Morocco, Iraq hold 9th session of joint commission

Morocco and Iraq are holding in Rabat the 9th session of their joint commission this March 31 through April 3 to probe means to upgrade trade and economic cooperation and set up a free-trade zone.

Morocco's minister of industry, trade, energy and mining, Mustapha Mansouri, and Iraqi trade minister, Mohamed Mehdi Saleh, are chairing the commission meetings.

The Iraqi official told the Moroccan TV channel "TVM," Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, has instructed the government to give the Arab states priority in cooperation. He added trade with the Arab states account for 50% of Iraq's total trade transactions.

The volume of exchanges between the two states is presently estimated at $ 267 million.

Baghdad is also hosting an exhibition of made-in-Morocco food, pharmaceutical, electronic and mechanic products with the participation of 120 Moroccan companies.

Last February, press reports said five Moroccan enterprises have struck in the second half of last year $ 100 million-worth of UN-authorized deals. The press said some contracts are still suspended by a UN commission over suspicions that the supplies could have a double use, such as a $ 1.2 million contract for the supply of computer equipment and a $ 2.2 million contract of irrigation machinery.