Spanish, South Moroccan trade chambers sign cooperation agreement

The trade chambers of Morocco's southern provinces signed on Saturday a tri-partite cooperation agreement with the chambers of commerce, industry and navigation of Las Palmas (Spain) and the chamber of commerce and industry of the Azores (Portugal) to develop economic and cultural relations between the three regions.

Under the accord, that was signed on the sidelines of a visit to Southern Morocco by a Spanish delegation representing trade chambers and companies, the two sides undertake to protect the interests of private companies and promote external trade.

Cooperation will start through a plan to materialize international exchanges and investment in addition to exchanging information and specialists. Cultural promotion and cooperation in terms of infrastructures and technology are also planned in the agreement.

The accord is valid until end of 2004.

The signatory trade chambers will also be facilitating contacts between businessmen and public and private institutions of the regions represented in the agreement, encourage direct investments and exchange economic information as well as information on companies wishing to consolidate their presence in southern Morocco, Las Palmas or Azores.

The agreement encourages the private sector to organize training sessions for workers from Southern Morocco as well as meetings and symposiums.

On the cultural level, the two sides will develop and conduct programs to acquaint populations in southern Morocco, Las Palmas and Azores with their respective cultures.