Morocco's 2nd GSM license sale shows success of telecom privatization, WB official
Morocco, Economics, 1/13/2000

The selling of the 2nd cellular phone license to an international consortium shows the success of Morocco's telecom opening and privatization process, said World Bank Vice-President M. Kemal Dervis Wednesday in Washington.

Dervis hailed the "rapid and unmatched" evolution the Moroccan telecommunications sector is going through, saying this sector "plays a key role in modern economies, industry, technologies and in attracting foreign investment."

The overture of the Moroccan telecom sector to private capital and management has earned the country around $1.1 billion against initial estimates of just $500 million, he said at a lecture delivered at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown University.

Last year, Morocco opened its telecom to foreign investment with the World Bank's help, said the WB vice president, adding that the North African country, encouraged by its success story, is now moving ahead to privatize its telecom company, Ittisalat Al-Maghreb, with the expectations of making another $2.5 billion or even more.

Dervis added that the privatization of telecommunications can provide a lot of financial resources which can be redeployed in social development areas.

Morocco is advancing many Arab countries in matters of liberalization of the telecom sector, which is part of the basic development services and tools, he said.

Previous Stories:
  Lower IAM GSM prices as of Jan. 1, 2000   (1/3/2000)
  USA plans to invest $4 billion in Morocco   (12/17/1999)
  Morocco's privatization plans attract international interest   (12/16/1999)

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