Morocco, Bulgaria agree to boost cooperation

Morocco and Bulgaria on Tuesday voiced a shared determination to give a new impetus to their bilateral cooperation, which remains far short of the two countries' potentials.

The two sides, which held the 7th session of their joint commission, agreed to conduct targeted actions to enlarge the scope of their cooperation to a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, industry, justice, equipment and vocational training.

The commission's meetings were co-chaired by Moroccan external trade minister, Mustapha Mechahouri, and Bulgarian health minister, Bojidar Fincov.

Morocco and Bulgaria equally stressed the need to diversify their trade exchanges and to involve the private sector in this drive.

Trade between the two countries dropped to US$ 18 million in 2002 from 35 million in 2000 and 50 million in 1995.

Moroccan premier, Driss Jettou, met in Rabat on Tuesday with Fincov, over means to upgrade cooperation ties.

The two countries had earlier signed a cooperation agreement in matters of public health and medical sciences.