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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.9.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:26:41 GMT--><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><title>Blog</title><subtitle>Blog</subtitle><id>http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/</id><link rel="alternate" type="application/xhtml+xml" href="http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/"/><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/atom.xml"/><updated>2010-03-07T03:36:42Z</updated><generator uri="http://www.squarespace.com/" version="Squarespace Site Server v5.9.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/)">Squarespace</generator><entry><title>When Groupe Ynna sneezes the Moroccan Economy gets a fever</title><id>http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/3/5/when-groupe-ynna-sneezes-the-moroccan-economy-gets-a-fever.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/3/5/when-groupe-ynna-sneezes-the-moroccan-economy-gets-a-fever.html"/><author><name>Update</name></author><published>2010-03-06T00:53:09Z</published><updated>2010-03-06T00:53:09Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p>By Driss R. Temsamani</p>
<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.drisstemsamani.com/storage/gp_ynna.png?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1267839709077" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>The Moroccan Chaabi family owned conglomerate Ynna Holding who controls large sectors in tourism, plastics and property development among others is delaying key investment projects because of a bleak economic outlook in 2010.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This move from Ynna contradicts the Moroccan Central Bank's reports that reassure investors on the healthy state of the banking system in the country. Overall the Moroccan economy weathered the global crisis with limited impact in 2009.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The banking sector in Morocco has not been affected by the global financial crisis because of its limited exposure to capital markets and securities. Despite lower forecasts, The GDP grew 4.8% in 2009 as a result of a record harvest in agriculture but it is expected to decelerate to 3% in 2010.</p>
<p>So what is the Group Chaabi seeing that the Moroccan Central Bank is not? I think the answer is related to an anemic European economic output and a looming liquidity drought.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We should all stay tuned for <strong>Global Recession 2.0</strong>, <em>Europe Strikes Back!</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><span style="font-style: normal;">Groupe&nbsp;<em>Ynna</em>&nbsp;Holding, Miloud&nbsp;<em>Cha&acirc;bi</em></span></em></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Maroc Telecom to link West Africa via fibre. Will google service be available?</title><id>http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/3/1/maroc-telecom-to-link-west-africa-via-fibre-will-google-serv.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/3/1/maroc-telecom-to-link-west-africa-via-fibre-will-google-serv.html"/><author><name>Update</name></author><published>2010-03-02T04:34:06Z</published><updated>2010-03-02T04:34:06Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p>By Driss R. Temsamani</p>
<p>The fiber backbone to Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital and&nbsp;El Ouyoun in Southern Morocco&nbsp;is 60% complete. As part of this expansion,&nbsp;Maroc Telecom plans to connect it's network to Mauritania, Gabon, Mali, and Burkina Faso. While congratulations are in order for Maroc Telecom on this expansion, my question is will google service be available on this network?</p>
<p>Le moteur de recherche Google marche plus ces derniers jours au Maroc, ainsi que tout les autres services Google, que &ccedil;a soit Google Adsense, Google Analytics, Google Adwords. Un probl&egrave;me de DNS chez Maroc Telecom ou...</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Passeport Biométrique Made in Morocco</title><id>http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/24/passeport-biometrique-made-in-morocco.