WORLD MARITIME DAY IMO GLOBAL ECONOMY MOROCCO LECTURES OCTOBER 27-29 2014

WORLD MARITIME DAY 2014 PARALLEL EVENT

Mövenpick Hotel, Tangier (Kingdom of Morocco)

(27 to 29 October 2014)

"IMO conventions: effective implementation"

PROVISIONAL PROGRAM

The final programme will be published once individuals' participation has been confirmed. To download the provisional program here

MONDAY, 27 OCTOBER:

8 a.m. – 9 a.m.	Welcome and participant registration
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.	Opening ceremony • Welcome and opening statement on behalf of the Kingdom of Morocco • Statement by Mr. Koji Sekimizu, IMO Secretary-General: "The importance and significance of effective implementation of IMO conventions for the sustainable development of the maritime sector" • Passing of the flag of the World Maritime Day 2014 Parallel Event in Morocco by Mr. Koji Sekimizu
10 a.m. – 10.30 a.m.	Opening of the exhibition "Maritime heritage of Morocco: heritage and potentiality" • Coffee break • Press conference
10.30 a.m. – 11.45 a.m.	First panel: The role of the International Maritime Organization in the preparation of international maritime conventions and regulations Moderator: To be appointed Speakers: Mr. Jeffrey Lantz, Chairman, IMO Council: "Realization of IMO objectives through the adoption of international maritime conventions and regulations" Mr. Kofi Mbiah, Chairman, IMO Legal Committee: "The IMO mandate in the process of preparing maritime conventions" Ms. Nancy W. Karigithu, Chairman, IMO Technical Cooperation Committee: "Promotion of the ratification and effective implementation of IMO conventions through the Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme supported by the Country Maritime Profile module: the experience of Africa" Mr. José Maura, Director, IOPC Funds: "Effective implementation of IMO conventions: conventions relating to compensation and liability regimes with reference to the Civil Liability Convention and the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage" Discussion
11.45 a.m. – 1 p.m.	Second panel: The three main groups of IMO conventions: safety, environment and liability and compensation Moderator: To be appointed Speakers: Mr. Andrew Winbow, Director, Maritime Safety Division, IMO: "Safety of passenger transport vessels" Mr. Frederick Kenney, Director, Legal Affairs and External Relations Division, IMO: "Ballast Water Management Convention and Ship Recycling Convention" Mr. Stuart Hetherington, President, Comité Maritime International: "Liability and compensation, HNS Protocol and Wreck Removal Convention" Mr. Miguel Palomares, former Director, Marine Environment Division, IMO: "Cape Town Agreement on the safety of fishing vessels" Discussion
1 p.m. – 2.30 p.m.	Lunch
2.30 p.m. – 4.15 p.m.	Third panel: "Effective implementation of IMO conventions: national experiences" Moderator: To be appointed Speakers: To be confirmed The experience of certain countries The experience of Morocco Discussion
4.15 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.	Ceremony marking the passing of the flag of the World Maritime Day 2015 Parallel Event by Morocco to Japan
4.30 p.m. – 5 p.m.	Reading and adoption of the Tangier Statement: "Effective implementation of IMO conventions, foundation for sustainable development of the maritime sector" Coffee break End of first day
8 p.m.	Gala dinner by invitation

TUESDAY, 28 OCTOBER:

This day is dedicated to presenting maritime Morocco, its heritage, its achievements and especially its new strategies and objectives for an accelerated relaunch of integrated and sustainable development of the Kingdom's maritime sector thanks in particular to mutually beneficial international partnerships and investments. In addition to national public and private speakers, foreign speakers will present national and international best practices and success stories.

