In an article by Vinicius Costa, the website states that Morocco has risen to prominence as one of the trendiest for Western visitors due to its excellent infrastructure, stunning natural scenery, and world-class city breaks.

Noting that the North African country witnesses historical growth in tourism in 2023, the writer underlines that according to data released by the Tourism Ministry, up to 2.9 million tourists arrived in Morocco in the first quarter of 2023, a 17 percent increase compared to 2019 and a whopping 464 percent rise over 2022.

The website states also that Western visitors mainly Spanish, British, Italian and American are back to Morocco en masse, drawn to its boundless cultural wealth and attractive prices.

“Morocco’s openness to tourism and facilitated travel are not the only reasons it keeps growing in popularity”, the source states, adding that Morocco is a historic state boasting a rich ancient past intertwined with that of Southern Europe.

“One of the most famous cities to emerge as economic, cultural, and political centers, Marrakesh is a beautiful maze of sandstone buildings, madrasas, and charming cafes bustling with trade day and night”, the website indicates, noting that other 'imperial’ cities you shouldn’t miss on a visit to Morocco include Fez, the largest medina and pedestrianized urban zone in the world; Meknes, home to lush green, Mediterranean-style gardens and a Sultan’s mausoleum; and Rabat, the country’s surprisingly developed capital.

“Travel off Path”, which is one of the independent travel information sites in the world that attracts more than 3 million views per month, also highlights the natural wealth that distinguishes Morocco, from the coastal line to the desert through the mountainous regions.

To implement its plans in Morocco, Iberdrola and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, have sealed a partnership aimed at supporting clean energy and decarbonization in several countries, including Morocco, a statement by the global energy leader said on Tuesday.

Under this partnership, the two parties are already discussing a ''green loan'', linked to sustainability indicators, for the development of renewable energy projects in emerging countries such as Morocco, Poland and Vietnam, the same source noted.

"We are proud of our collaboration with Iberdrola in emerging markets. The loans we have signed represent the first step in a broader collaboration, which will foster the energy transition in Brazil, Poland, Morocco and Southeast Asia'', stressed Alfonso García Mora, IFC vice president for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, quoted in the statement.

“In these countries, Iberdrola is already making progress on several renewable energy projects," he added.

This rise is the result of price increases of 1.2% in the "Clothing industry", 0.6% in the "Manufacture of metal products" and "Manufacture of rubber and plastic products", 0.2% in the "Manufacture of electrical equipment" and 0.1% in the "Leather and footwear industry", explained the HCP in its recent note on the industrial, energy and mining output price index for April 2023.

It is also due to a 0.1% fall in the "Food industry", a 1.0% decrease in the "Textile industry", a 0.2% drop in the "Metal industry" and a 0.3% fall in the "Beverage industry".

Producer price indices for the "Mining and quarrying", "Electricity production and distribution" and "Water production and distribution" sectors stagnated in April 2023.

In a presentation on "Royal Air Maroc's situation and prospects" at a meeting of the Infrastructure, Energy, Minerals and Environment Committee of the House of Representatives, Addou said that RAM carried 5 million passengers in 2022, and achieved sales of 12.6 billion dirhams, down 22% compared to 2019.

He pointed out that in fiscal year 2022-2023 (starting November and ending October of the following year), RAM carried 2.7 million passengers to the end of March 2023, recording a recovery rate of 97% compared with 2019.

The airline strengthened its network during 2022 by launching routes to Tel Aviv and Dubai, and relaunched destinations in Miami, Doha and Las Palmas, he added, noting that RAM has secured a greater number of destinations for its customers, thanks to agreements signed with both El Al Israel Airlines, Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways.

RAM will continue to strengthen its network in 2023 with the launch of new routes and the reopening of routes such as Porto, Seville, Tenerife, Las Palmas and Luanda, he underlined.

In addition, RAM has stepped up its involvement in the advanced regionalization and regional development project, he said, pointing out that as a major player in promoting national tourism and helping to open up certain regions, RAM has signed a series of agreements with various parties, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Ministry of the Interior and other authorities, with the aim of promoting domestic air transport.

The Conference will be held under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and will bring together Speakers and members of parliament, religious leaders, representatives of civil society and experts to engage in constructive dialogue and share good practices in addressing key issues standing in the way of sustainable coexistence, according to a joint statement by the organizers.

The meeting is being held in cooperation with Religions for Peace, and with the support of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the Mohammadia League of Scholars. It will also offer an opportunity for participants to jointly explore action points for building more peaceful and inclusive societies and to develop a roadmap for joint action, the same source noted.

During three days of debate, dialogue and reflection, participants will identify avenues of collaboration in areas such as peace and the rule of law, building a common future, gender equality and youth participation, trust and mutual recognition, solidarity, and inclusion, the statement stressed.

The Conference will conclude with the adoption of a high-level declaration.

