Casablanca

Business, trade and the Moroccan dolce vita ... Everything happens in Casablanca! And its dynamism is infectious.

The architectural tradition of the city endures to this day with the inauguration of the Hassan II mosque on the 30th of August 1993. This 200m high mosque is one of the largest in the world. The hectic Mâarif district exemplifies modern Casablanca. This previously impoverished area, just west of the Arab League Park, has gradually been transformed and is now one of the most prominent neighbourhoods in town. The young Moroccan jet set patronise its luxury shops and its trendy establishments in the shadow of the Twin Center twin towers. You must also visit Anfa, Casablanca's upmarket area. Boulevard Mohammed V, situated in the city centre, has kept its arcades under which shops and restaurants abound for almost 2km.

In the evening, you can take the Aïn-Diab coast road between the El Hank lighthouse and Sidi Bou Abderrahmane mausoleum, a small village only accessible at low tide. This coast is Casablanca's seaside resort. It has swimming pools, public and private beaches. Coming here to admire the sun setting and to refresh oneself on a terrace is a classic outing. Every weekend, the inhabitants of Casablanca love to meet each other here. Later in the evening the discotheques keep things lively in this city which never sleeps.

Transnational Issues : Morocco

Disputes - international:

claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation, setting limits on resource exploration and refugee interdiction, since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; the National Liberation Front's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco is a dormant dispute
Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Morocco is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Moroccan adults and children are exploited for forced labor and forced prostitution in the Middle East and Europe; some Moroccan girls recruited to work as maids experience conditions of forced labor, while some Moroccan boys are forced to work as apprentices in the artisan and construction industries and in mechanic shops; women and children from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia who voluntarily enter Morocco are subsequently coerced into prostitution or, less frequently, domestic service; women and children from Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria are also vulnerable to sex trafficking and, to a lesser extent, forced labor in Morocco
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Morocco does not comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government does not demonstrate progress in investigating, prosecuting, convicting, and adequately punishing trafficking offenders and has failed to provide law enforcement data; it has not developed or employed systematic procedures to proactively identify trafficking victims among vulnerable groups, particularly the sub-Saharan migrant community, but has made some efforts to offer protective services to Moroccan women and child trafficking victims; Morocco continues to lack a single comprehensive anti-trafficking law (2013)
Illicit drugs:

one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis

Military : Morocco

Military branches:

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation - 18 months (2012)
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,252,682
females age 16-49: 8,691,419 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,026,016
females age 16-49: 7,377,045 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 300,327
female: 298,366 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

3.55% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 14
3.37% of GDP (2011)
3.55% of GDP (2010)

Transportation : Morocco

Airports:

55 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 86
Airports - with paved runways:

total: 31
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 24
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m:
5 (2013)
Heliports:

1 (2013)
Pipelines:

gas 944 km; oil 270 km; refined products 175 km (2013)
Railways:

total: 2,067 km
country comparison to the world: 70
standard gauge: 2,067 km 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:

total: 58,395 km
country comparison to the world: 74
paved: 41,116 km (includes 1,080 km of expressways)
unpaved: 17,279 km (2010)
Merchant marine:

total: 26
country comparison to the world: 88
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 3, container 6, passenger / cargo 14, roll on / roll off 2
foreign-owned: 14 (France 3, Germany 1, Italy 1, Spain 9)
registered in other countries: 4 (Gibraltar 4) (2010)
Ports and terminals:

major seaport (s): Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Mohammedia, Safi, Tangier
container port (s) (TEUs): Tangier (2,093,408)

Communications : Morocco

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.28 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 47
Telephones - mobile cellular:

39.016 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 31
Telephone system:

general assessment: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay; Internet available but expensive
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is roughly 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Euroafrica, Spain-Morocco, and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optic telecommunications undersea cables that provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and Tunisia (2011)
Broadcast media:

2 TV broadcast networks with state-run Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) operating one network and the state partially owning the other; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite dish; 3 radio broadcast networks with RTM operating one; the government-owned network includes 10 regional radio channels in addition to its national service (2007)
Internet country code:

.ma
Internet hosts:

277.338 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 66
Internet users:

13.213 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 29

Energy : Morocco

Electricity - production:

21.13 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Electricity - consumption:

23.61 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Electricity - imports:

3.94 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Electricity - installed generating capacity:

6.62 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Electricity - from fossil fuels:

69.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

19.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Electricity - from other renewable sources:

4.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Crude oil - production:

5,057 bbl / day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Crude oil - exports:

0 bbl / day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Crude oil - imports:

122,900 bbl / day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Crude oil - proved reserves:

680,000 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Refined petroleum products - production:

131,500 bbl / day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Refined petroleum products - consumption:

203,600 bbl / day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Refined petroleum products - exports:

20,830 bbl / day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Refined petroleum products - imports:

143,000 bbl / day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Natural gas - production:

60 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - consumption:

560 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - imports:

150 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.444 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

43.71 million Mt (2011 est.)

