Morocco, Pakistan sign cooperation agreements

Morocco and Pakistan signed in Rabat on Wednesday a trade and economic cooperation while the two countries' export promotion bodies concluded a memorandum of understanding.

The two countries were signed in the presence of Pakistani minister of trade, industry and production minister Abdul Razak Dawood, who started on Wednesday a visit to Morocco at the head of a delegation of 15 businessmen.

Morocco's minister of trade, industry and mining, Mustapha Mansouri, who was also present at the signing ceremony deplored the low level of trade exchanges which stood at 583.3 million DH (US$ 50.6 million) in 2001.

The Pakistani official expressed his country's readiness to open its markets for Moroccan products and to make Morocco benefit from its expertise in the textile sector.

The minister met on the same day Moroccan prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, over means to consolidating bilateral cooperation and increasing trade.

In another meeting with the chairman of the Moroccan federation of chambers of commerce, industry and services, Pakistani businessmen expressed will to invest in the Moroccan market.

Abdul Razak Dawood also conferred with minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, on various aspects of bilateral cooperation.