Washington Moroccan American Club
&
Global Economics and Business Seminar of the Washington Semester Program of the American University.

Understanding Morocco -- Opportunities for Business and Trade
Speaker: Jean AbiNader, Moroccan America Cultural Center
Topic: Understanding Morocco -- Opportunities for Business and Trade
Location: American University, Washington, DC

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Washington, (MAP)- Les atouts économiques qu'offre le Maroc aux investisseurs américains ont été mis en exergue, jeudi soir, à Washington, lors d'une rencontre placée sous le thème "Connaitre le Maroc : des opportunités dans les secteurs des affaires et du commerce".

Organisé à l'American University à l'initiative du Washington Moroccan American Club, le débat a été notamment axé sur les réformes entreprises par le Maroc pour favoriser un cadre propice pour les investissements, les différents accords signés par le Royaume avec plusieurs pays, la main d'oeuvre qualifiée, le développement d'infrastructures de qualité et la stabilité politique.

"L'emplacement stratégique du Maroc, son économie croissante, le développement des infrastructures et les accords commerciaux avec plus de 40 pays font du Maroc une plateforme pour les investissements et l'exportation vers les pays du Moyen Orient, de l'Afrique et de l'Union Européenne", a souligné Jean AbiNader, du Moroccan American Culturel Center.

Il a cité, à cet égard, l'Accord d'association avec l'Union Européenne, l'accord d'Agadir signé avec l'Egypte, la Jordanie, et la Tunisie, ainsi que l'Accord de libre échange avec la Turquie.

Le Maroc compte également parmi les Etats bénéficiaires du Partenariat de Deauville, ajoute-t-il.

Le Royaume est aussi lié aux Etats-Unis par un accord de libre échange (ALE) qui offre une panoplie d'incitations, notamment fiscales et douanières ainsi qu'une protection du capital pour les sociétés américaines qui investissent au Maroc.

"Cet accord-phare permet aux exportateurs et investisseurs américains un accès presque illimité à des marchés en Europe, en Afrique, au Moyen-Orient et en Turquie", explique M. AbiNader.

L'ALE, en vigueur entre le Maroc et les USA depuis 2006, a permis d'éliminer la plupart des droits à l'importation, alors que les opérations commerciales US bénéficient des zones franches dans les ports marocains.

L'intervenant s'est également arrêté sur le statut d'allié majeur non-Otan accordé au Maroc.

Sur un autre registre, M. AbiNader a mis l'accent sur la tolérance religieuse qui caractérise le pays. Le Maroc est "un exemple dans la région en termes de tolérance religieuse, de reformes économiques et de promotion de la société civile", a-t-il fait remarquer.

Les derniers changements constitutionnels ont conforté davantage le processus de réformes du Maroc, considéré comme un modèle dans la région, affirme AbiNader.(MAP).

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English version by Morocco World News

The economic advantages offered by Morocco to U.S. investors were highlighted Thursday night in a Washington D.C. meeting entitled "Knowing Morocco: opportunities in the areas of business and trade."

Held at American University by the Washington Moroccan American Club, the debate focused, in particular, on the reforms undertaken by Morocco to promote a safe environment for investment, the various agreements signed by the Kingdom with several countries, its skilled workforce, the development of high quality infrastructure and political stability.

"Morocco's strategic location, its growing economy, infrastructure development and trade agreements with more than 40 countries have turned the country into a platform for investments and exports to the Middle East, Africa and European Union, "said Jean AbiNader, of the Moroccan American Cultural Center.

The speaker also addressed the status of major non-NATO ally granted to Morocco.

On another note, Mr. AbiNader focused on the religious tolerance that characterizes the country. Morocco is "an example in the region in terms of religious tolerance, economic reform and promotion of civil society During the conference, AbiNader also cited different trade pacts, including the Association Agreement with the European Union, the Agadir Agreement signed with Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia, and the Free Trade Agreement with Turkey. Morocco, in addition, is among the beneficiary states of the Deauville Partnership, he added.

The Kingdom is also linked to the United States by a free trade agreement (FTA), which offers a variety of incentives, both regarding taxes and customs as well as capital protection for U.S. companies investing in Morocco.

"This agreement ensures leading exporters and U.S. investors almost unlimited access to markets in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Turkey," said AbiNader.

The FTA, set up between Morocco and the United States in 2006, has eliminated most import duties, while US trade operations benefit from tax free zones in Moroccan ports.," he stated.

The latest constitutional changes have strengthened further the reform process in Morocco, considered a model in the region, said AbiNader.

Translated from French by Louise Riondel-Editing by Benjamin Villanti
New York, October 10, 2011-Morocco World News 

New York, October 10, 2011-Morocco World News

The economic advantages offered by Morocco to U.S. investors were highlighted Thursday night in a Washington D.C. meeting entitled "Knowing Morocco: opportunities in the areas of business and trade."

Washington, 7 oct (MAP)- Les atouts économiques qu'offre le Maroc aux investisseurs américains ont été mis en exergue, jeudi soir, à Washington, lors d'une rencontre placée sous le thème "Connaitre le Maroc : des opportunités dans les secteurs des affaires et du commerce".

You are invited!

