History

The Kingdom of Morocco is at the westernmost point of the Arab and Muslim world and North Africa, sitting just under the Strait of Gibraltar. Its Moroccan name “Al Mahgrib” means “the land of the setting sun”. Morocco is therefore bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; the country’s interior boasts the rugged Atlas mountain range and the Sahara Desert, forming natural borders with Algeria and Mauritania. The capital city is Rabat – other major cities and ports include Marrakesh, Fes, Casablanca and Tangier

The northernmost Moroccan coastline is just 9 miles by sea away from Spain. Morocco was a French protectorate from 1912 to 1956 at which time Sultan Mohammed became king. In 1961 Hassan II became King and then in 1999 his son, Mohammed, succeeded him to the throne as King Mohammed VI.

King Mohammed VI was educated in the USA and UK. He is in his 40s and has a very forward-looking approach to Morocco. One of the main projects he has developed is Vision 2010 – this is a long-term plan to encourage investment and tourism in Morocco. The Government is spending some €2.2 billion to improve the infrastructure and external travel connections.

Morocco is bidding for membership of the European Union, its main trade partner and has Free Trade Agreements with the European Union (to take effect 2010). A US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement, (approved by the US Senate in 2004, and in force January 2006)  allows for 98% of the two-way trade of consumer and industrial products to be without tariffs.  Morocco has been given the status of non-Nato ally by Washington, which has praised its support for the US-led war on terror. After deadly suicide bombings in Casablanca in 2003, Morocco launched a crackdown on suspected Islamic militants.