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Doing business & staying in touch

Morocco is an Arabic-speaking (though French is commonly used for foreign negotiations) Muslim country, and as such requires the appropriate cultural sensitivity, particularly when doing business.

Business meetings are formal, and dress should likewise be formal, smart and subdued. Women should take particular care to ensure that their legs are covered below knee level and arms are covered with long sleeves. For men a suit and tie is appropriate but a jacket is not required during hot weather. Always look smart but not ostentatious.

Appointments should be arranged well in advance, and should avoid times of the five daily prayers. Decision-making and negotiations here are deliberate and protracted and quite often halted or interrupted, so exercise patience.

If you are invited to dine, dress formally and remove your shoes if you are entering the home of a host. Do not bring alcohol and remember that traditional Moroccan etiquette dictates that men and women dine at different tables. Before dining, wash your hands in the basin brought to the table and wait for the blessings to be said over the meal. Use your right hand only for eating and drinking and do not use napkins for wiping your hands on.

Office hours: 

Mon-Thurs 0830-1230 and 1500-1830, Fri 0830-1200 and 1500-1830.

Government office hours: Mon-Thurs 0830-1200 and 1430-1830, Fri 0830-1100 and 1500-1830.

Economy: 

The service industry, including a booming tourism sector now worth well over US$2 billion annually, accounts for 60% of the GDP. Remittances from Moroccans living abroad (mostly in Europe) are another major source of revenue. With the recent reductions in public sector employment, unemployment reached the double digits, and in urban areas is estimated as high as 20%. However, unemployment dropped slightly in 2008 to an overall rate of 9.6%, and growth has continued to increase steadily in recent years.

As many as 40% of the working population is still employed in agriculture, growing cereals, vegetables and citrus fruits, and fishing remains another vital field. Industry accounts for around a quarter of GDP, of which the textile and garment industry employs a rapidly growing number of Moroccan women as well as generating export income. Mining also generates revenue for Morocco, which is the world's largest exporter of phosphates. Although Morocco has small oil and gas reserves, it must import the bulk of its needs.

The Moroccan government entered a free trade agreement with the US in 2006 and signed a trade agreement with the EU in 1995 to gradually eliminate tariffs. As of 2005, Morocco became the largest single recipient of aid from the EU. In 2008, the IMF congratulated King Mohammed VI and Morocco on being a shining economic light in the region, making particular mention of its steady and continued economic growth.
Conference facilities, many of them modern, can be found in all of Morocco's major cities, in either purpose built centres, or in large, international hotels. The Palais des Congrès in Marrakech is particularly well set up for large groups. Further information can be obtained from the Moroccan National Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses), or from www.conferencemorocco.com.

GDP: 

US$91.7 billion (2010).

Main exports: 

Clothing and textiles, electrical components, inorganic chemicals, crude minerals, fertilizers, petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables and fish.

Main imports: 

Crude petroleum, gas and electricity, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, transistors and plastics.

Main trading partners: 

France, Spain, UK, Italy and India.

Telephone: 

Privately run téléboutiques can be found throughout the country, with an attendant to provide advice, change and phonecards.

Mobile phone: 

Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good in towns and cities, and across the west of Morocco, but a little more erratic east and further south.

Internet: 

Access is unrestricted and is widely available in business centres, hotels and in Internet cafés. A one monthso prepaid unlimited internet access card for laptops, iPhones and smartphones is available from Maroc Telecom (who also have the best national coverage).

Post: 

Airmail to Europe takes up to one week and can be unreliable.

Post office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1430-1830, Sat 0830-1400.

Media: 

The press is subject to government censorship in Morocco, and although King Mohammed VI eased some restrictions on the press when he came to power, issues such as Western Sahara, the monarchy and corruption remain highly sensitive. The government manages Morocco's two television networks, with state run Radio-Television Moroccain (RTM) operating one network and the state partially owning the other, with some private investment in state-run broadcasters and the official news agency permited. The government owned network also includes ten regional radio channels. Satellite dishes are widely used, giving access to a range of foreign TV stations.

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