Head of government upbeat over ability of Moroccan expats to overcome effect of global crisis

The head of the government, Abdelilah Benkirane, stressed that the global economic crisis has indeed put Moroccan expatriates in a difficult situation, yet he voiced optimism about the possibility of overcoming the effects of the crisis.

Benkirane, who was speaking Friday in Rabat at a meeting on the occasion of the National Day of the Moroccan community abroad, pointed out that it is possible, through solidarity, to overcome the crisis striking the euro area.

He underlined the need to improve services provided to the Moroccan expatriates and solve the problems they face.

For his part, foreign minister Saad Dine El Otmani recalled the measures taken by his department to improve services provided to Moroccan expatriates, including expanding the network of consulates.

Delegate minister in charge of civil service and administration modernization, Abdeladim El Guerrouj, highlighted the projects designed to bring about radical changes in the relationship between the administration and citizens towards making the administration more efficient and closer to citizens.

During this meeting, a partnership agreement between the ministry of Moroccans residing abroad and the national fund for pensions and insurances, represented by the state-owned Caisse de dépôt et de gestion ( CDG), was signed.

The agreement aims at enabling the Moroccan community abroad to join the pension regime in Morocco, based on an approach tailored to the needs of this community.