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Saturday 30 October 2010

MOROCCO LAUNCHES TWO-YEAR ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE

Posted on 18:56 by google

Morocco unveiled a two-year plan on Friday aimed at fighting corruption, saying graft destroys 2 percent of gross domestic product and saps its "cultural values".
Among 43 new measures are asset declarations for top state officials, government protection of anti-graft whistle-blowers, anti-graft classes in schools and channels for the public to report graft and extortion by government officials.
The government agrees with opposition critics that graft squeezes foreign investment and distorts the free market, which Morocco badly needs to spur growth and tackle poverty.
"With this plan to prevent corruption and fight it, we enter a new stage of determination to achieve results in implementing this programme," Public Sector Modernisation Minister Mohamed Saad El Alami told a news conference.
"It is difficult to gauge corruption's cost as it is secret, but estimates put the loss to Morocco's economy from this scourge at about 2 percent of the GDP," said Alami. "Corruption saps our cultural and social values. It undermines the foundations and roots of our society." Alami said the plan will start in earnest in early 2011 and last into the following year.
Morocco was ranked 89th out of 180 countries last year on an index of corruption compiled by anti-graft watchdog Transparency International. The watchdog reacted with scepticism to Friday's announcement.
"They did not ask for ideas and views from business and civic groups. We have heard this talk before," said Rachid Meknassi, head of Transparency International's local chapter.
The European Union, Morocco's main trading partner, has praised Morocco's reforms to improve infrastructure, develop renewable energy production and boost agriculture, tourism and manufacturing in the past 10 years. But it says deep-rooted corruption throttles foreign investment interest.

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