Mideo

The project « Migration and economic development in the Oriental region » started in June 2008 with the arrival of the chief technical advisor. It took less than a month to find an office, hire personnel and to join all conditions to start working.

80 % of the project are financed by the European Union as part of its AENEAS program and 20% are financed by the German government (Federal Ministry of Cooperation and Development). The German technical cooperation (GTZ) has been commissioned to carry out the project for a period of three years (until May 2011).

The MIDEO project is part of the GTZ’s general technical assistance in Morocco . The specific objective of the MIDEO project has been formulated as follows: “The Oriental region has a favorable environment to mobilize the potential of migration”. In this context, since its beginning the project has started various activities which will lead to achieving this specific objective.

MIDEO works in the context of co-development (valorizing remittances and the know-how of migrants for the benefit of their country of origin), yet it is free to attract investments from all over the world to the Oriental region. This mission comprises various aspects that are managed in a way that upon completion of the three year project, the objective will have been reached.

One fundamental part of the work is the establishment of structures with different actors, such as the local institutions who support investors (Chambers of Commerce, Regional Investment Centers, private service providers, the Hassan II Foundation). We also work with our partner institution, the “Agency for the Development of Oriental”, diplomatic representations of the Kingdom of Morocco in Europe, Diaspora organizations in Europe (particularly in Germany), as well as with other donors and bi- and multilateral technical cooperation agencies which are interested in our approach.

The project’s activities are related to six results, which can be summarized as follows:

• Elaboration of a plan of action
• Better services supplied by supporting structures
• Elaboration of an investment guide
• Innovative banking products
• Structured work relations with Diaspora organizations in Europe
• Accessibility of the project’s experiences.