2 SOCIO ECONOMIC GEOPOLITICAL MAPPING - What is GIS

Health Systems Profile- Morocco Regional Health Systems Observatory- EMRO
Table 2.3 Major Imports and Exports
Major
Exports:
Major
Imports:
Clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals,
fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits,
vegetables
Crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat,
gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Source: Morocco Country profile: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mo.html
Key economic trends, policies and reforms
Morocco faces most of the challenges typical to developing countries - restraining
government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and
achieving sustainable economic growth. Despite structural adjustment programs
supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fully
convertible for current account transactions. Reforms of the financial sector are being
contemplated.
Droughts depressed the activity in the key agricultural sector and contributed to a
stagnant economy in 2002. However, favorable rainfall in 2003 led to a growth of 6%.
Morocco reported large foreign exchange inflows from the sale of a mobile telephone
license, and partial privatization of the state-owned telecommunications company as well
as the state tobacco company. Formidable long-term challenges include: preparing the
economy for freer trade with the EU and US, improving education, and attracting foreign
investment to boost living standards and job prospects for Morocco's youth.
2.3 Geography and Climate
Morocco is situated on the extreme northwestern corner of Africa and is bordered by
Mauritania and Algeria, towards the south and east respectively. An area of 446,550 sq.
km. includes no less than four separate mountain ranges, in addition to lush river
valleys, beautiful sandy coasts, and wide expanses of desert. The three most prominent
mountain ranges, which run parallel to each other from the southwest to the northeast,
are the Middle Atlas, the High Atlas, and the Anti-Atlas.
The Moroccan coastline, which touches both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Oceans,
offers plenty of great beaches as well as a number of fascinating old coastal cities. In
the southeast, Morocco's mountain ranges yield inexorably to the desolate expanse of
the Sahara. The rivers that flow down this side of the High Atlas support long, narrow,
and lush river valleys that resemble linear oases.
The climate in Morocco is relatively dry, although there is small amount of rainfall
between November and March. Temperature varies considerably by season and locale.
While the southern and southeastern desert regions can reach extremely high
temperatures during the hot summer months, the higher altitudes of the mountains are
cool in summer evenings and freezing in winter.
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