Taroudant - The Worldsim travel blog ranked Morocco second among the Best Travel Destinations for Food Lovers released on March 6.

Known for its mouthwatering dishes, Morocco is ranked ahead of many of the gourmand’s global destinations such as France and Italy.

“Morocco is the place to go for the best Berber cuisine on the planet,” writes the Worldsim.

“That means fragrant tagine pots served in the midst of ancient medina towns, herbal teas to boot, and some of North Africa’s freshest fish,” the same source added.

Nearly all the restaurants within the kingdom offer various authentic Moroccan dishes; however, Djemaa el Fna square in Marrakesh remains the most famous spot where one can try all the varieties of Moroccan cuisine.

Along with folklore activities, the square offers about a hundred food stalls arranged in parallel lines serving various tasty meals cooked and served in the open air.

The square offers a variety of Moroccan dishes such as roasted meat, kebabs, couscous, soup and other delicious meals that can be eaten at nearby wooden tables on the square.

Although some Moroccan specialties such as sheep’s testicle, escargots, steamed sheep’s head and spicy fried cow or sheep’s brain may seem very strange and more exotic, their taste is irresistibly delicious, and their prices are reasonable.

Most famous dishes in the Moroccan cuisine:

Couscous

Couscous is a purely Moroccan dish. Traditionally, it was the regular dinner for nearly all Moroccans, but as time went by people started to usually prepare it every Friday.  Like any pasta, it is prepared with flour rolled in a skilful manner to form fine grains then steamed for a while and dried. When it is dried they store it in bags. Fortunately, ready to use couscous can be found in every market.

Tagine

Tagine is named after the special earthenware pot in which it is cooked. Yet, for all Moroccans it connotes an irresistible delicious taste and a pleasingly sweet smell. It is cooked and braised slowly at low temperatures, resulting in tender meat with aromatic vegetables and sauce, and it is served hot.

It has different distinctive sweet tastes depending on the ingredients, but the process remains the same.

Bstilla

Bstilla is undoubtedly one of the ultimate manifestations of beauty, refinement and delicacy of Moroccan cuisine. It is prepared for great dinners and wedding ceremonies. Usually, it is served after small plates of fresh salads and before the Tagine with meat.

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Rabat-  France praised the initiative taken by Morocco to host the 3rd round of inter-Libyan talks aimed at finding a political solution to the crisis in this country.

Regarding Libya, Moroccan and French foreign ministers, Salaheddine Mezouar and Laurent Fabius, "stressed the urgent need to find a political solution within the framework of the dialogue launched by the United Nations and reiterated their support for the mediation led by the UN Secretary-General Special Representative," according to the French-Moroccan joint statement issued on Monday on the occasion of the working visit paid to Morocco by the French FM.

On this occasion, "France hailed the initiative taken by Morocco to host, since March 5, 2015, the Inter-Libyan dialogue," read the document.

The 3rd round of inter-Libyan political talks was launched Thursday in Skhirate, on the outskirts of Rabat, in the presence of representatives of the warring parties under the auspices of the UN to find a solution to the political crisis in Libya.

Regarding Africa, both ministers "expressed their shared ambition for the development and stability of the African continent" and their "determination to encourage new partnerships in the fields of economic investment, higher education and food security", according to the statement.

The two countries also reiterated their shared vision of Francophonie as "an area of solidarity and opportunity."

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Rabat  -  France reiterated its support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco as a serious and credible basis for a negotiated solution to the Western Sahara issue, said a joint French-Moroccan statement issued on the occasion of the working visit paid to Morocco by France's foreign minister Laurent Fabius.

"France reiterated its support for efforts made under the UN aegis to reach a political settlement" for the Sahara issue, said the statement.

France lauded, on this occasion, “the resumption of the talks process "following clarifications made during the phone call between HM King Mohammed VI and UNSG Ban Ki-moon on Jan. 22, 2015," it added.

The statement underlined that “France backs the Moroccan autonomy plan as a serious and credible basis for a negotiated solution pursuant to the UNSC resolutions.”

With MAP

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Rabat- An investigation conducted by the Moroccan Ministry of Interior says that the former Minister of Youth and Sports was not to blame for scandal that marked one of the matches of the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, which was held in Morocco last December.

Two months after King Mohammed VI dismissed Mohammed Ouzzine, the former Minister of Youth and Sports, over the Rabat stadium scandal, investigation carried out by the Moroccan Interior Ministry revealedthat Ouzzine “was not to blame for the incident.

