House of Representatives Adopts Six Government Bills on National Defense, Cybersecurity, and Banking and Finance Sectors
The House of Representatives unanimously approved on Tuesday, July 14th, 2020, six Government bills relative to the banking and finance sectors, national defense, and cybersecurity. The adoption took place in a plenary sitting chaired by the House’s Speaker Habib El Malki and attended by Minister of Economy, Finance, and Administration Reform Mohamed Benchaâboun and Minister Delegate to Head of Government in charge of National Defense Administration Abdellatif Loudiyi.
In his presentation of Government Bill 36.20 on transforming the Central Guarantee Fund (CCG) to a joint-stock company, Minister of Economy, Finance, and Administration Reform Mohamed Benchaâboun affirmed that the big demand on the fund’s services following COVID-19 dictates the reform of its regulatory framework, especially regarding the governance and risk management systems. The Minister also highlighted that this reform marks the start of a new era of public policies that aim to facilitate access to financing. The Law will enter into force on the date of the effective transformation of the Central Guarantee Fund to a joint-stock company, and upon the appointment of its administrative and managerial organs.
On another note, Government Bill 44.20 amending and supplementing Law 103.12 on credit institutions and similar bodies aims to conform some provisions of the banking law to Government bill 36.20 on transforming the Central Guarantee Fund to a joint-stock company.
In their discussion of the two bills, the deputies, representing the majority and opposition, commended the decision of transforming the Central Guarantee Fund to a joint-stock company, which would provide new financing opportunities for the national economy, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. The deputies noted the existence of several mechanisms to finance the national economy, stressing the importance of creating a unique office to assist enterprises and ensure their reception of the financial support. They also noted the importance of continuously accompanying the concerned enterprises.
Besides, the deputies called banks to increase their efforts to finance the national economy, share investment risks, and support enterprises and all economic actors, especially those of the sectors that were most affected by the repercussions of COVID-19.
In his address on the occasion of presenting the Government bills related to national defense, Minister Delegate to Head of Government in Charge of National Defense Administration Abdellatif Loudiyi lauded the importance given by the nation’s representatives to the components of the national defense sector. According to the Minister, the sector bears a sacred responsibility of protecting the territorial integrity of the Kingdom under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, may God assist him.
Government Bill 05.20 on cybersecurity aims to reinforce the national capacities in cybersecurity and enlarge the scope of information systems security by engaging various actors like users of public telecommunication networks, cybersecurity service providers, and digital service providers. The Bill also aims to contribute to securing the digital transformation in our country by setting a framework for cooperation and exchange of information between the national authority for cybersecurity and the competent authorities to counter cybercrime and misuse of sensitive and personal data, and to improve cybersecurity governance. Also, the Bill gives importance to protection and sensitization about the challenges related to cybersecurity, and openness on international cooperation in this sector. It also aims to establish the adequate circumstances for the emergence of national activities in the area of securing information systems and networks.
As for Government Bill 10.20 on materials and equipment of defense and security, and on arms and ammunition, the Bill aims to recollect and modernize the legal arsenal related to the import and export and transportation of materials and equipment of defense and security. It also aims to fill the legal vacuum by adding new provisions concerning the manufacturing of defense materials in Morocco.
Regarding Government Bill 29.20 supplementing Law 5.99 on the reserve Royal Armed Forces, it aims to integrate the employees of public institutions and enterprises, and legal persons subjects to public and private law that underwent a military training within an institution attached to the Royal Armed Forces in the reserve army’s officer corps.
The House of Representatives also adopted Government Bill 42.18 on controlling the export of goods intended for dual civil and military use and the services related to them. The Bill is part of Morocco’s implementation of its international engagements regarding controlling the export of goods intended for dual civil and military use, as stipulated in the relevant international conventions.