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/24/passeport-biometrique-made-in-morocco.html"/><author><name>Update</name></author><published>2010-02-24T06:30:31Z</published><updated>2010-02-24T06:30:31Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><span>C&rsquo;est une v&eacute;ritable r&eacute;volution que vient d'initier le minist&egrave;re de l&rsquo;Int&eacute;rieur. La mesure, entr&eacute;e en vigueur depuis deux semaines, est pass&eacute;e inaper&ccedil;ue. Et pourtant, elle traduit un pas important en mati&egrave;re d'engagements pris par le Maroc pour l'e-administration. Mais surtout elle concerne la population enti&egrave;re, car il s'agit des proc&eacute;dures d'obtention d'un des documents les plus demand&eacute;s, le passeport. Beaucoup de candidats ont d&eacute;couvert, surpris, qu'ils devaient pour commencer consulter un site internet. L'Int&eacute;rieur vient en effet de mettre en place un portail d&eacute;di&eacute; aux passeports (<a class="offsite-link-inline" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.passeport.ma/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #800080; font-size: medium;">www.passeport.ma</span></a>) et m&egrave;ne par la m&ecirc;me occasion des formations au profit de ses collaborateurs. Ce portail co&iuml;ncide avec la mise en place du passeport biom&eacute;trique appel&eacute; &agrave; remplacer au fur et &agrave; mesure le document de voyage d&eacute;livr&eacute; jusque-l&agrave; par l&rsquo;Int&eacute;rieur.</span></p>
<p><span>Avant de se pr&eacute;senter &agrave; l&rsquo;arrondissement pour le d&eacute;p&ocirc;t du dossier, les demandeurs sont invit&eacute;s &agrave; remplir les formulaires qu&rsquo;ils doivent imprimer directement du site. Ils peuvent aussi les remplir directement ou choisir de proc&eacute;der manuellement. Cette formalit&eacute; met donc fin au fameux dossier blanc sur lequel il fallait apposer un timbre de 100 dirhams. Reste que le nouveau formulaire vient de cr&eacute;er du &laquo;business&raquo; pour les cybercaf&eacute;s qui le proposent &agrave; 5 dirhams (t&eacute;l&eacute;chargement et aide &agrave; le remplir).</span></p>
<p><span>Mais si le timbre de 100 dirhams dispara&icirc;t, celui de 300 dirhams figurera toujours sur le passeport.</span></p>
<p><span>Une fois le formulaire rempli, il doit &ecirc;tre pr&eacute;sent&eacute; avec les documents n&eacute;cessaires &agrave; l&rsquo;arrondissement concern&eacute;.</span></p>
<p><span>Le dossier complet est par la suite transf&eacute;r&eacute; au minist&egrave;re de l&rsquo;Int&eacute;rieur qui le transmet &agrave; son tour &agrave;&nbsp;<strong>Dar As-Sikkah</strong>. Le passeport biom&eacute;trique &eacute;tant constitu&eacute; d&rsquo;un livret contenant une page de renseignement personnalis&eacute;e, des pages destin&eacute;es aux visas et d&rsquo;un module &eacute;lectronique non apparent renfermant des informations sur le titulaire du passeport. Une fois le document pr&ecirc;t, il est retourn&eacute; &agrave; l&rsquo;arrondissement concern&eacute;.</span></p>
<p><span>Et c&rsquo;est&nbsp;<strong>Barid Al-Maghrib</strong>&nbsp;qui se chargerait par la suite du transfert postal s&eacute;curis&eacute; des documents. En principe, les d&eacute;lais qui lui sont fix&eacute;s ne devraient pas d&eacute;passer 2 &agrave; 3 jours.</span></p>
<p><span>Sur son portail, le minist&egrave;re de l&rsquo;Int&eacute;rieur met &agrave; disposition un ensemble d&rsquo;informations pratiques. A c&ocirc;t&eacute; de la r&eacute;glementation, le site fournit des pr&eacute;cisions sur les conditions de d&eacute;livrance, les proc&eacute;dures selon que le demandeur se trouve au Maroc ou &agrave; l&rsquo;&eacute;tranger ainsi que les normes pour les photographies.</span></p>
<p><span>Il met aussi en place une rubrique pour le suivi de la demande. Il suffit ainsi d&rsquo;introduire le num&eacute;ro du dossier ou le nom et le pr&eacute;nom ainsi que la date de naissance pour savoir si le document est pr&ecirc;t ou non.</span></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>DMV enters Morocco</title><id>http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/16/dmv-enters-morocco.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/16/dmv-enters-morocco.html"/><author><name>Update</name></author><published>2010-02-17T03:13:12Z</published><updated>2010-02-17T03:13:12Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p>Perth-based DMV International Ltd. entered an agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco to acquire a 75% working interest and operatorship in the Tarfaya offshore block in the Atlantic Ocean near the Canary Islands. The area comprises eight contiguous exploration permits covering in excess of 15,000 sq km and lying 600 km southwest of Morocco&rsquo;s capital Rabat. Water depths are up to 800 m. Previous exploration defined several targets with cumulative potential to hold a billion barrels of oil. Under the deal DMV will spend $1 million on exploration during the next 30 months. Office Nationales des Hydrocarbures et des Mines will retain 25% carried interest through the exploration stage. It can then convert to a 25% working interest in any production that results.&nbsp;</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Morocco needs to push more innovation</title><id>http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/16/morocco-needs-to-push-more-innovation.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/16/morocco-needs-to-push-more-innovation.html"/><author><name>Update</name></author><published>2010-02-17T03:11:05Z</published><updated>2010-02-17T03:11:05Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p>Google says Middle East innovation is in bad shape ITP.net)&nbsp;only a total of 3,224 patents filed from the MENA region in the last thirteen years, with Jordan leading the pack with more than 150, followed by Saudi Arabia and then Morocco.</p>
