Moroccan government to help set up 120,000 SME by 2010
Morocco, Economics, 12/5/2001

The Moroccan government is projecting to contribute to the setting up of 120,000 small and medium-sized enterprises by year 2010 and the creation of 2.4 million jobs, said Moroccan minister of industry, trade, energy and mining, Mustapha Mansouri.

In an address before the 9th general conference of the UN industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) held in Vienna Dec.3-7, Mansouri said Morocco is going through a crucial phase and is readying for the free trade area with the European Union, scheduled for 2010. The government, in cooperation with the private sector, is endeavoring to improve the competitiveness of the industrial sector, he said, hailing the fruitful cooperation existing between Morocco and UNIDO. He singled out, part of this cooperation, the integrated program for the improvement of the Moroccan industrial sector's competitiveness, through the improvement of SME productivity, the consolidation of the institutional frame and the setting up of groups to promote investments.

Expressing hope that UNIDO would open a bureau in Morocco, Mansouri urged the UN agency to decentralize its actions, promote the proximity approach and give incentives to wealth-generating industrialization.

Mansouri renewed Morocco's adherence to the declarations of the African group and the group of 77 " China and deplored the digital gap between the south and the north. He also deplored the fact that Africa remains the least developed continent and the least industrialized region despite its tremendous natural and human resources. The Moroccan official expressed hope that developed countries would extend assistance to Africa to help fulfil the goals set by the international community during the UN millenium summit, mainly reducing poverty by 50% by year 2015.

On the sidelines of the conference, Mansouri conferred with UNIDO director General, Carlos Magarinos, and with several heads of delegations participating in the conference.

The Conference features this Wednesday a one-day Industrial Development Forum on fighting marginalization through sustainable industrial development: challenges and opportunities in a globalizing world.

The Conference takes place every two years and brings together UNIDO governing body of 169 member states and top-level ministerial delegations.

In line with recommendations of the Industrial Development Board it approves the work program and budgets of UNIDO, appoints the Director General at four-yearly intervals and also considers other administrative and substantive issues of the Organization.

Previous Stories:
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