Moroccan expatriates' deposits in Moroccan banks amount to $5.33 billion

Moroccan expatriates have deposited at Moroccan banks over the period running from January 2000 to June 2001 some 61.3 billion DH (about $5.33 billion), reported Moroccan daily L'Economiste.

This figure marks an increase of 12.6%, said the daily, quoting the Moroccan Banks professional grouping.

The Moroccan expatriates' remittances have increased during the first six months of 2001 by 23% and might exceed 24 billion DH (some $2.08 billion) by the end of the year, compared to 21 billion DH in 2000 (about $1.82 billion), the daily wrote.

Some 966,868 Moroccan nationals settled in Europe have crossed the strait of Gibraltar, from June 15 up to August 5, coming back home for summer holidays.

Compared to the past year, the number of Moroccans having sailed from Spanish ports to Moroccan shores have increased by 7 percent, the transit operation coordination committee told MAP.

Ferry boats have made some 2,290 shuttles between the two banks of the strait in this period.