Washington Moroccan American Club & Global Economics and Business Seminar of the Washington Semester Program of the American University
Present

Understanding Morocco - Opportunities for
Business and Trade

Speaker:
Jean AbiNader, Moroccan America Cultural Center

In 2008 the Moroccan police became the first Arab security service to grant sustained, inside access to a writer, enabling him to spend four months reporting on their operations from inside a police precinct in Casablanca. I am that writer, and my new book on the experience is both a real-life murder mystery and an unusual examination of Moroccan society and government in the 21^st century. It's called The Honored Dead: A Story of Friendship, Murder, and the Search for Truth in the Arab World. You can pick up a copy in most bookstores, or online via www.josephbraude.com .

Joseph Braude and the Washington Moroccan American Club

Present

“the making of the “The Honored Dead”, by Joseph Braude”

Police in North Africa and the Middle East have a troubling history of human rights abuse and corruption, and their inner workings are opaque. But in 2008, one Arab government granted a Western journalist unprecedented access to its security services, and the outcome of his reporting offers gritty insights into the changes now underway throughout the Arab world.

Police in North Africa and the Middle East have a troubling history of human rights abuse and corruption, and their inner workings are opaque. But in 2008, one Arab government granted a Western journalist unprecedented access to its security services, and the outcome of his reporting offers gritty insights into the changes now underway throughout the Arab world.

Ambassador Aziz Mekouar farewell party
After a very successful decade as the Moroccan ambassador to the United States of America, Mr. Aziz Mekouar will be returning to Morocco in September 2011.
Members of the Moroccan Community will host a Dinner party in his honor to bid him farewell and to thank him for all he did for Morocco and the Moroccan Community in the USA.
Please join us to celebrate this important event.
Date: Wednesday September 14, 2011
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Place: Maggiano’s Restaurant
5333 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington D.C. 20015

Washington - The United States is "encouraged" by the new draft constitution, whose basic elements were outlined by HM King Mohammed VI in a speech to the nation on June 17, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

On June 17, 2011, King Mohammed VI of Morocco announced a series of proposed amendments to the country's constitution.  The announcement followed a three-month review of the Moroccan constitution at the order of the King, after protest calling for reform began in February 2011.  The Moroccan constitutional reforms are significant and unprecedented in the Arab world, as King Mohammed VI is clearly attempting to get in front of the demands for change sweeping the Middle East.  Some skepticism remains, however, as to the extent of constitutional checks placed on the King's powers and whether Morocco will become a true constitutional monarchy.

At a time when, as the experts assembled at a symposium earlier this month hosted by the Atlantic Council's Ansari Africa Center noted, the fate of both the "Arab Spring" in general and the North African revolutions in particular remain far from certain, Morocco has made an audacious bet with the new constitution that King Mohammed VI unveiled in a televised speech last Friday. If the proposed charter is approved by voters in a refer-endum next month, the country will once again prove itself to be an exception, both in the Arab world and on the African continent, where integral transformation voluntarily undertaken and carried out both with respect for history, religion, and culture, and at an appropriate speed can offer a path to the future that balances the competing demands of stability and openness to change. 

The Arab Spring has broken out in Morocco pushing King Mohammed VI to put forth in lightning speed a new constitution requiring an elected rather than an appointed prime minister, the first such step in any of the eight monarchies or even most of the "democratic" republics of the Arab world

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Former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco
The King's Speech vs. The Dictator's Deceit

 It is the tale of two Arabian cities. As the crow flies, Morocco's capital Rabat and Syria's capital Damascus are about 2,500 miles from each other. But judging by the context and content of the respective national addresses delivered within hours of each other this weekend, Morocco's King Mohammed and Syria's Bashar Al Assad might as well have been a million miles apart from each other.

North Africa, Middle East, Middle East Unrest, Democracy Promotion
Kenneth M. Pollack, Director, Saban Center for Middle East Policy

The Brookings Institution

You probably won't be surprised to hear it, but there is something potentially very important going on that isn't getting the attention it deserves. It's happening in Morocco, where King Muhammad VI recently began to lay out the key provisions of a new constitution--something he first promised several months ago in response to popular protests as the Arab spring swept across his Kingdom.

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The constitution King Mohammed VI announced to his country on June 17 has been greeted by Moroccans with a great deal of ambivalence. Although it appears to be a foregone conclusion that a majority of Moroccans will vote "yes" in the referendum announced for July 1, many will do so with reservations. The young protesters who have been organizing periodic demonstrations beginning on February 20-hence the name, February 20 movement-have already announced that they do not intend to stop their actions. In fact, protests took place on June 19, drawing thousands of protesters in Casablanca and smaller numbers in other cities.

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Presentation will be in Arabic, French and English with simultaneous translation

Conference Director :  Fatima Sadiqi

Press release,  New York, May 30, 2011

 We are pleased to announce the launching of the online-based news outlet Morocco World News. Fruit of the efforts and perseverance of a group of Moroccan and foreign journalists, political analysts, researchers and university professors, MWN comes to fill the vacuum of information in the English language on Morocco, North Africa and the Middle-East.

Moroccan Festival in Washington Suburb Draws Thousands of Visitors

By Elizabeth Kelleher
Washington File Special Correspondent

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    واشنطن 4 - 10 - 2004  ( بقلم قدور الفطومي) عاش فضاء المركز السوسيو تربوي لماكلين ( ولاية فرجينيا) أمس الأول السبت على إيقاعات المهرجان الثقافي الخريفي الذي تركز هذه السنة على المغرب تحت شعار " المغرب الساحر: من الصحراء إلى البحر ".

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