King's visit to Burkina Faso to give new impetus to bilateral cooperation
Morocco-Burkina Faso, Politics, 2/28/2005

The official visit King Mohammed VI is paying as of today to Burkina Faso is set to give a new impetus to economic cooperation between Morocco and this West African country as it falls in the general dynamic to enhance fruitful exchanges with sub-Saharan Africa.

The visit offers promising prospects for Morocco-Bukina Faso cooperation ruled by a package of economic, technical, cultural and scientific agreements signed by the two African countries and included in the general agreement of Ougadougou of 28 December 1989.

To shore up the implementation of the agreements, the two countries set up a joint commission, which held its first meeting in June 1996 in Ougadougou. This body considered since then several cooperation issues in people and goods movements, communication, training, education, culture, health, agriculture, mining, transports and industry.

Every year, Burkina Faso students come to Morocco to attend Moroccan universities, while scores of grants are granted by Morocco to some of the students. Currently 270 students are admitted in these universities. Also some 30 soldiers from the West African country are trained in military schools in Morocco.

Moroccan and Burkina Faso trade ministries signed a convention providing for cooperation between the chambers of commerce and industry and the corporation and enterprises of the two countries. Moroccan agriculture technicians and experts were sent to Burkina Faso on a water harnessing know-how sharing mission.

Morocco imports mainly cotton wool from Burkina Faso and other food produce and exports to the West African country processed food, tobacco, equipment tools. Morocco imported for 52 million MAD, 5.2 million euros of goods from Burkina and exported for 68 million MAD.

The King's visit to Burkina Faso, second leg of a tour to three African countries, will spur a new dynamic to bilateral cooperation, said Monday "Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb" daily adding the visit is of particular meaning and shows the resolve of King Mohammed VI and president Blaise CompaorŽ to step up bilateral cooperation.

In Burkina Faso, "the sovereign will highlight the need of a South-South partnership which is a means to reinforce lasting development and the will of the kingdom to follow up its projects in this landlocked West African nation," said the daily.

The various areas of cooperation existing between Morocco and Burkina Faso "show the excellence of friendship relations between the two countries and present an example of South-South cooperation, Lazare GansorŽ, director of regional cooperation at the foreign ministry of Burkina Faso told the Washington-based AllAfrica.com news web site.

GansorŽ highlighted the support Morocco extends to his country, adding hundred of Burkina Faso students carry on their studies in the North African country, while Morocco cooperates to trigger artificial rain over Burkina Faso, helps ensure food security, trains various departments personnel, including those of health and telecommunications sectors.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan premier meets Burkina FM   (4/4/2003)
  President of Burkina Faso meets Moroccan premier, speakers of parliament   (5/21/2001)
  King Mohammed receives Burkina Faso fm   (5/9/2001)

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