Belgium extends Morocco $1.2 million assistance

Belgium extended Morocco an emergency assistance of $1.2 million to alleviate drought effects.

Morocco's secretary of state for cooperation, Aicha Belarbi, made the announcement Tuesday during the closing of the 16th session of a Moroccan-Belgian cooperation committee that she co-chaired with her Belgian peer, Eddy Boutmans.

Belarbi added that Belgium was also ready to examine Moroccan proposals for the inception of a partnership line for small and medium-sized enterprises and industries and to handle Morocco's debt.

Projects selected by the committee deal with infrastructure, vocational training, health, promotion of women status, improving the situation of children, environment, human rights and non-governmental organizations.

The Moroccan community living in Belgium is estimated at some 199,647, according to 1997 figures.

The Belgian delegation which took part in the joint meeting will be heading to Morocco's southern provinces to inquire about the progress made in Belgium-financed programs.