Morocco can contribute to globalization, US diplomat
Morocco-USA, Economics, 3/24/2000

Morocco can bring its own unique and enduring values and strengths to make globalization a process that helps the nation, US ambassador to Morocco, Edward Gabriel, said.

The diplomat, who was lecturing on "Morocco and the United States: How We Can Face Globalization Together," insisted that Morocco can only do that by understanding and facing the challenges head on.

Gabriel recalled that the US Eizenstat initiative can do much to invigorate the benefits of trade for Morocco's economy.

The initiative, engineered by a former US secretary of state for economic affairs, aims to bolster intra-regional trade between Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and the United States.

Only 8% of trade in the Middle-East and North Africa is intra-regional, compared to 20% in the Americas or 60% in Europe. "Trade between neighbors is vitally important to a nation's economy," Gabriel said, adding "this is what the Eizenstat initiative seeks to support."

Morocco's success in the global economy necessarily goes through investing in learning, encouraging excellence at all levels of education, and reducing illiteracy, especially among females, he said.

Morocco also needs investments to power its participation in the global economy, Gabriel said, explaining that the North African nation has to reform and streamline its bureaucratic procedures so that investment is easy and transparent.

The diplomat insisted that the United States has the responsibility to assist countries like Morocco succeed in the global economy. "We have to do more than lecture countries on their faults, or prescribe the course of action they should take."

Previous Stories:
  King Mohammed receives US official   (2/5/2000)
  King Mohammed receives US delegation   (1/13/2000)
  King Mohammed meets US senators delegation   (1/7/2000)

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