3. COUNTRY:
Formal Name: Kingdom of Morocco (Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah).
Short Form: Morocco.
Term for Citizen(s): Moroccan(s)
Capital: Rabat
Independence: Morocco achieved independence from France on
March 2, 1956
Public Holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1), Independence
Manifesto (January 11), Labor Day (May 1), Throne Day (July 30),
Allegiance of Wadi-Eddahab (August 14), Anniversary of the
King’s and People’s Revolution (August 20), Young People’s Day
(August 21), Anniversary of the Green March (November 6),
Independence Day (November 18), and Muslim holidays, the
dates of which vary from year to year according to the Islamic
calendar.
COUNTRY PROFILE:
MOROCCO
4. GEOGRAPHY
Location: Morocco is located in the northwestern corner of Africa
across the Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain.
Size: Morocco has an area of 446,300 square kilometers, not including
250 square kilometers of coastal waters, which makes it slightly larger
than California. Western Sahara, claimed by Morocco, has an area of
about 266,000 square kilometers.
Land Boundaries: Morocco’s land boundaries measure 2,017.9
kilometers, including a 1,559-kilometer border with Algeria and a 443-
kilometer border with Western Sahara. Morocco also shares a border
with Spain around that nation’s two African enclaves at Ceuta (6.3
kilometers) and Melilla (9.6 kilometers).
Length of Coastline: Morocco’s coastline along the Northern Atlantic
Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea measures 1,835 kilometers.
5. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The history of Morocco spans over 12 centuries, without considering
the Classical antiquity. The territory corresponding to Morocco was
inhabited by Berbers since at least 5000 years ago.
The Alaouite dynasty distinguished itself in the 19th century by
maintaining Moroccan independence while other states in the region
succumbed to European interests. In 1912, after the First Moroccan
Crisis and the Agadir Crisis, the Treaty of Fez was signed, effectively
dividing Morocco into a French and Spanish protectorate. In 1956, after
44 years of occupation Morocco regained independence from France as
the Kingdom of Morocco.
6. CULTURE OF MOROCCO
Morocco is a nation with a rich culture and
civilization.
It has always been a land of cultural exchanges
and encounters given its strategically-located
position between the Mediterranean and Atlantic,
Europe and Africa. Morocco hosted many people
coming from these areas, all of them have had an
impact on the social and cultural structure of the
country.
Cultural Diversity:
The country's long-standing history has
undoubtedly contributed to the emergence of a rich,
authentic and diversified culture that takes several
forms and manifestations, such as literature,
architecture, clothing, handicrafts, traditional music
and folklore and gastronomy.
7. Language:
The Standard Arabic is the official language in
Morocco. However, French is widely used as business
is conducted in French. In the north of Morocco and the
Deep South, Spanish is widespread.
Traditional Clothing:
Morocco's clothing tradition has been a source of great
pride to Morocco's craft industry for centuries.
Beginning with Moroccan carpets and leather products,
Moroccan clothing has quickly gained popularity around
the world.
Gastronomy:
Moroccan cuisine is colorful, sweet spicy, vibrant
and rich. Everything is cooked freshly with a lot of
spices, and it is very healthy. Olive oil is at the base
of many dishes in Moroccan cuisine.
8. ECONOMY: MOROCCO VS. INDIA
MOROCCO INDIA
Currency Moroccan Dihram Rupee
Fiscal Year Calendar year 1 April – 31 March
Trade WTO, CAEU WTO,SAFTA,G-20 and
others
GDP $171 billion (PPP:2012 est.) $1.947trillion(nominal2012
$4.782trillion (PPP: 2012)
GDP Growth 2.9% (2012 est.) 6.5% (2012 est.)
GDP per capita $5,300 $1,591 (nominal:
2012),$3,900(PPP: 2012)
GDP by sector agriculture: 14.7%; industry:
32.8%; services: 52.6%
agriculture: 17%; industry:
18%; services: 65%
9. MOROCCO INDIA
Inflation 1.4% CPI: 10.39%, WPI: 5.96%
(Mar 2013)
Population below poverty
line
15% 29.8%
Labour force by occupation agriculture: 44.6%,industry:
19.8%,services: 35.5%
agriculture: 53%,industry: 1
9%, services: 28%
Unemployment 8.8% (2012 est.) 9.9% (2012 est.)
Household income or
consumption
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 33.2%
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 31.1%
Investment (Gross Fixed) 31.2% of GDP (2012 est.) 30% of GDP (2012 est.)
Budget revenues: $25.16 billion
expenditures: $32.3 billion
(2012 est.)
revenues: $171.5 billion
expenditures: $281 billion
(2012 est.)
10. MOROCCO INDIA
Taxes & other revenues 25.9% of GDP (2012 est.) 8.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
Budget surplus(+) or deficit
(-)
-7.3% of GDP (2012 est.) -5.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
Public debt 71.7% of GDP (2012 est.) 51.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
Central bank discount rate 6.5% 5.5%
Stock of narrow money $70.35 billion (31
December 2012 est.)
$342.3 billion (31 December
2012 est.)
Stock of broad money $107.2 billion $1.451 trillion (31
December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit $104.9 billion (31
December 2012 est.)
$1.402 trillion (31
December 2012 est.)
11. MOROCCO INDIA
Market value of
publicly traded
shares
$60.09 billion (31
December 2011)
$1.015 trillion (31 December 2011)
Agriculture-
products
barley, wheat, citrus
fruits, grapes,
vegetables, olives;
livestock; wine
rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute,
tea, sugarcane, lentils, onions,
potatoes; dairy products, sheep,
goats, poultry; fish
Current account
balance
-$8.508 billion (2012
est.)
-$80.15 billion (2012 est.)
Exports $22.23 billion (2012 est.) $309.1 billion (2012 est.)
Imports $42.49 billion (2012 est.) $500.3 billion (2012 est.)
Reserves of
foreign exchange
and gold
$17.75 billion (31
December 2012 est.)
$287.2 billion (31 December 2012
est.)
Debt external $29.42 billion (31
December 2012 est.)
$299.2 billion (31 December 2012
est.)
Exchange rate Moroccan dirhams
(MAD) per US dollar-
8.689 (2012 )
Indian rupees (INR) per US dollar-
54.36 (2012 est.)