9 a.m. – 9.30 p.m.	Welcome coffee
9.30 a.m. – 10.45 a.m.	First panel: The maritime heritage of Morocco and new strategies for its development Moderator: To be appointed Speakers: Ms. Bahija Simou, Director of the Royal Archives: "Morocco and the sea through the royal archives" Ministry of Equipment, Transport and Logistics/Department for Transport: "National strategy for development of the maritime sector: achievements and prospects" Moroccan Agency for Logistics Development (AMDL): "Moroccan logistics strategy" Department of Ports and the Maritime Public Domain (DPDPM): "The port strategy to 2030 and organization of the maritime public domain" Department of the Merchant Marine (DMM): "Strategy to relaunch and promote the national flag" Discussion
10.45 a.m. – 11.15 a.m.	Coffee break
11.15 a.m. – 1.30 p.m.	Second panel: Opportunities for investment and partnerships Moderator: To be appointed Speakers: National Port Agency Tanger Med Port Authority Port Nador West Med General Confederation of Moroccan Business (CGEM) Moroccan Agency for Development and Investment (AMDI) Discussion
1.30 p.m. – 3 p.m.	Lunch
3 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.	Third panel: Development of maritime transport and services at the international level Moderator: To be appointed Speakers: To be confirmed • The experience of certain countries Discussion
4.30 p.m. – 5 p.m.	Coffee break
5 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.	Closing ceremony

WEDNESDAY, 29 OCTOBER:

This day is entirely reserved for visits to the very important infrastructure of the maritime sector developed by Morocco along its coast on the Strait of Gibraltar, from Cape Spartel, whose historic lighthouse is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, to the port of the city of Tangier which is being restructured, Cape Malabata, the Maritime Traffic Surveillance Centre in the Strait of Gibraltar (Tangier Traffic VTS) and the modern port complex of Tanger Méditerranée, one of the largest in Africa and the Euro-Mediterranean region.

World Maritime Day Parallel Event participants are invited to register in advance to participate in these visits, which will take the whole day.

9 a.m	Departure from Mövenpick Hotel • Visit to the port of the city of Tangier and exploration of its restructuring plan and its new functions • Visit to Cape Malabata, the lighthouse and the Scientific Institute of Halieutic Research • Visit to the Maritime Traffic Surveillance Centre in the Strait of Gibraltar • Visit of the Tanger-Med port complex
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.	Lunch at the port of Tanger-Med
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.	Itinerary Tanger-Med–Cape Spartel via Via Meloussa, Gzenaya, Boukhalf and the Caves of Hercules
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.	Visit to the Cape Spartel Lighthouse, the mythical meeting point of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The lighthouse, which towers above the sea to a height of 250 metres, was built by Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abderrahmane at the request of the major maritime powers of the time. It has remained operational since its opening on 15 October 1864.
16 :00-16 :30	coffee break
4.30 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.	Return to the city centre and hotels via Jbel Lekbir
5.30 p.m.	end of visits

VENUE - MOROCCO

Morocco is a country is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. Geographically, Morocco is characterized by a rugged mountainous interior and large portions of desert. It is one of only three countries (with Spain and France) to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. The Arabic name al-Mamlakah al-Maghribiyah (Arabic: المملكة المغربية‎, meaning "The Western Kingdom") and Al-Maghrib (Arabic: المغرب‎, meaning "The West") are commonly used as alternate names.

Morocco has a population of over 33 million and an area of 446,550 km2 (172,410 sq mi). Its political capital is Rabat, although the largest city is Casablanca; other major cities include Marrakesh, Tangier, Tetouan, Salé, Fes, Agadir, Meknes, Oujda, Kenitra, and Nador. A historically prominent regional power, Morocco has a history of independence not shared by its neighbours. Its distinct culture is a blend of Arab, indigenous Berber, Sub-Saharan African, and European influences.

Morocco claims the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara as its Southern Provinces. Morocco annexed the territory in 1975, leading to a guerrilla war with indigenous forces until a cease-fire in 1991. Peace processes have thus far failed to break the political deadlock.

Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. The King of Morocco holds vast executive and legislative powers, especially over the military, foreign policy and religious affairs. Executive power is exercised by the government, while legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the Assembly of Representatives and the Assembly of Councillors. The king can issue decrees called dahirs which have the force of law. He can also dissolve the parliament after consulting the Prime Minister and the president of the Constitutional court.

Morocco's predominant religion is Islam, while the official languages are Berber and Arabic. Moroccan Arabic, referred to as Darija, and French are also widely spoken.

