German businessmen hear presentation on privatization of Moroccan phone operator

Moroccan minister of public sector and privatization, Rachid Filali, explained before a panel of German businessmen modalities in the projected privatization of Morocco's telecom operator "Maroc-Telecom."

After Morocco decided to liberalize its telecom sector, followed by the successful cession for $ 1.08 billion of the second mobile phone license to a Portuguese-Spanish-Moroccan consortium, it is now projecting to privatize its telecom operator "Maroc-Telecom," the minister told a telecommunication workshop of the German-Arab economic forum.

The minister added that Maroc-telecom privatization will enjoy all conditions of transparency, providing equal chances for all bidders.

In another session of the 3rd German-Arab economic forum held by the German-Arab economic chamber, the minister expressed Morocco's will to consolidate cooperation with Germany on the basis of balanced and permanent partnership. He explained that the kingdom, belonging to the Euro-Mediterranean space, is a credible and open partner, a country committed to the principles of international solidarity and willing to develop its cooperation ties with Germany.

Morocco's legislative measures to encourage private investments, endeavors to clean public finance, restore general balances, liberalize external trade, adhere to the World Trade Organization, and to set up a free trade area with Europe by 2010 have yielded positive results, said Filali.

Indeed, he went on foreign private investments went up from an annual $ 30 million in the 80s to $ 500 million in the 90s, particularly in the last three years when Morocco attracted over one billion dollars in investments. Since the privatization program started in the early 90s, The Moroccan state has sold 59 companies for a total value of $ 1.6 billion and investment commitments of $ 650 million.

The German-Arab economic forum is attended by delegates of 22 Arab states, German officials and businessmen.