Morocco moved into 2008 continuing economic reforms aimed at boosting growth and reducing poverty under a new government. Towards the end of last year Prime Minister Abbas el-Fassi outlined his government’s plans for reform, which were approved by parliament by 155 votes to 93. The launch of the policy package followed September’s election, which resulted in el-Fassi’s appointment, with his Istiqlal Party becoming the largest party in parliament. The policies, however, continue the broad course of the previous government, and el-Fassi has pledged to see through structural reforms in tourism, infrastructure and housing. “We are going to take on other reforms and bring to completion those begun by my predecessor Driss Jettou,” he said. While the reform plans have been broadly welcomed, some issues have not been addressed, most notably boosting regional trade and allowing the dirham to float. In his address to Parliament in October, el-Fassi described the course