Economy : Morocco

Economy - overview:

Morocco has capitalized on its proximity to Europe and relatively low labor costs to build a diverse, open, market-oriented economy. In the 1980s Morocco was a heavily indebted country before pursuing austerity measures and pro-market reforms, overseen by the IMF. Since taking the throne in 1999, King MOHAMMED VI has presided over a stable economy marked by steady growth, low inflation, and gradually falling unemployment, although a poor harvest and economic difficulties in Europe contributed to an economic slowdown in 2012. Industrial development strategies and infrastructure improvements - most visibly illustrated by a new port and free trade zone near Tangier - are improving Morocco's competitiveness. Morocco also seeks to expand its renewable energy capacity with a goal of making renewable 40% of electricity output by 2020. Key sectors of the economy include agriculture, tourism, phosphates, textiles, apparel, and subcomponents. To boost exports, Morocco entered into a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the United States in 2006 and an Advanced Status agreement with the European Union in 2008. Despite Morocco's economic progress, the country suffers from high unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy, particularly in rural areas. In 2011 and 2012, high prices on fuel - which is subsidized and almost entirely imported - strained the government's budget and widened the country's current account deficit. In the fall of 2013, Morocco capped some of its fuel subsidies in an effort to gradually reduce the country's large budgetary deficit. Key economic challenges for Morocco include fighting corruption and reforming the education system, the judiciary, and the government's costly subsidy program.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$ 180 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$ 171.2 billion (2012 est.)
$ 166.7 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):

$ 104.8 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:

5.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
2.7% (2012 est.)
5% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):

$ 5,500 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
$ 5,300 (2012 est.)
$ 5,200 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
Gross national saving:

25.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
25.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
27.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use:

household consumption: 59.5%
government consumption: 19.1%
investment in fixed capital: 30.8%
investment in inventories: 3.7%
exports of goods and services: 35.4%
imports of goods and services: -48.5%
(2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

agriculture: 15.1%
industry: 31.7%
services: 53.2% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:

barley, wheat, citrus fruits, grapes, vegetables, olives; livestock; wine
Industries:

phosphate mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:

1.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Labor force:

11.73 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 44.6%
industry: 19.8%
services: 35.5% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:

9.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
9% (2012 est.)
Population below poverty line:

15% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 33.2% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40.9 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
39.5 (1999 est.)
Budget:

revenues: $ 26.07 billion
expenditures: $ 34.51 billion (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:

24.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-8% Of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Public debt:

76.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
71.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
Fiscal year:

calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
1.2% (2012 est.)
Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
3.31% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.3% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
6.3% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money:

$ 75.71 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$ 71.51 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money:

$ 90.76 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$ 84.52 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:

$ 121 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$ 111.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:

$ NA (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$ 60.09 billion (31 December 2011)
$ 69.15 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Current account balance:

- $ 9.595 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
- $ 9.843 billion (2012 est.)
Exports:

$ 16.78 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$ 16.99 billion (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities:

clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish
Exports - partners:

France 21%, Spain 17.3%, Brazil 5.4%, India 4.9%, US 4.6% (2012)
Imports:

$ 38.66 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$ 38.88 billion (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities:

crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Imports - partners:

Spain 13.1%, France 12.1%, China 6.9%, US 6.8%, Saudi Arabia 6.2%, Italy 5.1%, Russia 5%, Germany 4.9% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$ 19.16 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$ 17.54 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Debt - external:

$ 36.51 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$ 32.15 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$ 51.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$ 48.18 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$ 1.972 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$ 2.423 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Exchange rates:

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar -
8.439 (2013 est.)
8.6026 (2012 est.)
8.4172 (2010 est.)
8.0571 (2009)
7.526 (2008)