Overview July 1999: Morocco

The key contacts in the Information Society in Morocco can be found in the respective ministries, public agencies and public corporations, and in the professional associations.

1.Governmental Ministries

Three ministries and a Secretary of State participate in the promotion and regulation of the initiatives of information technology : Communication, Commerce and Industry, and Economy and Finances. Mr. Larbi AJJOUL, is the Secretary of State in charge of the Postal Office and New Information Technology.

The Secretary of State’s administration is divided into specific services for communication, judicial affairs, Y2K technologies and Information Technology. M. Ahmed TOUMI heads up the administrative research services and M. Hassan LEBBADI directs initiatives in information technology.

NAME	FUNCTION	TELEPHONE	Fax	E-mail
LE MINISTRE
M. Larbi AJJOUL	Minister	(07)70.20.47	(07)20.27.77	l.ajjoul@septi.gov.ma
CABINET
M. Yahya BOUABDALLAOUI	Director	(07)70.01.16	(07)20.27.60	y.bouabdallaoui@septi.gov.ma
Mme Bouchra BOULOUIZ	Communication	(07)70.01.16	(07)20.27.60	b.boulouiz@septi.gov.ma
Mme Zineb CHEFCHAOUNI	Judicial Affairs	(07)70.01.16	(07)20.27.60	z.chefchaouni@septi.gov.ma
Mme Radia LARAKI	Y2K Technologies	(07)26.04.46 (07)26.04.47	(07)20.27.60	r.laraki@septi.gov.ma
Mme Najat ROCHDI	Information Technology	(07)26.04.45	(07)20.27.60	n.rochdi@septi.gov.ma
SERVICES
M. Mimoun AOUJIL	General Secretary	(07)73.33.43	(07)70.56.41	m.aoujil@septi.gov.ma
M. Abderrazzak MAZINI	Judicial Affairs	(01)20.25.45	-	a.mazini@septi.gov.ma
M. Ahmed TOUMI	Research	(07)70.29.40	(07)73.70.79	a.toumi@septi.gov.ma
M. Hassan LEBBADI	Information Technology	-	-	h.lebbadi@septi.gov.ma

2.Public Agencies and Regulatory Commisisons

The National Agency of Telecommunication Regulation is in charge of preparing statutory acts related to the telecommunications sector.

The historical operator, Itissalat Al Magrib, maintains a dominant role in the Information Society both through the previsions related to the general conditions of use of the telecommunication networks in Morocco and services and from the schedule of conditions.

Meda Telecom, a consortium led by the Spanish operator Telefonica, won the adjudication of the second GSM license in July 1999. During the first year of operations, the company's network should reach forty percent of the Moroccan population, and cover 2000 kilometers of the national road system. Within five years, the network will be extended to seventy-five percent of the population and 6000 kilometers of the transport infrastructure.

3. Professional Associations

Created in April 1993, The association of computer users (Association des Utilisateurs de Systèmes Informatiques du Maroc (AUSIM)) represents end-users of large computer systems. It organizes conferences in Maroc and abroad, lobbies for the interests of its members in government and among the major suppliers.

The Moroccan Internet Society (MISOC) is a non-profit local chapter of the Internet Society (ISOC). It is open to members of the public and private sectors interested in the development and the organization of Internet technologies in Morocco.

Created in May 1989, the association of information technology professionals (Association des Professionnels des Technologies de l'Information (APEBI) ) represents the major VARs in Morocco. Initially formed by ten firms, the APEBI today is comprised of more than 69 corporate members, which represent more than 70% of the sector’s turnover.