Apebi official statement: Implementation of a technological hub and commercial on January 29, 07 enters Morocco and Andalusia

The National Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized company organized on January 29, 2006 with Rabat, in partnership with the Ministry for the Economic affairs and General, the Federation of Offshoring and Telecommunication, Information Technologies “APEBI”, Technopark of Casablanca, the Frank Zone of Tangier of the with dimensions Morrocan and the Technological Park of Andalusia, the Association of Information Technologies of Andalusia “ETICOM”, the Government Andalusian, and it programme of Transborder Co-operation as regards Technological Development “CDTEC” of with dimensions Spanish, the ceremony of signature of 3 conventions of partnership between Moroccan organizations and their Spanish counterparts of the area of Andalusia acting infield of information technologies. It is about:

1 - Convention enters Technopark of Casablanca and the Technological Park of Andalusia, having the aim of founding an approach of institutional collaboration between the two parts in particular as regards transfer to know to make, of organization of promotional events, search of funds and comparison between companies of the two entities….

2 it convention enters the Frank Zone of Tangier and the Technological Park of Andalusia, having for object the creation of an extension of the Technological Park of Andalusia within the Frank Zone of Tangier and this sight to make it possible to the private operators TIC Andalous to have a logistic platform of reception in the North of Morocco. And this, from the point of view of the development for the zones offshoring dedicated to the Hispanic market in the North of Morocco.

3 it convention between APEBI and ETICOM, allowing to the private operators TIC to have respective relays in Andalusia and Morocco, via official representations.

This initiative returns within the framework of the agreement of partnership for the realization of program CDTEC, signed in 2004, as well as the installation of the Board of management of this composed program, of with dimensions Spanish, the Province of Malaga, the University of Malaga, the technological Park of Andalusia, and the with dimensions Morrocan of the ANPME, and the service Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tangier, of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce of Tangier and of the CDTI.

Just as it follows upon the organization in March 2006 in Tangier, of a meeting between the Moroccan companies of sector NTI and their counterparts of the technological Park of Andalusia. Meet which was reiterated at the time of a mission `' Business to Business `' organized in Malaga on July 10, 2006.

It is advisable to recall that the programme of Transborder Co-operation as regards Technological Development “CDTEC” aims to develop the co-operation in the technological sector between the North of Morocco and the Province of Malaga and the reinforcement of the technological capacities of the companies and to set up the project of promotion of the transborder technological co-operation as regards technological development CDTEC, between the Area of Malaga and the Northern area of Morocco, aiming at the improvement of the competitiveness of industrial fabric in the two countries by the formation and the qualification of human resources, the creation of a network of transborder co-operation in R & D and the application of the NTI to the companies and the public institutions.

Following the signature of these conventions, relating to the implementation of a technological hub between Morocco and Andalusia, of the meetings of work were held within Technopark of Casablanca, throughout the day of January 30, 2007.

These meetings consisted in finalizing the process of implementation of the agreements signed above, between the two parts:

The Spanish part represented by the Technological Park of Andalusia & Eticom the Moroccan part represented by Technopark of Casablanca and Apebi It was thus defined an action plan over the year 2007, as for the implementation of the following axes of development:

  The 2 parts are appropriate to set up a process of comparison and permanent communication between the companies of 2 banks (Moroccan and Andalusian), via the implementation of reciprocal and permanent transit offices. And this, while communicating on these provisions. It will be also established the identification of the dedicated contacts on each side.
  The 2 parts are appropriate of the organization of meetings of Marocco-Andalusian businesses B to B, in an annual way in alternation between Casablanca and Malaga. The 1st edition will take place in Casablanca at the time of the 3rd Quarter 2007 (at the end of October 2007)
  The 2 parts are appropriate to encourage transborder incubation and to support the eligibility and the respective installation of the companies in the 2 technological parks.
  The 2 parts are appropriate to work on projects of consortia for the installation of joint projects. And this, while mobilizing pools to invest in the R & D and the promotion of the innovation.
  The 2 parts will collaborate together in the finalization of the project of construction of a building for the Marocco-Andalusian co-operation (Project RETSE), installed within the Technological Park of Andalusia.
  The 2 parts are also appropriate to share the studies of technological survey and opportunity and respective market research.

This co-operation, concretized via a direct representation of Apebi and Technopark in Andalusia via the Technological Park of Andalusia and ETICOM, will allow the members of Apebi and companies of Technopark to profit from the services of support of these partners in Andalusia. The approach is quite as similar to the profit of the members of ETICOM and the operators of the Technological Park of Andalusia wishing to initiate projects of partnership in Offshoring and R & D in Morocco.

Thus, if the members of Apebi and the Operators installed in Technopark wish:
  To develop their business connections with Andalusia
  To integrate and take part in the development of Andalusian technological projects.
  To profit from the Andalusian actions of support to the R & D.
  To invest, settle directly in Andalusia…

Then, this co-operation will enable them to profit from the following services in Andalusia:
  Placed at the disposal of the business district of the Technological Park of Andalusia (within the framework of their displacements in Andalusia: interpret - office - conference room - room of conference).
  Provision of directories of Spanish operators TIC, Andalusia and studies.
  Support with the operations of investment and joint-venture
  Comparisons with Andalusian operators TIC.
  Organization of commercial missions in Andalusia.
  Access to the programs of R & D Andalusian.

We think thus that this partnership will make it possible to put in work and in a permanent way true a hub commercial and technological in the sector of the TIC between Andalusia (1st geographical relay in Europe) and Morocco (Hub regional in Africa and Moyen Oirent - Which has been just classified 1st country of Africa in the field of the télécoms and the TIC by the International Union of Télécoms.).

Jamal BENHAMOU
Director