February 2004
Morocco looks for an economic miracle
Reform is on the agenda for Morocco, although the king still wields comprehensive power. New openings are being sought to rebalance an economy dependent on tourism and to overcome stubbornly high unemployment. Rupert Wright reports.
VISIT MOROCCO AND you will hear a constant refrain that the country is changing. Once upon a time, Moroccans say, the king was the only person in the country who could make a decision. King Hassan II, who died in 1999, after a reign of almost 40 years, was renowned for the tight control he exercised over his subjects. Even when he played golf, he insisted on closing the course to other players and spectators.
His successor, Mohammed VI (pictured), is only 37, wears fashionably large watches and sports designer stubble. He has promised reform, and to allow others to make decisions. He has encouraged women to play a larger role in society, and 10% of parliamentarians must now be female. "Morocco could become a model for Muslim countries in the field of women's rights," says law professor Fatima Belqadi, the first woman appointed to Morocco's advisory council on human rights.
You must be a Level 2 subscriber to access this archived content.
If your subscription includes access to the archive, please log in now to view.
To gain access to this content visit the subscription page or call our hotline on +44 (0)207 779 8999.
Subscribe online now and save up to 30% on your subscription.
If you are a trialist or subscriber, please enter your username and password at the top right-hand side of euromoney.com
Subscribers to Euromoney benefit from:
Level 1:
- Online access to the past 12 months content
- Tailored RSS news feeds direct to your desktop
- News delivered directly to your mobile device or PC
- Personalised email newsfeed of 'Top stories' and 'Breaking news'
Level 2:
- Exclusive access to euromoney.com - Read the latest issue early online, search for specific developments by region or sector, interrogate the results of Euromoney's benchmark polls, and view the archive dating back to 2000
- 12 monthly issues of Euromoney magazine
- More than 30 specialist research guides free
- The results of Euromoney’s polls and surveys
- Tailored RSS news feeds direct to your desktop
- News delivered directly to your mobile device or PC
- Personalised email newsfeed of 'Top stories' and 'Breaking news'
Click here to subscribe