The Strategic Watch Committee held its fourth meeting on Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 at the headquarters of the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Rabat. The agenda of this meeting included an outlining of sector-based trends within the current economic crisis, as well as an assessment of the impact of measures taken by the government in support of sectors at risk.
The committee examined propositions made by sector committees with regard to tourism, electronics, and monetary transfers made by Moroccan nationals residing abroad. Based on these propositions, new measures have been selected and will subsequently be submitted to the government. The principal measure to be taken in the sector of tourism relates to consolidating strategies of promotion and institutional communication. The amount of MAD 300 million is to be earmarked for this operation, mainly targeting the city of Marrakech. Boosting package sales, consolidating air transport and launching new products, as well as promoting domestic tourism, are some of the recommended measures. For its part, the tourism industry pledges to upgrade leisure facilities and enhance professional skills through training programmes.
With regard to monetary transfers made by Moroccan nationals residing abroad, recommended measures aim at the promotion and support of investment. In addition to other support programmes, The Dammane Assakane plan will be reviewed to help this category of Moroccan nationals acquire property in their host country.
The Electronics sector will also benefit from the same measures already in place in other industrial sectors. Support plans will be put in place with the aim of promoting the main operator in this sector.
Structural issues, Morocco`s competitiveness, as well as its position within the post-crisis context, are now under study and will be examined in greater depth in subsequent meetings of the Strategic Watch Committee.
The fourth meeting of the Strategic Watch Committee was chaired by the Minister of Economy and Finance. Participants included the Wali of Bank Al Maghrib, the Minister of Agriculture and Maritime Fishing, the Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts , the Minister of Trade, Industry and New Technologies, the Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, the Minister of Foreign Trade, the Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of the Moroccan Community Residing Abroad, the Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of Economic and General Affairs, as well as officials from different ministerial departments in their capacity as members of this committee.
Other participants in this meeting included the General Managing Director of the OCP, the President of GPBM, the CEO of BMCE, the CEO of AttijariWafa-Bank, the CEO of CGEM, the President of AMITH, and the President of the Tourism Federation.