
Maroc Telecom appoints former finance minister as chair
RABAT : The supervisory board of Maroc Telecom, Morocco's leading telecoms operator, appointed on Tuesday former finance minister Mohamed Benchaaboun as chair of the management board, replacing long-serving Abdeslam Ahizoune.
Ahizoune led the company for 27 years as it expanded its operations in Africa with subsidiaries in Benin, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Togo.
The appointment came after the company was ordered to pay a fine of $630 million to its competitor Wana Corporate, better known by its brand name Inwi, for unfair competition practices.
The fine exceeds Maroc Telecom's 2023 profit of 6.1 billion dirhams.
Maroc Telecom, which is listed on the Casablanca stock exchange and on Euronext Paris, is 53 percent controlled by the UAE's Etisalat while the Moroccan state holds a 22 percent stake.

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Sultan Sidi Mohammed bin Abdullah initiated the friendship in the 18th century when Morocco became the first country to recognize the newly independent United States by announcing that all US-flagged vessels could freely enter Moroccan ports. Commercial and diplomatic relations between the two countries commenced in 1786 with the signing of the Moroccan-American Treaty of Peace and Friendship. The strong relationship that ensued led to the establishment of a US diplomatic mission, which was housed within the stunning Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies for nearly 150 years. Notably, this was the first American government property in another country. The strength of this bilateral relationship was evident throughout the 20th century. During the Second World War, Morocco became a key location for Operation Torch and the Casablanca Conference, which were part of the Allied efforts to prevent the spread of Axis influence in North Africa. 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Building on this strong foundation, the bilateral relationship continued to evolve in the late 20th century with a focus on diplomatic and counterterrorism cooperation. This period was marked by several notable, high-level visits such as King Mohammed V's meeting in Washington with President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1957, and Vice President Richard Nixon's visit to Morocco the same year. The next monarch of Morocco, King Hassan II, visited six American presidents during his reign. Morocco became a natural partner for peace and prosperity for the US, given the country's position as a gateway to Africa and the Middle East, its proximity to Europe, and its domestic stability. In recognition of Morocco's commitment to regional stability and security, in 2004 the US designated the country a major non-NATO ally. 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Morocco has long been a favored investment destination for the US, which accounts for more than 30 percent of all foreign investment in the country, worth more than $750 million. Nearly 120 American companies operate in Morocco, with manufacturing, real estate, telecommunications, tourism and energy some of the key areas of interest for investment. There has also been substantial American investment in the automotive and vehicles industry in the country, such as an expansion by the Lear Corporation. Aerospace majors such as Boeing have also made significant inroads in the Moroccan market. All of this clearly indicates that Morocco's strong investment climate provides opportunities for American companies. As an acknowledgment of Western Sahara's geostrategic location and its potential for opening up trade with Africa, the US is keen to invest in Dakhla and the wider region. In 2022, Danforth Investors, Global Special Projects and SEC Newgate US signed two memorandums of understanding with the Council of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region to promote American investment in Dakhla. With continual expansion in several areas, the relationship between the US and Morocco remains robust, more than two centuries after its genesis. It will continue to grow, thanks to new programs such as King Mohammed VI's Atlantic Initiative, which aims to provide landlocked Sahel countries with access to the Atlantic Ocean through Moroccan infrastructure. American investment will provide significant support for the execution of this vision. There is also strong potential for collaboration in emerging industries such as renewable and green energy, digital infrastructure and space technology. When Trump was elected president for the first time, Morocco's central role in regional peace was acknowledged through the Abraham Accords. 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