PRESENTED

BY:

Flag:Morocco’s flag consists of a red field

centered by a five-pointed

green star.

EMBLEEM OF

MOROCCO:

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

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.

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.

CULTURE OF MOROCCOMorocco 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.

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.

ECONOMY: MOROCCO VS. INDIAMOROCCO 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%

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.)

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.)

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.)