Morocco grants interest to projected free trade accord with US

Morocco's King Mohammed VI who met Monday in Washington the United States' representative for international trade negotiations, Robert Zoellick, confirmed the interest Morocco grants to the projected conclusion of a free trade accord with the United States.

The sovereign insisted that such an accord must be part of a comprehensive perspective, taking into account financial cooperation, backing to private investment and Morocco's ability to become a regional development hub for US operators.

Zoellick was accompanied by US ambassador to Morocco Ms Margaret Tutwiler, the assistant representative for international trade negotiations in charge of Europe and the Mediterranean, Catherine Novelli, and director for North Africa and South-Western Europe, Jonathan Carpenter.

On the Moroccan side, the meeting was attended by minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, the sovereign's advisors, Mohamed Kabbaj and Andr? Azoulay, Director of the Royal Office, Mohamed Rochdi Chraibi, and minister of economy, finance, privatization and tourism, Fathallah Oualalou.