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Morocco moves to liberalize Tobacco sector
Morocco, Economics, 1/16/2003
The Moroccan House of Representatives (lower chamber of parliament) on Tuesday passed a draft bill for the liberalization of the tobacco sector.
Under the draft bill, passed by 63 votes for and 41 against, Morocco will liberalize unprocessed tobacco production and exportation.
Morocco will start liberalizing the importation of unprocessed tobacco and the production and exportation of processed tobacco starting January 2005. The Moroccan state will keep its monopoly over processed tobacco imports and distribution till 2007.
Moroccan finance and privatization minister, Fathallah Ouallou, said the projected liberalization seeks to attract the interest of foreign investors in the planned privatization of the state-owned tobacco company (Regie des Tabacs).
The company contributes nearly 6 billion dirhams (roughly US$ 600 mln) to the state budget annually. It employs 2,400 persons. Almost 120,000 people live on cigarette selling in Morocco. The company produces 25 brands.
Some 6,500 farmers plant tobacco in Morocco, which stretches over 5,000 hectares.
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