Update January 2000: Morocco

To complete and update information offered in previous KPCO reports :

• The two major actors for the Information Society in the Prime Minister's office are Mr Adnane MOUDDEN and Mr Nacer HAJJI, both special assistants (chargés de Mission) to the Primer Minister.

• Several university departments and institutes are working with the Minister of Higher Education on Information and Communications Technologies. The Ministry itself is spearheading projects on MARWAN (Morrocan Academic and Research WAN) and distance teaching. The principal actors are Mr Abdelfdel BENNANI, Director of the ENSIAS (l’Ecole nationale des Systèmes d’Information et d’Analyse des Systèmes), and Mr Taib BENNANI, professor at the EMI (l’Ecole Mohammadia des Ingénieurs).

• The Ministry of Professional Training is studying the use of information technology in program promoted by the OFPPT (l’Office de la Formation Professionnelle et la Promotion de l’Emploi OFPPT www.ofppt.org.ma). The Ministry's General Director, Mr Mounir CHRAIBI, is the key contact in this area..

• The Ministry of Public Health has been promoting information technology in the areas of medical informatics and medical imagery. Mr Slimane HAJRA, Director of Information Systems, is responsible for these projects.

• As we have mentioned elsewhere, the national telecommunications agency (l'Agence National de Réglementation des Télécoms ANRT www.anrt.nat.ma) is in charge of proposing and then implementing telecommunications reglementation. This agency is run by Mr Mustapha TERRAB (the General Director). One of his chief assistants Mr Mohammed BENKAMOUN and Mr Mounir Amine ALAOUI, Director of Information Technologies, are the key people here.

• The National Information System project is the responsibility of the the Direction of Statistics (www.statistic.gov.ma) in the Ministry of Economic Previsions and Planning. The Department's director, Mr Taoufiq CHERKAOUI, is an important actor in many national IS programs.

• Mr. Karim BERNOUSSI replaced Mr. Abdeslam AHIZOUNE as the Director of IAM in late November 1999. Mr. BERNOUSSI, a close collaborator of King Mohammed VI, is expected to breath new life into the traditional state agency. Mr. Larbi GUEDIRA and Mohammed LHOR continue to be key actors here.