Minister of Economy and Finance, and Chakib Alj, President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), also approved the finalization and publication of its fourth annual report. This report will include the progress of the implementation of the financial penalties system, as well as the lessons learned from its application.

Source: Aujourd'hui le Maroc
 

Morocco and Italy: Strengthening Cooperation on Migration and Security

Morocco's Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, and his Italian counterpart, Matteo Piantedosi, held a meeting on Tuesday in Rabat to discuss bilateral cooperation in security and migration matters.

The two ministers emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime networks. They agreed to consolidate channels for the exchange of expertise and intelligence to better anticipate common threats.

Mr. Laftit recalled Morocco's comprehensive strategy against terrorism, which combines anticipatory and repressive approaches, enhanced international cooperation, and preventive action against radicalization. He highlighted the Kingdom's significant contribution to regional security in this area.

On the migration front, the two ministers stressed the need for a comprehensive and balanced approach based on respect for human rights and cooperation between countries of origin, transit, and destination.

Source: Aujourd'hui le Maroc
 

Tourism: Morocco Rebounds with Strong Performance and Focuses on Quality

The Moroccan tourism sector is experiencing a remarkable rebound after the difficult years marked by the pandemic. Arrivals are increasing sharply, and indicators are positive, heralding an exceptional summer season. In response to this influx of tourists, the Ministry of Tourism calls for an upgrade of the offer and places quality at the heart of its strategy.

In 2023, Morocco welcomed 14.5 million tourists, generating 105 billion dirhams in foreign exchange revenue. This performance continued into 2024, with 5.9 million tourists recorded in the first five months of the year, a 15% increase compared to 2023. May was particularly dynamic, with over 1.3 million arrivals, reflecting growing enthusiasm for Morocco as a destination.

This influx of tourists is driving investments in the sector. In 2023, 135 new tourist accommodation units were inaugurated, and investment volume reached 8 billion dirhams. To support this momentum, the government has implemented support programs for small and medium-sized tourism enterprises, notably through Regional Development Companies and the "Go Siyaha" program.

Source: Les Inspirations Eco
 

Cyberattacks in Morocco: In Response to Rising Threats, the Kingdom Strengthens Its Digital Defenses

Morocco is facing an alarming increase in cyber threats, with over 52 million attacks recorded in 2023. A report by Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, highlights the urgency for the Kingdom to strengthen its digital defenses against increasingly sophisticated attacks.

The "2023 Annual Cybersecurity Report" by Trend Micro reveals that Morocco was targeted by more than 52 million cyber threats last year. This significant increase compared to previous years includes over 40 million email attacks and more than 1.6 million malicious links.

Malicious emails remain the primary attack method, seeking to deceive users into disclosing sensitive information or downloading malware. Malicious URL attacks, detected over 1.6 million times, redirect users to dangerous websites.

Even more concerning, Moroccan cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated techniques, such as artificial intelligence, to develop hard-to-detect malware. They also exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software, targeting critical sectors like banking and essential infrastructures, often with ransom demands or attempts to disrupt essential services.

Source: Les Inspirations Eco
 

Child Labor in Morocco: Continuous Decline but Challenges Remain

Morocco continues to make progress in combating child labor. According to the High Commission for Planning (HCP), the number of working children decreased by 13.4% in 2023 compared to 2022, and by 55.5% compared to 2017.

In 2023, 110,000 children aged 7 to 17 were engaged in economic activity, representing 1.4% of this age group. This figure has been steadily declining in recent years but still hides significant disparities.

Child labor is more prevalent in rural areas (2.8%) than in urban areas (0.5%). It also affects more boys (85.6%) than girls. Additionally, 79.9% of working children live in rural areas, and 8.6% of them are still in school.

Child labor is concentrated in certain economic sectors, often hazardous. In rural areas, 74.1% of children work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. In urban areas, services (51%) and industry (28.1%) are the main sectors employing children.

Nearly six out of ten working children (63.3%) perform hazardous work, representing 69,000 children. This figure corresponds to 0.9% of children aged 7 to 17. Children working in the construction sector are the most exposed to dangers (80.8%), followed by industry (79.3%), services (77.7%), and agriculture, forestry, and fishing (53%).

Source: Al Bayane