According to the Arabic daily Akhbar Alyoum in its Tuesday Issue, Mohand Laenser, the secretary general of the Popular Movement party, said that the investigation carried out by the Ministry of Interior showed no “direct political and administrative responsibility of the former Ministry of Youth and Sports.”

The same source added that the investigations did not hold Mohamed Ouzzine responsible for any wrongdoing. The investigation placed blame on seven Ministry officials for the scandal.

Following the controversy sparked by the deplorable condition of the pitch at Rabat stadium last December during the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup, Moroccans expressed their utter dismay at the way this incident damaged their country’s reputation and called on the government to hold those responsible accountable.

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Rabat - French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced on Monday that French President François Hollande has invited King Mohammed VI to pay an official working visit to the republic of France on the dates specified by the Moroccan monarch.

The expected visit of King Mohammed VI to France is part of a series of high-level visits between the two countries since the resumption of bilateral relations following a year-long diplomatic crisis.

Fabius, who started on Monday a two-day working visit to Morocco, also announced that French Prime Minister Manuel Valls will make an official visit to Morocco on April 10th in an attempt by the French official to revive bilateral relations between the two countries.

During his visit, the French chief diplomat was received by King Mohammed VI.

The meeting focused on bilateral relations, the regional security environment and notably the fight against terrorism and various regional and international issues of common interest, the King’s Office said in a statement.

The audience was attended by Jean Francois Girault, Director of North Africa and Middle East department at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Charles Fries, France’s Ambassador in Rabat, as well as the King’s Advisor Fouad Ali El Himma, Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar and the kingdom’s Ambassador in Paris Chakib Benmoussa.

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Rabat - The Moroccan market for household goods and equipment rose by 10 percent in 2014, compared to the results for 2013.

According to GFK Temax, a report by international market intelligence organization GFK, the sales of household goods and equipment in Morocco recorded sales of MAD 11.16 billion, up by 9.7% compared to the previous year. All four main sectors, telecommunications (TC), Major Domestic Appliances (MDA), Consumer Electronics (CE) and Small Domestic Appliances (SDA) contributed to the increase in turnover.

The report revealed that the increase was mainly apparent in the telecommunications market, with recorded sales of MAD 4.48 billion in 2014, up by 11.5 percent, compared to the overall 2013 results.

The increase was driven by rapid growth in sales of smartphones, which were up by 42 percent in 2014.

"Greater affordability (prices of entry-level smartphone models were down,) and the introduction of new, high-end models, particularly in the second half of the year, resulted in this robust performance," the report said.

The sales of phablets (a combination of smartphone and tablet) were up by 650%, compared to the results for 2013. Phablets are now responsible for 4 percent of the total market value, says the report.

The Major Domestic Appliances sector was also up by 6.4 %, compared to the previous year and recorded sales of MAD 3.65 billion. According to the report, growth was concentrated in the second and third quarters of 2014, up by 13 percent and 12 percent respectively, compared to the same quarters in 2013, coinciding with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, summer and Aid El Kebir (Feast of Sacrifice) sales promotion.

The report said that dishwashers saw the greatest increase in sales in the MDA sector up by 21 percent, compared to the previous year.

Sales of Small Domestic Appliances such as food preparation equipment and electric heaters continued their upward trend. In 2014, the figure was MAD 394.9 million, up by 14 percent, compared to 2013.

2014 was also a good year for sales of TVs, thanks to major sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup and the African Cup of Nations, says the report.

MAD 2.6 billion worth of goods were sold in the Consumer Electronics sector in 2014, up by 11.5 percent, compared to 2013.

Curved screen TVs were the most significant innovation in 2014. However, with prices still very high, there was only a trickle of sales, the report added.

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Rabat - Two Moroccan cities are included in the 2015 Quality of living Index, an annual survey by the global human resources consulting firm Mercer.

According to Mercer's Quality of Living index, Rabat is the best city to live in Morocco and the seventh in Africa. The kingdom's capital is ranked 116th in the ranking that assess the quality of living in 230 destinations around the world, while Morocco's largest and populous city Casablanca is ranked 128th, making it the second best place to live in the country and the eight on the African level.

The scores help multinational companies and other employers fairly compensate their employees when sent on international assignments.

This year's edition of Quality of Living Index saw Western European cities take seven places in the top ten. Vienna is ranked the best place to live on the planet. It is followed by Zurich (2), Munich (4), Düsseldorf (6), and Frankfurt (7), with Geneva and Copenhagen in 8th and 9th places, respectively.

Across the Middle East and African region, Dubai is ranked highest for quality of living and stands at the 74th place. It is followed by Abu Dhabi (77), also in the UAE, and Port Louis (82), Mauritius. The South African city of Durban is ranked higher than the country's traditional business centers, Cape Town (91) and Johannesburg (94). The report said that Durban’s higher ranking is mainly due to its high-quality housing, plentiful recreational offerings and good consumer goods availability. However, the city’s crime problems keep it from reaching the top 50.

Ranking 230th, Baghdad, the capital of war-torn Iraq received the lowest-ranking in the region and on the overall list.

The Quality of Living Survey assesses living condition according to 39 factors, grouped in 10 categories: Political and social environment, Economic environment, Socio-cultural environment, Medical and health considerations, Schools and education, Public services and transportation, Recreation, Consumer goods, Housing and Natural environment.

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Rabat - A teenager has been arrested in southern Agadir after a picture showing him with another female teenager smooching was widely circulated online.

The father of the girl shown in the picture filed a complaint against the boy who was later arrested by local authorities, Alyaoum 24 news website reported.

According to the same source, the teenager admitted having kissed the girl, adding that he did not intend to tarnish her reputation. He told the authorities in Ait Melloul, a city in the outskirts of Agadir, that it was another person who took the picture and vowed earlier to publish indecent pictures of other school girls.

Alyaoum24 added that the third person who took the picture that sparked uproar in the city has also been arrested. The police are said to have confiscated his computer in which they found pornographic material.

In 2013, three teenagers from the north eastern city of Nador were also arrested for "violating public decency" by posting a photo of them kissing. They were held at a juvenile center before they were released.

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Rabat - The European Union has decided to "drastically" reduce the humanitarian aid allocated to the Tindouf camps following the release of a report by the European Union's Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) documenting "well-organized, year's long" embezzlement by the Polisario Front of humanitarian aid designated for Sahrawi refugees in the Polisario-run camps in Tindouf, Algeria.

Ingeborg Grassle, a deputy from Germany's Christian Democratic Party (CDP) and Chairwoman of the Committee on Budgetary Control at the European Parliament, has written a report in which she calls for "reviewing" the 10 million Euros annual aid allocated to the Sahrawi refugees in the Tindouf camps. According to media reports, Grassle urges in her report the European Commission to "adapt its aid to the current needs of the affected population, to end once and for all embezzlement and fraud of humanitarian aid."

"What the EU believes to do in good faith in favor of the populations in Tindouf have been embezzled," Grassle said during a meeting of the Committee on Budgetary Control last month, adding that this is a "big scandal".

The OLAF report conducted between 2003 and 2007 and unearthed recently, slams Algeria and the Polisario Front for embezzling humanitarian aid meant for Sahrawi refugees for years. The report also included the names of the suspected organizers of the theft. According to the investigation cited by Agence France Press (AFP), the diversion of humanitarian aid "begins in the Algerian port of Oran, where the sorting between 'what should arrive and what can be diverted' takes place."

The OLAF report has revealed that the Polisario Front overestimates the number of Sahrawi refugees residing in the camps to facilitate aid embezzlement. "One of the reasons that made these diversions possible is the overestimation of the number of refugees and therefore aid provided," the report states.

The European Union has been sending humanitarian aid to the camps since 1975 based on Algerian estimates of a population of 150,000 especially that Algeria and the Polisario Front have always declined UN requests to conduct a census in the camps. In 2005, however, OLAF unilaterally reduced the estimates provided by the Algerian authorities to 90,000.

In a helpless attempt to gain support amidst the aid embezzlement scandal, the Polisario Front accused the Moroccan authorities of being responsible for the release of the OLAF report.

The Front's representative to the European Institutions, Mohamed Sidati, said that the "OLAF report was put forward by the "lobbies" of Morocco in order to blackmail the Sahrawis and pressure them," adding that he does not understand why the auditing and control of humanitarian aid sent to the Sahrawi refugees in the Tindouf camps is taking place "now".

The OLAF investigation has found that the refugees receive a good quality food, such as Canadian wheat, but it “is being replaced by a lower quality equivalent and then being sold,” and that “poultry products funded by international aid are not given to refugees. They are sold instead."

