President of Catalunia autonomous government in Morocco
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 2/12/2001

President of the autonomous government of Catalunia, Jordi Pujol, arrived in Rabat Sunday evening on an official visit to Morocco.

Pujol, who is accompanied by a large delegation of politicians and businessmen, told reporters upon arrival Spain and Morocco should conduct a joint initiative to reactivate the Barcelona (Euro-Mediterranean) process and help promote Moroccan-European relations.

Catalunia tirelessly endeavors to give a new momentum to Spanish-Moroccan relations and to relations between Morocco and the European Union, he said, adding Catalunia is highly interested in Morocco's economic development.

Pujol and his party will confer with several Moroccan officials on issues of mutual concern and on means to enhance bilateral cooperation. Immigration-related issues and economic investments will also be debated.

Pujol had told MAP bureau in Madrid on the eve of the trip that he deems himself "an old friend of Morocco" and that he is following with keen interest the kingdom's evolution. He pleaded for a deep and fruitful cooperation between Morocco and Spain and between Morocco and the European Union. He also called Catalunia-based enterprises to channel their investments to the North-African country and urged the EU to ease Moroccan products' access to European markets.

Nearly half the 800 Spanish enterprises operating in Morocco are from Catalunia and 49 per cent of the Moroccan community in Spain are settled in the region.

Catalunia-based enterprises export to Morocco synthetic and artificial fibers, mechanical equipment, cotton, plastic items, manufactured products and oils. Morocco ranks first among Catalunia's south Mediterranean clients (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt) and is its fourth supplier in the group.

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