Tangier is a major city in northern Morocco with a population of about 1,850,000 (2014 estimates). It is located on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel. It is the capital of the Tangier-Tetouan Region and of the Tangier-Asilah prefecture of Morocco.

The history of Tangier is very rich, due to the historical presence of many civilizations and cultures starting from before the 5th century BC. Between the period of being a strategic Berber town and then a Phoenician trading center to the independence era around the 1950s, Tangier was a refuge for many cultures. In 1923, Tangier was considered as having international status by foreign colonial powers, and became a destination for many European and American diplomats, spies, writers and businessmen.

The city is currently undergoing rapid development and modernization. Projects include new tourism projects along the bay, a modern business district called Tangier City Center, a new airport terminal and a new football stadium. Tangier's economy is also set to benefit greatly from the new Tanger-Med port.

However, the city suffers from widespread poverty, real-estate corruption, and high rates of crime. This results in sharp contrasts between rich and poor crowded neighborhoods. The latter fueled the 20 February Movement popular uprisings that shook Morocco strongly in 2011.

Tangier's sport team I.R.T. (or Ittihad Riadi de Tanger) is a prominent football club with a large following base. Tangier will be one of the host cities for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament, which shall be played at the new Ibn Batouta Stadium and in other cities across Morocco.

Most of the inhabitants of Tangier speak the Moroccan Arabic dialect, mainly influenced with Spanish. About 25% of the city inhabitants speak Berber in their daily lives. Written Arabic is used in government documentation and on road signs together with French. French is used in universities and large businesses. English and Spanish are well understood in all hotels and tourist areas.

Tangier is Morocco's second most important industrial centre after Casablanca. The industrial sectors are diversified: textile, chemical, mechanical, metallurgical and naval. Currently, the city has four industrial parks of which two have the status of free economic zone (see Tangier Free Zone).

Tangier's economy relies heavily on tourism. Seaside resorts have been increasing with projects funded by foreign investments. Real estate and construction companies have been investing heavily in tourist infrastructures. A bay delimiting the city centre extends for more than 7 kilometres (4 miles). The years 2007 and 2008 were particularly important for the city because of the completion of large construction projects; These include the Tangier-Mediterranean port ("Tanger-Med") and its industrial parks, a 45,000-seat sports stadium, an expanded business district, and a renovated tourist infrastructure.

Agriculture in the area of Tangier is tertiary and mainly cereal.

The infrastructure of this city on the strait of Gibraltar consists of a port that manages flows of goods and travellers (more than one million travellers per annum) and integrates a marina with a fishing port.

Artisanal trade in the old medina (old city) specializes mainly in leather working, handicrafts made from wood and silver, traditional clothing, and shoes of Moroccan origin.

The city has seen a fast pace of rural exodus from other small cities and villages. The population has quadrupled during the last 25 years (1 million inhabitants in 2007 vs. 250,000 in 1982). This phenomenon has resulted in the appearance of peripheral suburban districts, mainly inhabited by poor people, that often lack sufficient infrastructure. The city's postcode is 90 000.

TRANSPORT

A railway line connects the city with Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech in the south and Fès and Oujda in the east. The service is operated by ONCF. The Rabat-Tanger expressway connects Tangier to Fès via Rabat 250 kilometres (155 miles), Settat via Casablanca 330 km (205 mi) and Tanger-Med port. The Ibn Batouta International Airport (formerly known as Tangier-Boukhalef) is located 15 km (9 mi) south-west of the city centre.

The new Tanger-Med Port is managed by the Danish firm A. P. Moller-Maersk Group and will free up the old port for tourist and recreational development.

Tangier's Ibn Batouta International Airport and the rail tunnel will serve as the gateway to the "Moroccan Riviera" the coast between Tangier and Oujda. Traditionally the north coast was an impoverished and underdeveloped region of Morocco but it has some of the best beaches on the Mediterranean and is likely to see rapid development.

The Ibn Batouta International Airport has been being expanded and modernized to accommodate more flights. The biggest airline at the airport is Royal Air Maroc. In addition, a TGV high-speed train system is being built. It will take a few years to complete, and will become the fastest train system in North Africa.

VENUE - MOROCCO

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