King Mohammed end visit to USA
Morocco-USA, Politics, 6/24/2000

Morocco's King Mohammed VI left New York this Friday at the end of a three-day state visit to the USA at the invitation of President Bill Clinton.

The king had started the visit Tuesday with an official welcome ceremony at the White House Rose Garden, where he exchanged speeches with President Clinton, stressing Rabat and Washington's will to consolidate cooperation ties.

The king, who was accompanied by his sister Princess Lalla Meryem, was guest to a dinner banquet, hosted in his honor by President Clinton. The banquet was described as the largest formal dinner of the Clinton administration.

US Secretary of State, Madleine Albright hosted a luncheon in honor of the king, who also visited the Pentagon, where he conferred with defense secretary, William Cohen.

On Wednesday, the king was guest to a luncheon hosted in his honor by the US Congress and the excellency of ties between Morocco and the USA was highlighted in a resolution, passed unanimously by the Senate on the occasion of King Mohammed VI's visit.

The resolution renewed the Senate's pledge to promoting ties between the two countries to the benefit of the two peoples.

As a mark of recognition to the king's brilliant career and efforts to promote Morocco, the George Washington University, one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the World, extended the king an honorary doctoral degree.

During his stay in Washington, the king received director general of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Horst Kocheler, and President of the World Bank, James Wolfenshon.

The state visit to Washington was an opportunity for the king to meet with US influential businessmen, representatives of Arab Americans and of the Moroccan community living in the USA.

The king also visited New York city, where he met with a group of US businessmen and representatives of New York-based Moroccans.

The group of US businessmen comprised chief executive officers and executives of over 50 companies which already have or are planning to establish links in Morocco in the sectors of industry, agri-business, aeronautics, energy, tourism, low-cost housing, press, finance and banking.

The king equally received rabbis of the Moroccan Jewish community living in New York, who held a mass for the glory of the king and the prosperity of Morocco.

The king was accompanied by a large delegation, including Royal advisors, Andre Azoulay, Mohamed Kabbaj and Ms. Zoulikha Nasri, foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, economy and finance minister, Fathallah Oualalou, industry, trade and handicraft minister, Alami Tazi, delegate minister in charge of the national defense administration, Abderrahmane Sbai, secretary of state for foreign affairs, Taieb Fassi Fihri and secretary of state in charge of handicapped persons, Ms. Nouzha Chekrouni.

Several businessmen were also among the Royal party.

The king's visit to the USA will not fail to hoist bilateral ties to the level of the prestigious political relations that have always bound Rabat and Washington since the proclamation of the independence of the USA.

Over the few past years, Moroccan-US economic ties have been experiencing a steadfast growth. In 1999, Moroccan exports were worth $ 420 million, compared to $ 367 million a year before. Imports reached $ 552 million in 1998, growing by 20% compared to 1997 when imports had declined by 8% from 1997.

Meanwhile, US investments reached a record level in 1997 when they stood at $ 350 million, accounting for 28% of foreign investments in Morocco.

The two countries are bound by a package of agreements geared towards facilitating investments and trade exchanges. A Morocco-US council on trade and investments was set up in 1995 to inform US economic operators on investment opportunities in the kingdom.

Previous Stories:
  King Mohammed VI Meets IMF, WB Directors   (6/22/2000)
  Us defense secretary hosts dinner in honor of King Mohammed   (6/22/2000)
  US senate renews US attachment to promoting ties with Morocco   (6/22/2000)

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