King Mohammed calls for solidarity with rural world
Morocco, Economics, 4/4/2000

King Mohammed VI on Monday called on Moroccans to show solidarity with the rural world, which is facing a second consecutive year of drought.

In a message, read out on his behalf by Royal Advisor Abbas Al-Jirari, the king surveyed the adverse effects of drought on agriculture, employment and water resources.

He added that he gave instructions to the government "to devise an emergency program to redistribute available riches to the rural areas."

A part of the receipts of the sale of Morocco's second GSM phone license will be earmarked to the rural world, the King said, adding that the Hassan II Development Fund and the Mohammed V Solidarity Foundation would efficiently contribute to the drive.

Morocco sold last year its second GSM phone license to a Spanish-Portuguese group at $ 1.1 billion.

The king urged economic operators and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the solidarity movement.

King Mohammed VI, who stressed the need to deal with drought as a structural problem and not as a juncture one, deplored the lack of investment in rural areas.

In view of the drought, the annual growth rate is to reach 3 % instead of the initially expected 6 %.

The Government had announced a $ 655 million dollar budget to rescue the countryside. 65 % of the amount will finance job-generating projects in rural areas. The remaining budget will ensure water supply, safeguard livestock and finance cereal imports.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco launches agriculture projects in southern provinces   (4/3/2000)
  Banks called to contribute in job creation in rural areas   (4/1/2000)
  Morocco announces agricultural investments in southern provinces   (4/1/2000)

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