Country Brief: Morocco

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November 20, 2005

The Kingdom of Morocco, commonly known as Morocco, is located in Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara.[1]  After a long struggle, the country finally achieved independence from France in 1956.[2]  In the late 1970s, Morocco nearly took control of Western Sahara, but the final status of this territory continues to be unsettled.[3]  Morocco is a constitutional monarchy;[4] and the country established a bicameral legislature in 1997.[5]  

 

Morocco has been the most successful country in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) with its human development and political liberalization programs.  Since the 1970s, the country’s gross national income per person has more than doubled,[6] life expectancy has increased dramatically,[7] birth rates have declined,[8] and preliminary school enrollment has experienced a large improvement.[9]  With an area slightly larger than California,[10] Morocco’s population is approximately 32 million according to a July 2004 estimate by the CIA Fact Book.[11]  The unemployment rate is 18%, with a literacy level of 51.7%.[12]  Although the official language in Morocco is Arabic, French is often the language of business, government, and diplomacy.[13] 

Morocco’s economy has experienced macroeconomic stability, low inflation and relatively slow economic growth over the past several years.[14]   Morocco faces the typical problems of a developing country – “restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and achieving sustainable economic growth.”[15]   Mobile telephone license and partial privatization of the previously state-owned telecommunications and tobacco companies earned the country large foreign exchange inflows.[16]   Morocco mainly exports food and beverages, tobacco, semi processed goods, and consumer goods to its major markets: the EU, India, the US, and Brazil.[17]   The country mainly imports food and beverages, tobacco, energy, lubricants, capital goods, semi-processed goods, and consumer goods from its major suppliers: the EU, Saudi Arabia, and the US.[18]

                 “Mutual respect and friendship” characterize U.S.-Moroccan relations.  Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to Morocco in December 2003, Prime Minister Jettou’s visit to Washington in January 2004, and King Mohammed's latest visit to the United States in July 2004 are evidence of the bond and friendship between the two countries.[19]  In June 2004, the United States and Morocco signed a comprehensive bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that will dispose of 95 percent of custom duties on consumer and manufactured goods.  This is America’s second FTA with an Arab country and the first in Africa.[20]  Morroco is an active member of the UN and belongs to the Arab League, Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), INTELSAT, and the Non-Aligned Movement.[21]

Morocco’s transportation channels consist of almost 2000 km in railways, 57,707 km in highways,[22] 12 ports and harbors,[23] and 64 airports.[24]  There were over 1.2 million main telephone lines in 2003,[25] over 7.3 million mobile phones, and approximately 800,000 Internet users.[26]

             Concerns that Morocco and the International community should be aware of: (1) Moroccan terrorists,[27] (2) disputes over surrounding land and water,[28] (3) illegal drug trafficking,[29] and (4) Morocco’s strong dependence on agriculture.[30]