This development is due to the increase in sales of all segments of the sector, namely, the construction segment (+44.7%), that of wiring (+43.8%) and that of the interior vehicles and seats (+20%), said the Office, which has published its monthly indicators of foreign trade.

In parallel, exports of electronics and electricity increased by 36.4% to MAD 3.65 billion to end February 2023. This development is explained, mainly, by the increase in sales of electronic components of 57.7% to 1.4 billion dirhams and those of wire and cable (+33.9% to 1.37 billion dirhams).

For their part, sales of textiles and leather recorded an increase of 15.1% for the two months of the year 2023, attributable to the increase in exports of ready-made garments (+18%), shoes (+20.6%), and to a lesser extent knitted items (+7.6%).

Exports of phosphates and derivatives amounted to 10.96 billion dirhams at the end of February 2023, against 14.68 billion dirhams at the end of February 2022. This evolution is explained by the decline in sales of natural and chemical fertilizers (-22.3%), phosphoric acid (-37.8%) and phosphates (-17.5%).

FDI receipts recorded an increase of 19.8% to nearly 5.03 billion dirhams, while expenditures fell by 17.2%, said the Office, which published its monthly indicators of foreign trade in February.

For the first two months of this year, Moroccan direct investment abroad stood at 3.24 billion dirhams, showing a slight decline of 2% compared to the same period in 2022.
 

Morocco has continued to promote gender equality as well as technology and innovations that can reduce the negative effects of the movement of women, said Alaoui M'Hammdi during an Iftar-debate jointly organized by the embassies of Morocco and Rwanda in the Ethiopian capital and dedicated to migration as a gender issue in relation to innovations and technologies for mitigation and sustainable development.

Morocco and Rwanda share a comprehensive understanding of the problems of migration, as well as know-how in innovations and digital technologies to mitigate the effects of the problems faced by migrant women, she said, noting that through its programs and initiatives, Morocco has undertaken commendable efforts in the fight against the negative effects of migration and in the empowerment of women.

The Moroccan diplomat added that the Kingdom, which is now a transit and host country, has developed an integrated legislative system that relies on a coherent operational arsenal in the approach to migration issues in various fields, ranging from women and children to employment legislation and access to justice.

The multidimensional approach with its preventive, humanitarian, legal and regulatory aspects, positions Morocco as a leading country not only at the continental level, but also at the internationally, she stressed, explaining that this approach is linked to a system of values on which the Kingdom relies to manage this complex problem.

The migration phenomenon, when well managed, will inevitably contribute to the global and sustainable development of countries of origin as well as destination, noted the Moroccan diplomat.

The Kingdom, under the visionary leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, has spared no effort, since the appointment of His Majesty the King as Leader of the migration issue by the 28th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, to defend the interests of African countries in the service of the issue of migration and migrants across the globe, through a clear agenda and a well-defined forward-looking vision of the migration phenomenon and its consequences.

Speaking at an open debate of the Security Council on the "implementation of development policies to silence arms in Africa", chaired Thursday by the Head of State of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, whose country holds the rotating presidency of this UN body, Hilale said that conflicts in Africa have mutated from a conventional pattern to the involvement of terrorist groups and separatists, threatening the territorial integrity of states, but also international peace and security.

He stressed the imperative of preventing these threats to increase the chances of silencing the weapons on the continent by 2030, including through the dismantling of structures of recruitment, financing, housing and indoctrination of terrorists.

Referring to Morocco's commitment in Africa, the ambassador said that the Kingdom has more than a thousand partnership agreements with sister African countries, as part of an active and active South-South cooperation, shaped by the enlightened vision of HM the King and His multiple tours in Africa.

He also highlighted the role of the Mohammed VI Institute of Imams, Morchidines and Morchidates which provides training to African preachers to counter obscurantist thinking and violent extremism.

During this meeting, the diplomat noted that Morocco, which currently sits on the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), remains convinced that there can be no security without development, nor development without security.

In this regard, the Kingdom, in accordance with the High Royal Directives, inscribes its action around the triptych peace, security and development to ensure the prevention and a fortiori the management of conflicts and post-conflict reconstruction, said Hilale, recalling that Morocco hosted the first political conference of the AU on the promotion of the Nexus peace, security and development, from 25 to 27 October in Tangier, which has allowed, according to him, to fructify a precursory debate on the challenges that still plague the march of Africa towards development, including food and health security challenges.

The Ambassador Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN also pointed out that the Kingdom has submitted its national report for the year 2022 on progress made in the implementation of the AU Roadmap to silence arms in Africa by 2030, adding that this report supports the achievements and gains of the Kingdom in the various priority areas of the Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism of the Roadmap.

He also said that the international community should redouble its efforts to achieve the "realistic" goal of silencing arms in Africa by 2030, adding that it is necessary to address and resolve the root causes of conflicts. "Our actions should address security, economic, climate, religious and cultural challenges and other dimensions specific to the needs of security and stability on the African continent," he stressed.

