Casablanca – The Casablanca Stock Exchange opened in positive territory on Thursday, with its main index, the MASI, gaining 0.2% to 13,411.17 points.
The previous day, the MASI had closed with a gain of 0.17%.
Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse
Jordan joins world in celebrating World Heritage Day
Amman: Jordan joins the countries of the world in celebrating World Heritage Day, which falls on April 18 of each year.
In an effort to raise awareness of the value of the diversity of cultural heritage, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized this day in 1983 after it was selected by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982. And advancing the idea of heritage for all humankind everywhere.
Director General of the Department of Antiquities (DoA) Fadi Balawi told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the Kingdom was among the first Arab nations to nominate and register its archaeological sites for inclusion on the World Heritage List.
“Jordan was successful in adding Qusayr Amra and the ancient city of Petra to the World Heritage List in 1985, during the reign of His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal,” he continued. Then, by registering four more locations, these efforts were carried out under His Majesty King Abdullah II’s rule.” Umm al-R
asas in 2004; Wadi Rum in 2011; Al-Maghtas in 2015; and, lastly, Al-Salt, the City of Tolerance and Urban Hospitality, which was inscribed in 2021, are all listed on the World Heritage List.
“Fifteen archaeological sites were registered on the preliminary list for the purpose of registering them on the World Heritage List, starting from 2001 until 2023, where the sites of Umm Qais, Quwayba, and Qasr al-Mushta were registered,” Balawi went on. “This is part of the Department of Antiquities’ efforts in the field of protecting and developing archaeological sites.” The reserves of Mujib and Azraq, Dana and Umm Al-Jimal, the Jordanian Harra, Tabaqat Fahel, Bashir Palace, Shobak Castle, Prophet Lot’s Cave, Al-Qastal, the archaeological city of Jerash, and the Aqaba Marine Reserve.
Balawi emphasized that as part of an ongoing set of actions in this area, the DoA will keep up its efforts to protect cultural property. These actions include updating and creating legal legislation, creating suitable scientific plans t
o preserve archaeological sites, and assigning qualified human cadres to oversee them.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Morocco, Regional Model for Transformation of Agrifood Systems (FAO DG)
Rabat – Morocco is a leading regional model for the transformation of agrifood systems, said, on Thursday in Rabat, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Dongyu Qu.
Speaking at the opening of the 33rd session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC33), Qu noted that by focusing on modernization and diversification, Morocco had been able to achieve significant progress, including investment in modern irrigation systems, greenhouse cultivation and aquaculture, increased production of fruit and vegetables for domestic and export markets, and modernization of its olive oil production to become one of the world’s leading producers.
In another vein, FAO DG referred to the “extraordinary” potential offered by Africa’s youth, noting that achieving this requires strategic partnerships, greater investment and harnessing the power of digital technologies to boost the efficiency and productivity of Africa’s agricultural sectors.
He added: “It is through the trans
formation of African agri-food systems that we can unlock food security and nutrition, economic, equality, environmental and resilience benefits”.
For his part, Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, highlighted Morocco’s dams experience, pointing out that the Kingdom has drawn up a policy in this regard whose development has been pursued under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
With regard to the water issue, the latest investment announced over a 5-6 year period is in the region of 14 billion dollars, earmarked for drinking water and agriculture and including water desalination, conventional and non-conventional water linked to the dam policy, said Akhannouch.
In the same vein, he underlined Morocco’s “very important” commitment to this resource, which is necessary for agriculture, and for which all means should be mobilized to ensure its financing.
The Head of Government also referred to the two strategies developed by Morocco in the agricultural sector, including the Green Morocco Plan, whi
ch involved restructuring the agricultural field, organizing and grouping players, increasing production and productivity, and putting investment at the center of the equation for the development of the agricultural sector.
Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse