Communiqué November/December 2010 67, boulevard Massira Al Khadra • Third Floor • Apt. 6 • Casablanca • Morocco Tel (212) 522 25 07 36/37/51 • Fax (212) 522 25 07 30 • amcham@amcham-morocco.com AmCham site: www.amcham-morocco.com • FTA site: www.moroccousafta.com
Jacob Delafon, GE Healthcare and Aydan are the winners of the US-Morocco trade and investment Award 2010. Amcham gala ball took place on Saturday, November 27th at the Sheraton Hotel. The gala ball was organized under the theme “Healthcare for Women” and was attended by AmCham members and their staff as well as several VIPs including Ambassador Samuel Kaplan, Minister Ahmed Reda Chami and Minister Nouzha Skalli. In their introductory remarks, both Amcham President and Minister Nouzha Skalli emphasized the importance of healthcare for Moroccan women so they contribute to the growth and prosperity of their country and family. In his speech, Ambassador Kaplan praised AmCham’s role in boosting trade and investment between Morocco and the USA. He also called for more coordination and collaboration between key players in US-Morocco trade and investment relations.
AmCham Board of Directors and guests including Ambassador Kaplan and his wife, Minister Nouzha Skalli and husband Professor Mohamed Bennis.
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The gala ball was also the occasion to reward Link to Facebook Page: http://on.fb.me/hqy6CQ and acknowledge Moroccan and American companies for their contribution to trade and investment between Link to Twitter Page: http://twitter.com/AmChamMorocco Morocco and the USA. The fourth edition of the AmCham-OCP trade and Investment award supported this year by the Executive Education Center of Al Akhawayn University (EEC) was rewarded to: (Cont’d on page 2)
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Inside this issue... Gala ball & AMATIA Awards
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Gala Ball & AMATIA Awards
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Walkathon - NGO training
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New Members
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AMCHAM NEWS
Jacob Delafon, GE Healthcare and Aydan are the winners of the US-Morocco trade and investment Award 2010. Jacob Delafon won the U.S. Investment Award, winning citations included: - The Company invested DH 269.330.000,00 between 2007 and 2010 to expand its production unit. This expansion helped to double the current production capacity to 1.5 million pieces per year and to launch new products such as shower extra plates and bowls with water and energy savings up to 30%. - Jacob Delafon plant has been classified among the biggest 10 factories in Africa and Europe. - The Company employs 570 people and has created a total of 120 new jobs between 2007 and 2010. - The Company is certified ISO 9000 and ISO 14000. - The Company has audited accounts - The Company supports several charities including SOS Village throughout the country for Darna and Crèche projects. GE Healthcare was awarded the Import Category Award, winning citations included: - The Company invested US$ 3 million in 2008 and US$ 5 million in 2009. - Total Imports equalled DH7.000.000, 00 in 2008 and 7.650.000, 00 in 2009. - The Company is certified ISO 9001v2008 and ISO 14001. - The Company is categorized in the Moroccan Customs. - The Company is committed to ethics and governance and has audited accounts. - The Company has two main CSR programs: health program called “The Woman” and “Global Star” for hygienne and security. - The Company donated mammograms and sonograms, value of DH 8.500.000, 00 between 2007 and 2010 to charities including Lalla Salma and Les Rangs d’honneur. These donations helped the cited associations operate medical missions in rural areas mainly for breast cancer screening (1500 patients since July 2007). Aydan Sarl was awarded a certificate of Merit- Export to the USA, winning citations included: - It’s a small Moroccan company, owned by a textile Engineer who has an extensive experience in sourcing high fashion and apparel. - The Company chose to source apparel from Morocco to export to the USA to seize FTA advantages in terms of duty-free access. - The owner attended two trade shows: the Los Angeles Global-Tex Exhibition and Las Vegas Magic Show and has been Successful in negotiating the first apparel contract with la prairie fashion stores. - The arguments used are: source from Morocco and avoid paying high duty rates of up 32% - use Morocco-USA FTA. - Buyers are impressed with the company’s DVD and leaflets about sourcing from Morocco.
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DCM Judith Chammas handing the U.S. Investment Award to Philip Cros, GM of Jacob Delafon in presence of VP Azzedine Kettani and Managing Director Rabia El Alama.
Ambassador Samuel Kaplan handing the Import Category Award to Mr. Sordo and Kamal Kassis of GE Healthcare in presence of US Consul General Elisabeth Millard.
AmCham President, Kamal Kassis and VP Aziz Bidah handing the certificate of Merit-Export to the USA to Aydan Tor, GM of Aydan Sarl.
AMCHAM NEWS
Walkathon to raise awareness for charitable giving and to benefit the Moroccan NGO BAYTI. AmCham and Citibank sponsored the US Embassy/US Consulate 10 Kilometer-Walkathon organized in favor of BAYTI, a local charity committed to helping disadvantaged children in Morocco: www.bayti.ma. The Walkathon took place on Saturday, December 11, 2010. The principal goal is to raise awareness for charitable giving in all forms, including local or through the Combined Federal Campaign: www.cfctoday.org Several officers from the US Embassy and US Consulate participated at this Walkathon including Ambassador Kaplan and his wife Sylvia. Walkers departed from the US Consul General residence to the end of the corniche and back!.
AmCham and Vital Voices organized a training for Moroccan NGOs on cause-Marketing and Partnerships with the private sector. Over 30 participants representing NGOs throughout Morocco participated at training on cause marketing and partnerships with the private sector. Some of the NGOs that attended the training included: ONADEL contre le cancer du sein, Oujda; Association El Karkour pour le développement humain, Ait Ourir; Association Marocaine de Soutien Psychologique et Social, Rabat; Réseau d’Associations de Taroudant; Association Créations Formations, Fez; Association de développement de la femme, Kalaat Seraghna; Association Oumona pour le développement et la solidarité, Casablanca; Union de l’Action Féminine, Casablanca At the end of the training, NGOs formed a national network called “The Alliance on women health issues” and 5 regional networks for coordination of local activities.
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AMCHAM NEWS
Join us to welcome new AmCham members Crédit Agricole du Maroc (Banking) Mr. Tarik Sijilmassi Fidaroc Grant Thornton (Auditing, financial and strategic consultancy) Mr. Faïçal Mekouar Maroc Expertise (Audit, accounting expertise, financial engineering, tax & legal counsel) Mr. Mohamed Kabbaj Powerex Morocco (Power semi-conductors design and assembly) Mr. Craig Morrow Somako Hotels (Hotel Argana Agadir) Mr. Mohamed Souiri The Boston Consulting Group (Consulting firm) Mr. Sami Chabenne
You can advertise in the AmCham Communiqué ADVERTISING
Use the AmCham Website to promote your Company
RATES
www.amcham-morocco.com
(Non-member display ads: add 40%)
Display your Corporate logos and banners on the newly designed AmCham website at DH 6000 per year for members and DH 10000 for non members. Logos and banners are shown continuously on the homepage of the website.
Quarter Page: DH 2500 Half Page: DH 5000 Business card size: DH 2250 Logo (1 year): DH 6000
Contact AmCham at Tel : 0522 25 07 36/37/51 <amcham@amcham-morocco.com>
Contact AmCham at Tel : 0522 25 07 36/37/51 <amcham@amcham-morocco.com>
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