Public-private body needed to promote moroccan investments in Africa
Morocco-Regional, Economics, 4/25/2003

The promotion of Moroccan investments in Africa needs a joint public-private body, recommended participants in a conference held here on Wednesday on the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) by the Foreign Affairs and Cooperation ministry.

The meeting identified snags that hamper the promotion of Moroccan investments in Sub-Saharan Africa, mainly poor communication and governmental support to businessmen willing to invest in this part of the continent.

Participants also recommended the creation of an information system that inventories investment opportunities in Africa and tenders, as well as the opening of air routes to promote commercial exchanges thus encouraging Moroccan concerns to go international.

Touching on good economic governance preached by NEPAD, participants unanimously underlined the need for a sound and transparent management of public funds and available resources.

They called for the consolidation of cooperation in education realms, promotion of scientific research and use of the new information and communication technologies.

The conference's recommendations also stressed the need for a full-fledged professional integration of women, promotion of fishing sector as a pillar of food security and upgrading of African economies' competitiveness.

NEPAD, adopted in July 2001, is based on three conditions for Africa to progress: political governance that includes peace, security, and democracy, better economic governance and regional cooperation and integration.

Among NEPAD target sectors figure infrastructure, ICTs, human development including vocational.

training based on health and education, as well as the promotion and diversification of production and exports.

Experts representing different departments, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and ambassadors of several African countries participated to this conference.

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