<div><span style="font-family: Consolas, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Obama proposes $9 million in U.S. military assistance for Morocco in 2011</title><id>http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/16/obama-proposes-9-million-in-us-military-assistance-for-moroc.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/16/obama-proposes-9-million-in-us-military-assistance-for-moroc.html"/><author><name>Update</name></author><published>2010-02-17T03:07:33Z</published><updated>2010-02-17T03:07:33Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p>The Obama administration has submitted a proposed budget for fiscal 2011 that included military assistance increases for Bahrain, Libya, Morocco, Oman and Yemen. Morocco would receive a nearly three-fold aid increase from 2009. The North African kingdom would receive $9 million in U.S. military assistance in fiscal 2011, up from $3.6 million in 2009.</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>2M Taps Riedel Intercom System</title><id>http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/8/2m-taps-riedel-intercom-system.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/8/2m-taps-riedel-intercom-system.html"/><author><name>Update</name></author><published>2010-02-09T00:04:27Z</published><updated>2010-02-09T00:04:27Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p>The Moroccan public broadcast network 2M has installed a comprehensive Riedel Artist digital matrix intercom system. The new system integrates 16 regional 2M broadcast studios via IP into the communications infrastructure.</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Light Rail Priority System in Morocco</title><id>http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/8/light-rail-priority-system-in-morocco.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/8/light-rail-priority-system-in-morocco.html"/><author><name>Update</name></author><published>2010-02-09T00:03:45Z</published><updated>2010-02-09T00:03:45Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p>Telvent, the IT company for a sustainable and secure world, announced today that the Company will implement its Telvent SmartMobility(TM) Light Rail solution in the new light rail system that will connect the Moroccan cities of Rabat and Sale. The new light rail system, comprising a total of 32 stations along its 18 kilometer extension, is scheduled to begin operating by 2011. The contract is valued at 2.3 million euros.</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Renewable energy</title><id>http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/8/renewable-energy.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/8/renewable-energy.html"/><author><name>Update</name></author><published>2010-02-09T00:02:46Z</published><updated>2010-02-09T00:02:46Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p>Early in the week it was announced that global wind power increased 31% in 2009.&nbsp; Although this growth was spurred by the European Union, United States and China, it was not limited to the industrial giants.&nbsp; Turkey, Chile, and Morocco each increased their capacity by at least 30%.</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Scientists unite to combat water scarcity</title><id>http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/8/scientists-unite-to-combat-water-scarcity.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.drisstemsamani.com/blog/2010/2/8/scientists-unite-to-combat-water-scarcity.html"/><author><name>Update</name></author><published>2010-02-09T00:02:05Z</published><updated>2010-02-09T00:02:05Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p>In Morocco, for example, the early planting with supplemental irrigation has been shown to double wheat yields and water productivity and to help the wheat crop escape late-season drought and heat stress. "In addition to increasing yields, supplemental irrigation provides a buffer against drought during the growing season," added Dr. Oweis. "Combine this with water harvesting, and you have a winning solution."</p>
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