Tunisian industry minister in Morocco
Tunisia-Morocco, Economics, 6/28/1999

Tunisian Industry Minister Moncef Benabdellah started on Sunday a visit to Morocco for talks with officials on means of developing and promoting cooperation in industrial fields.

The Tunisian minister told Moroccan television upon arrival that his visit is part of moves to consolidate bilateral relations of partnership and economic openness following last March's visit to Morocco of Tunisian President Zein El-Abidine Ben Ali.

He said it is important that the two north African countries, which have both signed an association agreement with the European Union, consult each other on the creation by 2010 of a free trade area and how to draw benefit from the potentials offered by this project, especially in sectors such as processing industries.

The two states should endeavor to achieve industrial complementarity and become first-choice partners of European enterprises wishing to invest in the region, he said.

For the Tunisian official, the two Arab states have a leading role to play in the projected Arab free trade area, in view of their good-performing industries.

Last March, Morocco and Tunisia concluded an agreement providing for the setting up of a free trade area, through the suppression, with immediate effect, of all duties on some 2,000 non-agricultural products carrying below 10% customs duty.

The other custom duties will be gradually lowered from now up to year 2007.

Morocco and Tunisia agreed to postpone negotiations on the dismantling of customs barriers for agricultural and agri-business products.

Bilateral trade posts a surplus for Morocco with a total amount of $103 million in 1998 against $90 million in 1997.

Previous Stories:
  Tunisia, Morocco trade experience in administrative reform matters   (6/3/1999)
  Tunisia, Morocco agree to foster tourism cooperation   (5/29/1999)
  Tunisian parliament ratifies free trade accord with Morocco   (4/28/1999)

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