Moroccan Minister of Trade, Industry, and New Technologies, Abdelkader Amara, Makes the Case for More Business in Morocco

BCIU Hosts the Moroccan Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly; The Coca-Cola Company, Kosmos Energy, and Chevron Corporation Executives Exemplify Investment Success

NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaking at a private dinner hosted by the Business Council of International Understanding (BCIU), His excellency Abdelkader Amara, Moroccan Minister of Trade, Industry, and New Technologies, outlined the country's investment promotion agenda. In his remarks, Minister Amara emphasized Morocco's unique position as a thriving, stable and engaged investment climate, despite numerous challenges and uncertainties plaguing many of its Middle East/North African neighbors.

"Morocco is an attractive country for investors, with established political stability, strong macroeconomic drivers, and world-class infrastructure," said Minister Amara, highlighting the countries fundamentally solid political, social and economic foundations including a young, dynamic workforce, sustained GDP growth, declining unemployment rates and a newly established pro-democratic constitution. The minister also noted ambitious sectoral strategies in areas such as renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture, finance, retail and technology.

"I applaud the commitments Morocco has made to improve the business climate for both local and foreign investors," commented the Honorable Ambassador Samuel Kaplan, Ambassador of the United States to the Kingdom of Morocco. "Sustained progress in this area will be all the more important as Morocco strives to increase economic growth in the coming months, in spite of regional and European economic challenges."

The Moroccan delegation present at the event included numerous industry heads from the Moroccan Government, including Mr. Larbi Belarbi, President, Moroccan Association of Automotive Trade & Industry (AMICA); Mr. Hamid Benbrahim, President, Morocco Aerospace Industries Association (GIMAS); and Mr. Adil Chikhi, Director of Development, Morocco Investment Development Agency (AMDI).  The delegation was joined at the table by executives from BCIU's membership and leaders from the Business Community.  Of note, Ahmet Bozer, President Eurasia Africa Group, The Coca-Cola Company and host of the evening, confirmed the company's confidence in the Moroccan economy's ability to produce robust economic growth and reaffirmed its commitment to working with local partners to create more sustainable local communities. These sentiments were similarly echoed by other investors such as Kosmos Energy Senior Vice President Bill Hayes, who praised local partners ONHYM's world-class technical capabilities and rigor. 

His Excellency Rachard Bouhlal, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United States also noted the importance of maintaining a strategic economic dialogue, "The U.S. and Moroccan Governments have a close, dynamic relationship. We are trying to innovate in ways that spawn new business-to-business partnerships and create jobs."

About BCIU
Since its inception in 1955 as a White House initiative under President Eisenhower, the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) has been a neutral, results-oriented partner, facilitating dialogue and alliances between world businesses and political leaders. With members from more than 150 world-leading companies, BCIU provides an ongoing forum for senior business executives to interact with heads of state/government, cabinet ministers and senior government officials. For more information, visit www.bciu.org.

SOURCE Business Council for International Understanding