Morocco-Catalonia trade estimated at 812 Mn in 2003
Morocco-Spain, Economics, 5/29/2004

Trade between Morocco and the Spanish region of Catalonia rose from 525 million Euro in 2000 to 812 million Euro in 2003, according to figures released at a meeting, in Rabat Friday, between visiting President of the local government of Catalonia, Pasqual Maragall, and Moroccan Premier, Driss Jettou.

Maragall noted that the Catalonian government considers Morocco among the most promising markets for the development of Catalonian enterprises which account for 300 units in Morocco.

At a conference organized Thursday in Rabat, Maragall said cooperation between Morocco and Catalonia should be an "inspiration" for a "prosperous and peaceful" Mediterranean basin.

The conference, held at the initiative of the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), discussed the challenges facing the Barcelona Process (providing for Euro-Mediterranean partnership between the EU and its 12 partners in the south bank of the Mediterranean) following the European Union's enlargement.

The Catalonian president deemed that Catalonia has always pursue a vanguard policy in its relation with Morocco and the Maghreb. This is evidenced, he said, by the fact that Catalonian companies represent 40 percent of Spanish firms established in Morocco. In addition, he said, 30 percent of trade between Morocco and Spain is operated with the Catalonian region where more than the third of the Moroccan community in Spain is established (150,000 people).

For Maragall, the new European Union neighborhood policy which was launched by the European commission is a "key event," since this is the first time since 1980 that the EU "recognized that countries of the south are as important (É) as those of the east."

"we back the idea put forward by HM king Mohammed VI to work so that Morocco and the Maghreb be capable of establishing a special relation with the EU, to go beyond the proposal for association as implied in the Barcelona process," he said.

The reforms undertaken by Morocco, he added, "reinforce Catalonia's resolve to consolidate ties with Morocco and the Maghreb, by giving a fresh impetus to cooperation and cultural dialogue."

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