According to this annual survey titled Attractiveness Barometer Morocco, unveiled at the Fourth International Conference on Investment held in Skhirat (40km south of Rabat), the satisfaction of foreign investors is progressing, while Morocco tends to attenuate its "low-cost" profile.

    Morocco's overall position in terms of attractiveness in 2006 has gone up a notch, though competitiveness with eastern Europe remains harsh, concluded the survey to which some 203 international decision-makers took part, 55% of whom are not operating in the north African country.

    Of the various economic fields, tourism and leisure is the most attractive, according 48% of the respondents. Infrastructure and telecommunication equipment sectors rank second, but with the most perceptible rise in comparison to last year.

    High-tech and telecoms closes the list, said pollsters, who also affirmed textiles have lost 4 points since last year, with barely 14% of the votes.

    Implantation intentions in Morocco has fallen to stand at 39%, instead of 44% last year because of the “prudence of investors,” the report explains. The country keeps a higher position with regard to this rubric in comparison to several European countries, however.

    By changing from a low-cost profile to a qualitative profile, Morocco will switch competitors also, and will be able to position itself ahead of certain traditional rivals to vie new countries like the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.

    Around a thousand participants and a hundred speakers from around the world are taking part in the fourth International Conference on Investment, which has chosen the topic: “Investment challenges: education, training and employment.”

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