The Kingdom of Morocco has been steadfast in promoting openness and tolerance, and has for many years hosted meetings and dialogue between different religions and civilizations. As set out in its Constitution, the Kingdom of Morocco is committed to the values openness, moderation, tolerance and dialogue in the interests of mutual understanding between all cultures and civilizations of the world.

As the international organization of the parliaments of sovereign States, the IPU has for many decades provided a unique and inclusive platform for parliamentarians of all nationalities, faiths and beliefs to work together to address the major challenges before the world.

The opening ceremony of this flagship event, placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, was attended by Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, Minister of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, Ghita Mezzour, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Omar Sultan Al Olama, president of the Moroccan Employers’ Association (CGEM), Chakib Alj, director general of the Digital Development Agency, and other personalities.

Organized by the Digital Development Agency under the aegis of the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, the three-day event brings together public and private sector leaders, political decision-makers, investors and academics for intensive exchanges between the public and private sectors of the world's future largest digital economy.

This major event is part of the Kingdom's efforts to strengthen South-South cooperation in the digital field, and contribute to the international promotion of the African continent, as it aims to endorse multi-sector technological innovation and the digital transformation of Africa.

On Tuesday, the Masi ended up 0.22% at 11,029.71 points.

Speaking at the C-24 Pacific Regional Seminar held in Bali from 24 to 26 May, the Senegalese representative stressed that the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco in 2007 is in line with international law, the UN Charter and the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council, which describe it as serious and credible.

In this context, the diplomat praised the efforts made by the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to relaunch the political process, with visits to the parties concerned in January, July and September, as well as the informal bilateral consultations held with these parties in New York last March.

He also reiterated his country's support for a final, just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution through a process conducted under the exclusive auspices of the United Nations, on the basis of successive Security Council resolutions since 2007.

Additionally, he urged all parties to continue, in the same format, the constructive momentum generated by the two Geneva roundtables, demonstrating realism and a spirit of compromise to ensure the successful outcome of the political process initiated by the United Nations.

He also welcomed the "significant" progress made by Morocco in its Sahara, particularly in the promotion of human rights and democracy, as well as the "considerable" efforts made to promote the economic and social development of the region, while ensuring the empowerment of its people.

"These efforts have finally convinced us of the Kingdom of Morocco's determination to resolve this dispute once and for all," he said, noting that in support of this policy, Senegal inaugurated its Consulate General in Dakhla on April 5, 2021.

The Senegalese representative noted that 28 Governments from African, Arab, Latin American and Asian countries had already opened consulates in the Moroccan Sahara to help strengthen economic and social opportunities in the region.

He also welcomed the participation of the Moroccan Sahrawi representatives elected in the Moroccan elections of 8 September 2021 in the important meetings and discussions of the Geneva roundtables, the C24 sessions and the regional seminars of this UN committee, adding that this is a "positive signal" that reinforces Senegal's optimism for a successful outcome to this regional conflict.

The Senegalese diplomat also stressed the importance of respecting the 1991 ceasefire for the stability of the region, and praised Morocco's continued cooperation with MINURSO and its respect for the ceasefire.

Speaking at the meeting, held from May 30 to June 02, the US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, welcomed Morocco's partnership with the United States of America within the PSI framework, a partnership that will be strengthened by further operational actions aimed at African countries in 2024, making Morocco a model in the WMD non-proliferation.

The Jeju meeting will endorse a joint declaration, supported by over 80 countries, including Morocco, calling for enhanced regional and international cooperation in the field of WMD non-proliferation, in the face of the emerging security dynamics that mark the current geopolitical context.

Redouane Houssaini, Director of United Nations and International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, led the Moroccan delegation at the meeting, which also included senior officials from the National Defense Administration and the General Directorate of National Security.

The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) is a voluntary multilateral cooperation framework launched in 2003, of which Morocco is a founding member, to implement the "Interdiction Principles". It aims to strengthen operational cooperation between the various ministries and national agencies responsible for security, through measures to combat the illicit transport of WMD, their delivery systems and related materials.

During the meeting, Fattouh commended the distinguished bilateral relations between the two countries, hailing the Kingdom of Morocco's stance in support of the Palestinian cause.

He also reviewed the latest developments on the Palestinian scene, pointing out that "the far-right Israeli government is continuing its aggressive and criminal policies and practices, storming the Al-Aqsa mosque and attacking Palestinian towns and camps."

For his part, Meziane praised relations between Morocco and Palestine, emphasizing the Kingdom's firm stance on the Palestinian question and its unwavering support for the Palestinian people in establishing their independent state.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the invitation extended to the President of the Palestinian National Council by the Speakers of the Houses of Representatives and Councillors, to take part in the "Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue: Collaborating for our Common Future", scheduled for June 13-15 in Marrakech.

In this respect, the Moroccan diplomat stressed that the participation of the Palestinian parliamentary delegation is of great interest to all strata of the Moroccan people, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee.

It also falls within the framework of cooperation between the legislative institutions of the two countries in the service of the Palestinian cause, the emancipation of the Palestinian people and the realization of their legitimate right to establish their independent State on the borders of June 4, 1967, he added.