In this regard, he called for combating poverty, hunger and social exclusion, through economic integration and development of Africa, especially within the ideal framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

This high-level open debate, enhanced by the participation of several ministers, was an opportunity to reaffirm the need to see peace and security in Africa from a holistic angle, focusing particularly on economic and development challenges, in order to end conflicts on the continent.

Concerning vaccination, the Ministry revealed that 24,921,992 people have received at least one shot, 23,423,707 have received the second dose. Of these, 6,882,747 people have received the third injection and 60,682 had four doses.

The weekly bulletin brings the total number of infections, since the first case was reported, to 1,272,679, the weekly positivity rate standing at 5.2%.

This week's new infections were reported in the regions of Grand Casablanca-Settat (19), Rabat-Salé-Kenitra (19), Souss-Massa (06), Beni Mellal-Khenifra (05), Fez-Meknes (05), Marrakech-Safi (02) and Oriental (01).

The total number of deaths remains at 16,296, as no cases were recorded last week.

The number of active cases stands at 62, with no severe or critical cases having been recorded in the past seven days.

"Following the strike notice of the civil service in France on April 1, 2023, relayed by the unions of the French DGAC, all airlines have been asked to reduce their flight schedule. In order to limit the impact of cancellations, Royal Air Maroc supports its customers by transferring them to other flights," says RAM on its website.

It added: "Customers who have contact information on their reservation file will receive emails and SMS confirming their rescheduled flight. We invite passengers to check the status of their flight and verify and update their contact information on the 'manage my reservation' section of the RAM website: https://www.royalairmaroc.com/ma-fr/gerer-ma-reservation."

In addition, for all Royal Air Maroc ticket holders on the cancelled flights, who do not wish to travel on the flights made available to them, the national airline grants them a refund of their ticket in its original means of payment, or a free change of date, depending on availability, to and from the same destination or a destination in the Royal Air Maroc network in Europe, for a new travel date within 15 days following the date of the cancelled flight, provided that the initial duration of stay is maintained.

It should be noted that for any change of destination, the possible difference in taxes will be charged to the passenger.

RAM invites passengers whose flights have been cancelled, or who have not received a confirmed rescheduled flight, not to go to the airport and to contact their initial point of sale or the RAM call center to confirm their rescheduled flight or benefit from the above provisions.

The MASI.20, an index of the 20 most liquid stocks, fell 0.85% to 832.06 pts, while the MASI.ESG, an index of companies with the highest ESG rating, as published by Moody's ESG Solutions, fell 0.72% to 787.7 pts.

Driven by external demand, this growth occurred in a context of high inflation and improved financing needs of the national economy, the HCP indicated in a briefing note on the economic situation in the fourth quarter of 2022, specifying that non-agricultural activities recorded an increase of 2.3% and those of the agricultural sector a decline of 15.1%.

In detail, the value added of the primary sector by volume, adjusted for seasonal variations, contracted by 15% in the fourth quarter of 2022, after having recorded an increase of 19.1% in the fourth quarter of 2021. This decline was due to the sharp fall in the value added of agriculture by 15.1% and fishing by 12.3%, the same source specified.

For its part, the value added of the secondary sector, in volume terms, decreased by 2.4% in the fourth quarter of 2022, following the decrease in the value added of the "extractive industry" by 16%, "construction and public works" by 4.6% and "electricity, gas, water, sanitation and waste" by 4.5%, as well as the increase in the value added of manufacturing industries by 0.4%.

The DGAPR explained in a statement that, following reports in the press and after receiving complaints about a case of ill-treatment of an inmate by an official at the Loudaya prison, a central commission was sent to the prison in question to investigate the matter.

After hearing all parties involved and using surveillance camera recordings, and based on the results of the investigation, it was decided to refer the officer in question to the disciplinary board to take the necessary measures against him in accordance with the law, according to the statement.

The DGAPR reaffirms, on the other hand, its concern to ensure respect for the rights of the residents of penitentiary institutions, as provided by the law governing these institutions, as well as their protection against any treatment that violates their dignity, acting firmly to repress any such behavior.

Thus, the rhythms of the world will storm this 24th edition, which will mark the return of the Festival in its usual format, say the organizers in a statement, noting that the musicians of the world will once again meet in Essaouira, at the invitation of their colleagues Maâlems of Morocco.

"If the global crisis has forced us to postpone the festival for three consecutive years, it has not succeeded in stopping our momentum or our determination. The Gnaoua and World Music Festival of Essaouira feeds on passion and perseverance," said Neila Tazi, producer and founder of the Festival, quoted in the statement, adding that "today, more than ever, the preparation of this 24th edition proves that this spirit of resilience has never left us".

Since its creation in 1998, the Gnaoua and World Music Festival of Essaouira has become one of the major cultural events in Morocco and on the continent. With a sharp but coherent and accessible program, the festival attracts each year thousands of visitors from all over the world, but also many artists and intellectuals. Carried by its original philosophy, its spirit of sharing and discovery, the festival constitutes a unique experience, both spiritual and artistic.