Columbian president in Morocco
Morocco-Colombia, Politics, 3/18/1999

President Andres Pastrana of Columbia arrived in Marrakesh on Wednesday for a two-day working visit meant to give new momentum to political and economic cooperation between the two countries.

President Pastrana who is visiting Morocco for the first time since his election as Columbia's president in August 1998 was received later in the day by King Hassan II.

The two heads of state held talks in the presence of a Columbian delegation that comprises minister of foreign trade, vice-minister of foreign affairs and Columbia's ambassador to Rabat.

Moroccan Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Abdellatif Filali attended the meeting.

The Columbian head of state attended later a dinner banquet hosted in his honor by Crown Prince Sidi Mohammed.

At a press briefing on the eve of the visit, the Columbian ambassador to Morocco, Mrs Ximena Andrade, said the two countries which have upgraded their cultural relations are now trying to consolidate their economic cooperation.

The organization of Moroccan cultural events in Bogota and Columbian cultural events in Rabat have greatly contributed to rapprochement between the two peoples, the diplomat said, adding that the two countries will now endeavor to upgrade their cooperation in the fields of trade, industry and investments.

Columbia grants a special interest to its relations with Morocco which enjoys a strategic geographic location, she said, pointing out that the geographic distance between the two countries can by no means be an obstacle to the increase of trade exchanges and the consolidation of political dialogue.

Morocco ranks first among Columbia's clients in the African continent. In 1996, Morocco soaked 91.4% of the latin American country's exports to Africa. These exports are mainly made up of tobacco, sugar, coffee, and agricultural machinery.

Morocco's exports to Columbia (capers, olives, roses and other plants) did not exceed $487,831 in 1996 while imports during the same year were worth $5.2 million.

Morocco and Columbia are bound by several cooperation accords in the fields of culture (1991), scientific and technical cooperation (1992) and trade (1995).

Previous Stories:
  Columbian president in Morocco this week   (3/15/1999)
  Colombia voices backing to Morocco's territorial integrity   (1/26/1999)
  Speaker of Colombia's house of representatives in Morocco   (1/25/1999)

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