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Rabat - The European Union's aid to populations in the Polisario-controlled Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria) is "massively defrauded" by the Polisario leaders and Algeria, writes Spanish paper "El Mundo," citing a report by the EU's anti-fraud office (OLAF).

Embezzlement was revealed by the EU's office in a 250-page report, which shows how the humanitarian aid extended by the EU, between 2003 and 2007, ended in markets in Algeria, Mauritania and Mali, the paper notes on its website.

The story, signed by Ignacio Cembrero, points that the EU's office started investigating in 2003 after one of its experts who was travelling to Mali found dairy products, bearing the label of the European commission's humanitarian aid agency, being sold in Malian markets.

For OLAF, fraud is made possible by the overestimation of the Tindouf camps, says the paper which also recalls that the UNHCR does not have an updated census of this populations because of the "Polisario refusal for 39 years to allow a census".

Since 1975, the EU has been extending financial aid to the Camps populations on the basis of Algerian estimations of 155,000 persons, notes the Spanish mass-circulation daily, which also deplores the refusal of Polisario representative in Europe to take phone calls from El Mundo.

The OLAF report, conducted in 2007 and disclosed recently, slams Algeria and the Polsario for embezzling humanitarian aid for decades to the detriment of the Saharawis living in the Tindouf camps.

The report notes that systematic embezzlement starts in the Algerian port of Oran where a large part of humanitarian aid is diverted away from the intended beneficiaries in the camps.

Among the factors that facilitate such embezzlement is the overestimation of the numbers of the refugees and consequently the aid, the OLAF explained in the report.

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Rabat - Saad Alami, Morocco's ambassador to Egypt and a member of the Istiqlal Party, said that the eastern regions of Bechar and Tindouf belong to Morocco.

In an interview with local newspaper (Echorouk), Alami said that documents and international references attest to the sovereignty of Morocco over these territories, adding that before their annexation to Algeria by France, the territories were the scene of armed clashes between Sahrawi tribes, including Rguibates and Ait Oussa.

Alami also said that King Hassan II signed an agreement with the head of the Algerian provisional government in 1961 for a settlement of the issue of the route border by the end of colonization. "Both parties had agreed to the establishment of a joint commission to conduct the study and solution of this problem in a spirit of brotherhood and Maghreb unity," as stated by an Agence France Press (AFP) news release issued at the time.

The Algerian ambassador to Egypt Nadir Al Aabaoui quickly responded to the comments made by the Moroccan diplomat, saying in an update made to the Egyptian newspaper that his country had recovered "its sovereignty over the entire territory thanks to the enormous sacrifices, blood and baroud (Gunpowder)."

The Algerian diplomat added that Morocco recognized the borders of his country inherited from France in a document that former foreign minister Abdellatif Filali had given to his Algerian counterpart Booalam Bessayah on May 4th, 1989.

The Moroccan Parliament does not recognize the border delineation between the two neighboring countries.

Saad Alami is not the first member of the Istiqlal Party to call for the reclaiming of the eastern regions of Tindouf and Bechar.

Hamid Chabat, the Secretary General of the Istiqlal Party once told a rally of his party sympathizers that the Moroccan lands occupied by Algeria must be reclaimed, adding that "restoring Moroccan lands must be every Moroccan's concern."

In an appearance on 2M TV, he said that “The Istiqlal Party since the Aix-Les-Bains negotiations until now, has been aware of the task to regain Moroccan borders, especially the southern provinces: the Moroccan Sahara, Tindouf region, Colomb-Beshar, Kenadsa, Ceuta and Melilla, and Perejil Island.

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Rabat   -  The National Water Plan (PNE) will cost 220 billion dirhams, 41% of which will be geared towards managing demand, Minister delegate for water Charafat Afilal said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a new session of MAP Forum, Afilal said that 9% of the total cost will be allocated to preventing floods, noting that 400 sites are threatened by floods in Morocco.

She added that 7% of total cost will be used for water desalination purposes which represents an alternative source of water in Morocco’s National Water Plan.

The financial resources to implement the plan will be collected from public and private sources, she said.

Afilal was the guest of a new MAP Forum session focusing on the national water plan and Morocco’s water security.

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Rabat - Morocco has decided the immediate recall of its ambassador in Abuja for consultation, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

"Contrary to the allegations made by Nigerian authorities to the ambassador of HM the King in Abuja and local media, the Kingdom of Morocco confirms, in the clearest and strongest terms, that there has never been a phone conversation between HM King Mohammed VI and the President of this country," the ministry pointed out in a statement.

