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Since 2008, Switzerland has been the sixth most important
investor in Morocco. These investments are mainly in the
pharmaceutical, farm-produce and cement industries, as well
as in the service sector.
Beyond the economic and political relationship that Morocco
has with Switzerland, the emphasis today is on sustainable
development. It is with this purpose that the FSMD - Fondation
Suisse Maroc pour le Development Durable - was founded in
2004. The Foundation works, therefore, for the creation
of partnerships, the development of local development strategies
and the promotion of good governance with the idea of contributing
to poverty reduction and helping the economic development
of the country.
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Dominique DROUET
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As President of the Board of Holcim Maroc, I felt it was important
to associate the activities of the FSMD to those of Holcim Morocco,
given that we share the same commitments in regards to sustainable
development, as well as, the same links between Switzerland and
Morocco.
Holcim Maroc is the branch of an international group recognized
for the fourth year in a row by the Dow Jones as the "industrial
leader" in terms of sustainable development. It is therefore
resolutely committed to a sustainable development approach in
Morocco. Holcim Maroc's objective is to become a main actor of
sustainable development in Morocco and has hence started some
concrete actions in various sectors.
In the alternative energy sector Holcim Maroc created "Ecoval",
the first platform ever in the country for the treatment and valorization
of waste. This unit, which was established south of Casablanca,
offers companies and local collectivities a valorization of waste
that reconciles protection of the environment and cost control.
In terms of health and workplace security, in 2005, Holcim established
an effective health and security policy in the workplace that
illustrates to what extent the respect of the human being is at
the center of our concerns and activities. Thanks to all the efforts
put into this objective, in terms of raising awareness and education,
we have been able to reduce the number of work-related accidents:
these have decreased from 8, 7 in 2005 to 1, 9 in 2008.
In terms of the preservation of natural resources, Holcim Maroc
launched an action for the preservation of the Moroccan coast-line.
As a matter of fact, by producing grinded washed sand, Holcim
Maroc has offered the market an ecological alternative to the
consumption of sand from the dunes. At its quarry in Benslimane,
Holcim produces grinded washed sand that respects the quality
norms for concrete sand whose quality is far superior to that
of sea sand.
In regards to education, for the past six years Holcim Maroc
has been distributing at the beginning of each school year, satchels
filled with all the necessary school supplies for the children
who live far away from the schools and that are located near the
production areas, in order to encourage education and school attendance.
Holcim Maroc has also contributed to the improvement of schooling
conditions for the children whose families work in the vicinity
of the production sites by financing the upgrading and renovation
of two to three schools per year in pursuance of a convention
signed with the Ministries of the Environment and Education.
Holcim Maroc was also involved in the construction of school
cafeterias and sanitary units in the school communes of Moulay
Yacoub with a financial participation of 900 000DH for a period
of 3 years, i.e. 2007, 2008 and 2009. This project, which falls
under the frame of the National Initiative for Human Development,
works towards the promotion of schooling for all, mainly for young
girls living in rural areas.
All these initiatives in favor of the protection of the environment,
the preservation of natural resources and the improvement of living
conditions, show to what extent Holcim Maroc and the Foundation
Swiss-Morocco for Sustainable Development share the same concerns
and are working towards a common goal. I am therefore convinced
that the ties that we will be able to build between the Foundation
and Holcim Maroc will bring professionalism as well as concrete
actions and results for the benefit of sustainable development
in Morocco.
Dominique DROUET
Vice-president of the Foundation
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