Latest news with #OmarZniber
Morocco World
12-07-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco, UAE Sign Industrial Property Cooperation Agreement
Rabat — Morocco and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expanding their areas of cooperation as both countries signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in industrial property rights. The signing ceremony took place during the 66th General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, which runs until July 17. The Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC) and the UAE's Intellectual Property Sector finalized the agreement, in the presence of Omar Zniber, Morocco's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, and Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy. Through the agreement, both countries aim to develop and strengthen cooperation in the field of industrial property, aiming to support innovation and economic development. During the signing ceremony, both parties reviewed the progress each country has made in industrial property development. They also discussed potential cooperation projects that could benefit both nations' intellectual property sectors. The memorandum represents a significant step forward in bilateral relations between Morocco and the UAE, particularly in areas related to patents, trademarks, and other forms of industrial property protection. The partnership is also part of both countries' efforts to facilitate knowledge sharing and best practices between their intellectual property offices. The agreement comes as both Morocco and the UAE continue to modernize their intellectual property frameworks and strengthen their positions as regional hubs for innovation and business development. Earlier this year, OMPIC announced the expansion of its electronic business creation platform nationwide, aiming to provide a centralized interface for all necessary administrative procedures. The initiative targets key entities such as OMPIC, the Ministry of Justice, the general secretariat of the government, the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI) as well as the National Security Fund (CNSS).
Maroc
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Maroc
HRC: Morocco Calls for Placing Human Rights at Heart of Anti-corruption Efforts
Morocco's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Omar Zniber, called on Friday for placing human rights at the heart of all anti-corruption initiatives. "A human rights-based approach remains the cornerstone of any effective anti-corruption strategy," Zniber stated at the opening of a high-level side event on "Human Rights and Anti-Corruption in Practice," held on the sidelines of the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva. "From Morocco's perspective, prevention must lie at the center of all efforts to eliminate this scourge from our societies," he noted at the event held by the core group behind the resolution on "The Negative Impact of Corruption on the Enjoyment of Human Rights." The diplomat underlined that the Marrakech Declaration, adopted in 2011, remains a "key roadmap" for states aiming to align anti-corruption efforts with human rights objectives. He further urged stronger synergy between the HRC's work and the monitoring of the declaration's implementation. He also highlighted Morocco's "significant progress" in the fight against corruption as part of its national effort to promote and protect human rights. He cited Morocco's 2011 Constitution, which introduced laws penalizing conflicts of interest, insider trading, and financial crimes, alongside the establishment of the National Authority for Integrity, Prevention, and Anti-Corruption. Reflecting on the impact of corruption, the diplomat warned that it "undermines social cohesion, erodes trust in public institutions, exacerbates inequality, and fosters conditions for the most serious human rights violations." "Effective policies to prevent and combat corruption are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030," he said, adding that "States carry the primary responsibility to prevent and remedy human rights violations arising from corruption." This fundamental obligation was highlighted by the founding report of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee in 2015, whose recommendations have since been incorporated into the Council's biannual resolution presented by Morocco on behalf of the core group, which also includes Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Ecuador, the diplomat recalled. This year's resolution builds on progress made since 2015, aiming to clarify states' procedural and substantive obligations in upholding human rights within anti-corruption frameworks. The side event was co-organized by the resolution's sponsors, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Transparency International, and the UNCAC Coalition. It sought to foster stronger links between the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption and international human rights mechanisms, offering practical tools and sharing experiences to help bridge the gap between anti-corruption efforts and human rights protection. MAP: 19 June 2025
Maroc
03-06-2025
- Business
- Maroc
113th International Labour Conference Opens in Geneva with Participation of Morocco
The 113th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) kicked off on Monday 02 June at Geneva's Palais des Nations, with the participation of a large Moroccan delegation representing the government and social partners (employers and workers). The opening plenary session was attended by Morocco's Permanent Representative to Geneva, Ambassador Omar Zniber; the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Labour, and Skills, Wafaa Asri; and Miloudi Moukharik, Secretary General of the Moroccan Labour Union (UMT), who leads the workers' delegation. In his opening address at the event, which runs until June 13, ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo noted that the world is going through a period of 'profound turbulence for multilateral institutions' such as the International Labour Organization. 'This context imposes on us a duty to reform: reform for effectiveness, but also for efficiency,' he said, noting that reform at the ILO translates into 'a double imperative.' Reviewing the highlights of this 113th session, Houngbo noted the importance of the major draft resolution for the 2nd Social Summit in Doha, noting that this text embodies, among other things, a collective ambition: to expand universal access to social protection, with a clear objective—to increase social coverage by at least two percentage points per year. The ILO chief called on the Conference to approve the 2026-27 draft budget, which will see 'zero nominal growth,' in line with the Governing Body's recommendation in March, because, as he noted, 'the time has come for austerity.' 'We must show determination and resolve to define, with surgical precision, the efficiency levers needed to reduce our expenditure and make us stronger,' he stressed. Referring to the report he submitted to the current session of the Conference, Houngbo noted that 'employment is not a passive consequence of economic growth but must be an active component of it.' Reviewing the other items on the agenda of the 113th session, the ILO chief highlighted the importance of the first normative discussion on decent work in the platform economy, which 'already promises to be a pioneering milestone.' The inaugural session also featured the presentation of the report of the Chair of the Governing Body and the election of the President and Vice-Presidents of the Conference. The ILC, the ILO's highest decision-making body, meets annually with tripartite delegations from member states, along with international observers, to address key global labour issues. It operates through plenary sessions and various commissions. (MAP: 03 June 2025)
