Syrian Chamber of Commerce Holds Colloquy on Cooperation with Morocco

The chamber of commerce of Damascus hosted on Monday a colloquy on economic and trade cooperation between Morocco and Syria, in parallel to the two states' high joint commission meeting, held in Damascus this October 22-23.

Morocco's minister of commerce, industry, energy and mining, Mustapha Mansouri, who is, together with other Moroccan officials and businessmen part of the prime minister's delegation to the joint commission, surveyed before Syrian economic operators advantages offered to investors in Morocco and attractive sectors, mainly tourism and industry.

Debates also covered means to develop trade exchanges between the two Arab countries and partnership prospects in several sectors.

The high joint commission is scheduled to set up a Moroccan-Syrian business council, sign two twinning agreements between the Casablanca chamber of commerce, industry and services, on the one side and Aleppo chamber of commerce and the Damascus chamber of industry on the other. Other agreements to be studied deal with the creation of a free-trade area, non-double taxation, cooperation in culture, tourism and scientific and technical realms.

Morocco's prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, who co-chaired with Syrian peer Mohamed Miro the commission proceedings, met in Damascus with several Syrian officials, mainly vice-president, Abdelhalim Khaddam, and speaker of the Syrian parliament, Abdelkader Kaddoura.

Meanwhile, minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, who is also member of the official delegation met with Syrian peer, Farouk al-Sharaa, while the ministers of agriculture, rural development, water and forests and of culture and communication Mohamed Achaari, also held work sessions with their Syrian peers.