21/02/2007
The Moroccan government on Tuesday (February 20th) allocated $350m to support and promote the craft industry, part of a 10-year programme dubbed "Vision 2015 for the Moroccan craft industry's development". The programme, which includes special mechanisms to create new Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), is projected to generate 115,000 jobs in the sector and increase exports from $83m to $800m. In 2006, the government launched its Moukawalati national programme to stimulate economic growth through the creation of 30,000 SMEs. The businesses established under Moukawalati are expected to generate 90,000 jobs by 2008. According to official figures, Morocco’s unemployment rate has fallen to 9.7% in 2006, down from 11.1% in 2005. (Le Matin, L'Economiste, MAP)