Visiting french investors, journalists received by Moroccan premier

Moroccan premier, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, hosted on Saturday a dinner banquet in honor of a French delegation of investors and journalists.

The French delegation is visiting Morocco to explore business opportunities in tourism, stricken by effects of last September's attacks against the USA.

Morocco has invited the group to reassure France on Morocco's will to consolidate its partnership with France, in the perspective of reaching a target of 10 million tourists by 2010.

Youssoufi told the group of investors and journalists tourism can be an interesting engine for economic and social development in Morocco. He said Morocco relies on the French businessmen's know-how, professionalism and partnership to help it in its drive to increase its tourist arrivals.

He stated that Morocco has taken a package of measures in this regard, mainly political, economic and social reforms meant to consolidate the rule of law and human rights respect, a framework agreement signed between the state and tourism professionals and the construction of new tourism compounds.

The dinner banquet took place in the presence of economy, finance, privatization and tourism minister, Fathallah Oulalou, transport and merchant navy minister, Abdeslam Znined and a group of Moroccan businessmen.