* Graft destroys 2 pct of Morocco's GDP -minister
* Transparency International sceptical
RABAT, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Morocco unveiled a two-year plan
on Friday aimed at fighting corruption, saying graft destroys 2
percent of gross domestic product and saps its "cultural
values".
Among 43 new measures are asset declarations for top state
officials, government protection of anti-graft whistle-blowers,
anti-graft classes in schools and channels for the public to
report graft and extortion by government officials.
The government agrees with opposition critics that graft
squeezes foreign investment and distorts the free market, which
Morocco badly needs to spur growth and tackle poverty.
"With this plan to prevent corruption and fight it, we enter
a new stage of determination to achieve results in implementing
this programme," Public Sector Modernisation Minister Mohamed
Saad El Alami told a news conference.
"It is difficult to gauge corruption's cost as it is secret,
but estimates put the loss to Morocco's economy from this
scourge at about 2 percent of the GDP," said Alami. "Corruption
saps our cultural and social values. It undermines the
foundations and roots of our society."
Alami said the plan will start in earnest in early 2011 and
last into the following year.
Morocco was ranked 89th out of 180 countries last year on an
index of corruption compiled by anti-graft watchdog Transparency
International. The watchdog reacted with scepticism to Friday's
announcement.
"They did not ask for ideas and views from business and
civic groups. We have heard this talk before," said Rachid
Meknassi, head of Transparency International's local chapter.
The European Union, Morocco's main trading partner, has
praised Morocco's reforms to improve infrastructure, develop
renewable energy production and boost agriculture, tourism and
manufacturing in the past 10 years. But it says deep-rooted
corruption throttles foreign investment interest.
(Reporting by Lamine Ghanmi; Editing by Peter Graff)
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