Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09CASABLANCA192, CHINA, MOROCCO, AND THE SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09CASABLANCA192.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09CASABLANCA192 2009-10-06 16:45 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Casablanca
VZCZCXYZ2222
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCL #0192/01 2791645
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061645Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL CASABLANCA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8533
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0725
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 3903
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0053
UNCLAS CASABLANCA 000192 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR NEA/MAG 
COMMERCE FOR NATHANIEL MASON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD PGOV CH MO
SUBJECT: CHINA, MOROCCO, AND THE SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA 
 
REF: CASABLANCA 93 
 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: With a controlling stake in some of Africa's 
largest banks and solid 2010 earning projections, China is 
increasingly turning to Morocco's largest banks - Attijariwafa and 
Banque Marocaine du Commerce Exterieur (BMCE) - for its banking 
needs in Francophone Africa.  To secure its influence with Morocco's 
banking institutions, China has implemented a dual approach, which 
entails awarding sizeable nearly interest-free loans to Morocco's 
largest banks and providing them with fiscal incentives to open 
branches in China.  While Morocco's banks have benefited financially 
from its rapprochement with China, some remain uneasy about growing 
Sino-Moroccan relations. End Summary. 
 
 
------------------ 
Just the Beginning 
------------------ 
 
 
2.  (SBU) With a controlling stake in some of Africa's largest banks 
(REF A) and solid 2010 earning projections, China is increasingly 
turning to Morocco's largest banks - Attijariwafa and Banque 
Marocaine du Commerce Exterieur (BMCE) - for its banking needs in 
French-speaking Africa.  Present in more than 20 countries in 
sub-Saharan Africa, Morocco's BMCE and Attijariwafa have become the 
preferred alternative for Chinese firms operating in Africa, said 
Taoufik Joundy, President of the Morocco-China Business Council in 
Casablanca.  (Note: Much of the money pouring in from China is tied 
to exploitation of oil and non-oil commodities such as timber, 
copper, and minerals.  End Note.)  "I don't think it boils down to 
just raw commodities. It is much bigger than that now. This is the 
beginning of a strategic partnership", argues Joundy. 
 
 
3.  (SBU) With more African countries opening their economies to 
foreign investment, many in Morocco's banking community believe 
Africa is a burgeoning economic opportunity.  More so than other 
Moroccan investors, Younes Benjelloun, CEO of BMCE is aggressively 
expanding in the continent, with the end goal of being present in 
most of Africa's 54 countries.  Asked about China's growing 
relationship with Morocco's banking institutions, he commented, "if 
managed well, Morocco can extract a lot from its relationship with 
China". 
 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
China's Approach to Securing the Partnership 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
 
4.  (SBU) To secure its influence with Morocco's largest banks, 
China has developed a dual strategy, which entails awarding large, 
nearly interest-free loans to Morocco's banks and providing them 
with fiscal incentives to open branches in China. First, it has 
awarded several long-term concessional loans to Moroccan banks 
through the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), one of 
the world's largest banks.  Presently, BMCE is securing several 
major lending deals with ICBC, confided BMCE's Corporate Office 
Director, M'fadel El Halaissi. (Please strictly protect this 
sensitive commercial information.) While El Halaissi declined to 
share specific data, he added that the loans were "very sizeable." 
 
 
5.  (SBU) Second, to attract Morocco's largest banks to Beijing, 
China is providing them with fiscal incentives, including a 
corporate tax holiday during the first five years of business and a 
tax rate of 15 percent thereafter.  (Comment: The incentives are 
more than likely a Chinese strategy to increase its access into 
Africa. End Comment.)  BMCE's branch in Beijing is also a tribute to 
the lobbying done by high-level official visitors to Morocco, said 
El Halaissi.  Not to be outdone, a well placed source in 
Attijariwafa told Econoff that Attijariwafa will soon open a branch 
in Shanghai. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
Assessing the Benefits of China's Ties to Morocco 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
 
6.  (SBU) China's relationship with Morocco elicits mixed 
sentiments.  On the one hand, the GOM and Morocco's banking 
institutions have benefited financially from the nascent partnership 
with China in Africa.  On the other hand, economists like Jawad 
Kerdoudi of the International Institute for International Relations 
(IMRI), a Casablanca based think-tank, remain uneasy about China's 
growing relationship with Morocco. He queried: "Is China bringing 
trade and investment that Africa so badly needs, or just meddling 
and exploitation? I really don't know."  "All partnerships, whether 
healthy or not, bring risks," Kerdoudi commented. 
 
 
7.  (SBU) Similarly, BMCE is proceeding with caution.  While its 
relationship with China is strong, it has declined other offers from 
ICBC, including one which entailed buying a significant share of 
BMCE Capital, confided El Halaissi.  BMCE's commitment to Africa is 
long-term and as such the bank has to be careful about the 
implications of its partnerships, he added. 
 
 
8.  (SBU) COMMENT: Despite concerns in some quarters about the 
burgeoning relationship between China and Morocco's banks, the 
Kingdom's involvement with China in Africa is likely to continue to 
expand.  Moroccan bankers say they will be vigilant to ensure that 
they can get a fair deal from the partnership.  If so, in their 
view, both Morocco and China can be winners. 
 
 
MILLARD