Higher national promotion council on draft economic and social development
Morocco, Politics, 5/8/2000

The higher national promotion council wound up in Rabat Saturday three-day works on the 2000-2004 draft economic and social development plan adopting recommendations for different sectors.

Participants issued recommendations for administrative reform, education, the fight against corruption, 9-to-5 working-hours and women in the public office.

Measures adopted are meant to guarantee the independence of the judiciary, consolidation of human rights, tuning of community planning to state programs, training of elects and the enforcement of an electoral code taking into account new legislation and revised constituency-mapping.

In the economic field, members of the council called for modernization of small and medium enterprises and easier fiscal terms for them, the setting up of an investment promotion agency, review of legislation providing for credit to young promoters and easier investment procedures.

Action proposed covers investment in rural areas, complementary irrigation and dam-construction, introduction of modern techniques to upgrade yield and income of population in forest areas, consolidation of the role of trade, industry and service chambers and incentives to handicraft firms and tax-exemption for craftsmen.

The three-day meeting attended by government and economic operators also called for an updated change-rate policy, a yearly 3 % reduction of electricity costs, further involvement of Moroccan enterprises in major infrastructure construction, and the extension of the road network. Further care will be granted to incentives to Moroccan investments in international goods transportation, environment protection, the setting up of a domestic information industry and lesser state-involvement in public-media management with new legislation to guarantee autonomy.

Participants also prescribed support to scientific research, events to promote Moroccan culture, lower prices for medical equipment, further mobilization for the kingdom's bid to host the 2006 football World Cup, faster action against illiteracy, limitation to bureaucracy's negative effects and a better role for women in social and economic development.

The National Promotion and Planning Council is an advisory body to the King. It works on issues related to national promotion, economic and social development planning.

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