Rabat and Abidjan voice will to foster cooperation
Morocco-Cote D'Ivoire, Politics, 9/22/1998

Morocco and Cote D'Ivoire on Monday voiced their intent to consolidate cooperation in various fields.

Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi, who was speaking at a dinner banquet hosted in honor of his visiting Ivoirian counterpart, Kablan Daniel Duncan, said the latter's visit to Morocco "evidences the two countries' constant will to consolidate and intensify the historical ties."

Daniel Kablan Duncan, who started on Sunday a five-day friendship and working visit to Morocco, stressed the need to lay down the foundations of genuine bilateral cooperation and called for the consolidation of cooperation between the two countries' private sectors.

Bilateral Trade and economic exchanges, which are governed by a series of accords, witnessed a tangible upward trend in the beginning of the 1990's after a long stagnation in the previous decade. Exchanges between the two African countries reached their peak in 1997, when they totalled more than 472 million dh, representing a 19 percent increase over 1996 and 125 percent over 1990.

In 1997, Morocco's exports to Cote D'Ivoire stood at 205 million dh, while imports were valued at 267 million dh, which represents a 62 million dh deficit to Morocco's detriment.

The Moroccan Prime Minister also addressed the situation in Africa. "The situation in Africa has always been a major concern in Morocco's foreign policy," he said.

Youssoufi recalled in this regard the call made by King Hassan II in 1994 to devise a Marshall Plan to help African countries overcome their serious difficulties and avoid marginalization.

Previous Stories:
  Cote D'Ivoire's Premier Starts Visit to Morocco   (9/21/1998)
  D'ivoire prime minister starts official visit to Morocco on Sunday   (9/19/1998)

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