Morocco registers 3.5 percent economic growth in 2002

Morocco has registered a 3.2 percent economic growth in 2002 according to the latest estimations.

The prime minister's office said in a release on Tuesday the evolution stemmed from the strong growth (6.5 percent) in the national economy in 2001.

Expectations for 2003 point out that there will be an average growth in Morocco of about 5.5 percent.

The release further says the divergence between economic growth expectations for 2002 (estimated at 4.5 percent) and the latest estimations is due to the relative decline of tourism activity following 11/9 events and the blast in La Samir oil refining plant in 2002.