Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RABAT106
2009-02-04 15:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:  

MOROCCO REQUESTS JOINT COMMITTEE TO ADVANCE

Tags:  TSPL EINV MO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRB #0106/01 0351550
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041550Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9620
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0638
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 4483
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF EDUCATION WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
UNCLAS RABAT 000106 

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR OES/STC, OES/PCI AND NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL EINV MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO REQUESTS JOINT COMMITTEE TO ADVANCE
SCIENCE AND TECH COOPERATION

UNCLAS RABAT 000106

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR OES/STC, OES/PCI AND NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL EINV MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO REQUESTS JOINT COMMITTEE TO ADVANCE
SCIENCE AND TECH COOPERATION


1. (SBU) Summary: This is an Action Request. Please see
Paragraph 7. Government of Morocco (GOM) officials told
EconOff and visiting ESTH Regional Hub Officer on January 26
that Morocco would like to create a Joint Committee of U.S.
and Moroccan officials to determine priority areas for
collaboration under the newly approved U.S.-Morocco Science
and Technology Agreement (S&T Agreement). GOM officials also
proposed several areas for collaboration and requested
Department assistance in identifying and contacting U.S.
institutions. The Mission requests Department guidance in
responding to GOM request to create a Joint Committee. End
summary.

Now That It's Finally Official...
--------------


2. (SBU) Director for Technology Zayed El Majid, and
Direction of Technology lead for bilateral cooperation
Mohamed Benbouida, of the Ministry of National Education,
Higher Education, Training, and Scientific Research (Ministry
of Education) told us during a wide-ranging review of
Moroccan science and technology interests that Morocco would
like to see a Joint Committee established to bring momentum
to the 2006 S&T Agreement. Although taken aback when EconOff
informed them that the GOM had just approved the agreement in
a December 26 Council of Ministers meeting, Majid and
Benbouida both lamented that Moroccans' high expectations of
increased S&T cooperation in the two years since the signing
of the agreement had not come to fruition. They then
presented their wish list of the type of cooperation that the
GOM hopes might flow from the S&T Agreement.


3. (SBU) Morocco's first suggestion would be the
establishment of a Joint Committee to oversee cooperation
under the S&T Agreement, Majid said. Other requests for
assistance include expert guidance and assistance as the
Ministry of Education seeks to restructure Morocco's research
and development (R&D) infrastructure and institutions,
workshops or conferences to promote exchanges between
researchers and the private sector (including U.S.
multinational firms),technical assistance to Moroccan
research laboratories including help meeting international
safety and security standards, and regionally targeted
programs for National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded
projects to boost research capacity in the Middle East/North

Africa (MENA) region.

Moroccan Ideas for Cooperation
--------------


4. (SBU) Econoff and ESTHOff undertook to convey Majid's
suggestion regarding a Joint Committee to the Department, and
pointed out that such a committee could be most effective if
it defined a few target areas for collaboration. Majid
observed that several of the GOM's national research
priorities may also interest U.S. institutions, highlighting
fields that fall under the S&T Agreement priority areas,
including renewable energy, environmental protection and
management, fisheries management, agricultural research, and
commercialization of research. In particular, Majid stated,
Morocco boasts world-class natural resources and
biodiversity, including argan nut trees, cork trees, cedar
forests, and medicinal and aromatic plants. U.S. companies
may be interested in joint R&D for commercialization of
products derived from Morocco's natural resources, he
suggested. However, Morocco has little expertise in
partnership between researchers and the private sector, and
would benefit from sharing of U.S. experience in financing
mechanisms for research, attracting private capital, and
structuring partnerships.


5. (SBU) Abdelouahid Ezzarfi of the Direction of Technology
told EconOff that the Ministry of Education, as part of its
evaluation of Morocco's R&D sector, has benefited from USG
assistance in the form of Financial Services Volunteer Corps
(FSVC) evaluations of Morocco's climate for venture
capital-type investment. The Ministry of Education is
awaiting a report from the FSVC on benchmarks to assist in
guiding policies favorable to R&D commercialization.
However, the Ministry is also seeking input on methodologies
for a broader evaluation of the effectiveness of its national
R&D sector. Ezzarfi asked if the U.S. has any institutions

or organizations with expertise in evaluating R&D strategies,
plans, priorities, and outcomes, noting his interest in
corresponding with any groups with such expertise.


6. (SBU) In a separate meeting, ESTHOff briefed the Charge
on a proposal to establish a Year of Arab-American Science
Partnership (AASP),using the positive but under-developed
relationships and potential in scientific and technological
research to strengthen bilateral ties and promote development
and innovation. Although the GOM recognizes the need to
promote domestic R&D, spending remains relatively low at 0.7
percent of GDP, and Morocco would benefit from research
collaboration and assistance in strengthening scientific
research, and particularly in commercialization of research.
A focused science diplomacy program with societal and
economic benefits would promote the U.S. image and interests
in Morocco, aligning neatly with existing USG and GOM
development goals.

What Next?
--------------


7. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: The Mission requests Department's
guidance in responding to the GOM suggestion that we
establish a Joint Committee. Post recommends that we provide
a positive outline of recommended steps building up to
creation of such a committee, and would welcome further input
and visitors from relevant offices and agencies to flesh out
these ideas. Post also requests assistance from OES/STC
regarding the existence of USG or non-governmental
institutions that have expertise in evaluation of R&D
sectors, and the possibility of facilitating contact between
such organizations and the Moroccan Ministry of Education.
Post also welcomes the proposal for an S&T diplomacy push
like the AASP, and looks forward to more information as this
idea develops further.


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Jackson