"HM the King has actually declined the request of the Nigerian government because it is part of the internal electioneering and this country's fundamentally hostile positions with regard to the territorial integrity of the Kingdom," the statement said.

"The Kingdom of Morocco expresses its astonishment and denunciation to these unethical practices that are contrary to the spirit of responsibility that must prevail in relations between States," the ministry added.

"Accordingly, the Kingdom of Morocco has decided the immediate recall of the ambassador of HM the King in Abuja for consultation", the statement concluded.

MWN With MAP

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Rabat - Morocco denies the allegations spread by the Nigerian authorities that a phone call was held between King Mohammed VI and Nigerian president Jonathan Goodluck.

Morocco is surprised at the incredible twist given by Nigeria to an alleged phone conversation that never took place between King Mohammed VI and Nigerian President, the King's Office said Tuesday.

"The King's Office categorically denies the false allegations made by Nigerian authorities about an alleged phone conversation between the Sovereign and Nigerian President," the King's Office said in a statement.

Last Friday, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a communique in which it stressed that “the request by Nigerian authorities for a phone conversation between HM King Mohammed VI and Nigerian President was refused by the Monarch who deemed it inappropriate on grounds of the upcoming elections in Nigeria.”

The Sovereign refused to accept the request which he deemed “inappropriate” on grounds that it is linked to the important elections in Nigeria and also because of Nigeria’s positions regarding the sacred national, Arab and Islamic causes, the Ministry said in a statement.

Nigeria is one of the staunch allies of Algeria, South Africa and Venezuela in defending the Polisario with the regards to the question of Western Sahara. Nigeria, which is a non-permanent member of the Security Council, has been lobbying the United Nations and calling for the establishment of human rights monitoring mechanism in the territory.

Africa’s most populous nation is also one of the few countries that recognize the self-proclaimed “Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

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Rabat - A new group of young activists emerged in the Tindouf camps opposing the Polisario leadership.

Under the name "Kifaya” (enough) Youth Movement, the young activists have been motivated by the desire to fight against “the corrupt leadership of the Polisario” and uncover “its various forms of trafficking and to denounce the front violations of human rights.” Although the movement is new, its members are very active.

According to Yabiladi, its members openly expressed support for the Moroccan autonomy proposal for the Western Sahara, introduced by the kingdom in 2007.

The same source added that the supporters of the new movement have been distributing leaflets in parts of the camps with the Moroccan flag on the header; an action denouncing abuses by friends of Mohamed Abdelaziz, the head of the Polisario, including the embezzlement humanitarian aid. Activists also hoisted Moroccan flags on the tops of some houses.

In a series of videos posted on YouTube, the Saharawi revolutionary movement “Shabab Attaghier,” (Youth for Change) raised their voices against the leadership of Polisario, called on Saharawis to “break the gag of silence imposed on them by the Polisario leadership” and called on the international community to find an urgent solution to their unending suffering inside the camps.

In a recent video posted on YouTube in January, three members of the Saharawi revolutionary movement revealed the movement’s determination to overthrow the current corrupt Sahrawi leadership in 2015 and release Sahrawi captives kept against their will in Tindouf Camps.

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Rabat - Many European clubs are reportedly keen to sign Morocco international Omar El Kaddouri who plays as a midfielder for the Italian side of Torino on loan from Napoli.

In an interview with Italy's Tuttosport, the player's agent Mino Raiola and the agent of many other famous players said that clubs like Aton Villa, Tottenham, Sevilla and Marseille are interested in securing the services of the Moroccan footballer.

According to media reports, the price tag of the 24-year-old is expected to increase significantly from the current 4 million Euros initially estimated by specialists. In 22 games in Italy's Serie A this season, the Moroccan is already considered a very important player in the squad of Giampiero Ventura, FC Torino's manager.

The Belgian Moroccan played for the Belgium U21. He made his debut with the Moroccan national team on August 14, 2013 in a friendly against Burkina Faso. He scored his first goal for the Atlas Lions on May 23, 2014 in the 4-0 win over Mozambique.

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Rabat - Morocco's total defense expenditure during the four coming years is expected to be US $22.2billion, says a new study conducted by Strategic Defence Intelligence, a business intelligence platform that provides updated intelligence on the latest developments in the defence industry.

According to the study, the Moroccan defense's expenditure during the period ranging from 2015 to 2019 will target key areas of investment mainly aircraft MRO, submarine, naval vessels, and surveillance equipment, adding that the average share of capital expenditure is expected to be 32.8% over the forecast period, compared to an average share of 33.6% during 2010-2014.

The study has also revealed that Moroccan defense expenditure recorded a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 4.59% between 2010 and 2014, and values US$3.8 billion in 2014. It added that the kingdom will allocate US $2.6 billion over the forecast period for homeland security. This would include strengthening the country's capabilities in the fight against drugs and human trafficking networks as well as confronting the threats of cyber criminality.

Last month, the recent ranking by the Global Firepower Index ranked the Moroccan army among the strongest armies in the Arab region. The index indicated that Morocco uses a mix of old and new equipment, while having several hundred thousand active and reserve personnel on call.

Morocco has 1,215 tanks, 2,348 Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs), 448 self-propelled Guns (SPGs), 192 Towed-Artillery and 72 Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems (MLRSs). The Kingdom also has 195,800 active frontline personnel and 150,000 active reserve personnel, the report added.

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Ras Ajdir (Libyan-Tunisian border) - More than 5,730 Moroccan nationals have fled the ongoing violence in Libya until March 5, thanks to the voluntary evacuation operation led by Moroccan authorities.

According to data collected by MAP at the Tunisian border crossing of Ras Ajdir, the main border crossing between Tunisia and Libya, the monitoring unit has delivered 950 passes to Moroccan citizens who do not have passports or children of Moroccan nationals married to Libyans and registered on the Moroccan civil status.

The cell also issued 740 "engagement acts" for Moroccan citizens blocked at this border crossing to allow them pass and continue their journey to the Tunisian Carthage airport and then to Casablanca.

For the voluntary evacuation operation especially from Benghazi, plagued by violent clashes, the cell said a registration operation of the people wishing voluntarily to leave Libya was organized in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the ministry in charge of Moroccans living abroad and migration.

An agreement was also signed with a travel agency in Benghazi for the transportation of Moroccan nationals from Tobruk airport (east) to Carthage airport, then Casablanca International Airport.

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Rabat - Reuters photographer Youssef Boudlal from Morocco has received the Award for the best photograph in 2014 in New York, USA.

Boudlal, a Oujda-born photographer who works for the Paris office of Reuters and also covers fashion shows around the world, has been awarded the best photograph in 2014 Award for a picture he took in northern Iraq of a blonde little girl from the Yazidi minority who was part of a larger group of Yazidis trying to escape the threat of the so-called Islamic State.

"I was drawn to her wild beauty in this terrible situation," Boudlal commented on the picture. The arresting image was widely shared on social media platforms and also shed light on the sufferings of the Yazidi minority in the town of Sinjar who were poised between converting to Islam or face death.

Boudlal was handed the best photograph award by the director of the New York office of Reuters.

Photo Credit: Youssef Boudlal/Reuters

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Rabat - Morocco's first fully "Halal" bank is set to open its doors in September.

According to the Moroccan Association of the Professionals of Participatory Finance (AMFP), the operation will take effect as soon as the central bank has given its approval.

"Before September or October, the first bank compliant with Sharia will be launched," said Said Amaghdir, AMFP director. "Morocco's financing needs are enormous, particularly in the financing of projects and the stability we have here is in favor of the kingdom."

In January, the Moroccan government adopted a bill regulating Sharia compliant banking products and allows foreign Islamic banks to operate in the Moroccan banking sector. Abdellatif Jouahiri, governor of Morocco's central bank said that Bank Al-Maghrib received requests from foreign entities to invest in the Moroccan Islamic banking sector, adding that these requests are being reviewed before starting any potential negotiations with concerned stakeholders.

AMFP estimates that the investments in Islamic finance will reach $7 billion in 2018. Mohamed El Kettani, CEO of the Attijariwafa Bank Group whose Islamic bank subsidiary, Dar Assafaa is set to become the first financial institution fully compliant with the principles of the Islamic Sharia (law) in Morocco, said that Islamic finance can represent 10 percent of the banking market in 10 years. "We are already leaders of the market and we want to remain the same under the new law."

Islamic banks differ from normal banks in the concept of "interest". In conventional banking, the relation between the bank and the client is that of creditor and debtor, whereas in Islamic banking the relation is that of partners, investors and trader, buyer and seller.

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