Journey Beyond Travel...going beyond the destination

Moncef Fadili, an expert on housing for the UN, said that more than half the Moroccan population lives in cities. He stated in a presentation of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), State of World Population Report that six out of ten Moroccans live in urban areas. He reported that Morocco has adopted programs such as Millennium Goals Development and Free-Slum Cities program as well as the National Initiative for Human Development. These programs are meant to help insure that Moroccan citizens will have decent housing and sustainable development. (more…)

A plan has been made to open up rural Morocco. Around 1,500 kilometers of roads will be built each year ending in 2015. This is part of the second phase of the national program to build roads. Moroccan Transport Minister, Karim Ghellab made known the country’s intentions of building 15,560 kilometers of rural roads with total costs running about 1.3 billion U. S. Dollars. As of September of 2005 nearly 10,600 kilometers were built under the first national program. He noted that 1,700 kilometers were slated to be built in 2007. Another 3.7 billion U. S. Dollars were set aside to resurface, widen, and maintain existing roads .

Morocco plans to integrate its strengthening economy into world markets. Finance Minister Fathallah Oualalou announced that government will allow local business to hold assets in foreign currencies. It will also allow money to be lent to export clients starting next month. Minister Oualalou said that companies will be allowed to hold fifty percent of their income in foreign currencies thereby reducing foreign exchange costs and reducing currency risks. (more…)

Moroccan King Mohammed VI sent his condolences to the President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria for an attack that killed eight Algerian soldiers. Terrorist group al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for last Wednesday’s bombing. In his letter, King Mohammed VI reaffirmed his readiness position and support for bi-lateral ties to fight terrorism in the region. The King suggested that Algeria and Morocco work together to extricate terrorism because it has become a threat to the stability in the Maghreb region. Morocco has raised its security level to the maximum rating, which translates to an attack is probable. Moroccan Interior Minister said that his office had obtained information suggesting that a threat had been made but would not give out many details. (more…)

Morocco hosted an important gathering of the Tijaniya Order in June. Problems facing Islam and Muslims, today, were the main topics. The forum that lasted four days was held in conjunction of the Moroccan government, and the followers and affiliates of the Order of Fez. Morocco played host to first such meeting, twenty-five years ago. (more…)

A Moroccan teacher and a teacher from the U.S. will shadow each other. In October, Erin Sullivan will come to eastern Morocco to see what motivates students to learn another language besides their mother tongue. She will be with Sakina El Khayari during her stay. Ms. El Khayari will do the same next spring and stay with Erin Sullivan. Both teachers are excited about having their counterparts with them. They have been in contact with each other with email. (more…)

A forthcoming visit of a group from Spain will bring good news to Morocco’s football enthusiasts. Representatives from Atletico Madrid, a Spanish football club, will announce plans of starting a football school in Tetouan, according to leaders of Moghreb Athletico de Tetouan football club. The two organizations will collaborate on the effort to establish the school. Leaders of the Spanish football club will visit Morocco from July 12th to the 13th. Atletico Madrid has football schools similar to the one they want to establish in Tetouan, Morocco in other countries around the world. Tetouan is a northern Moroccan city. (more…)