Morocco, Iran eye creation of joint ventures and business council

Morocco and Iran are willing to create a joint business council and to launch joint ventures in industry and other economic sectors, given Morocco's status as a gateway to Europe and west Africa.

This came at a meeting, on Monday, between Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, and visiting Iranian peer Kamal Kharazi.

Both ministers reviewed bilateral cooperation and means to pave the way for the implementation of agreements concluded by the two countries' during the fourth meeting of the joint economic commission held last January in Rabat.

Benaissa and Kharazi also reviewed the latest developments in Iraq and in Palestine as well as the outcome of the debates held last week in Dublin during the meeting between foreign ministers of the enlarged European Union and peers from Mediterranean countries that are part of the Euro-Mediterranean process.

The Iranian foreign minister, who arrived on Sunday in Morocco for his first visit since he took office in 1997, praised "the longstanding and solid" ties uniting the two countries and the close collaboration between Rabat and Teheran in international forums to "lay bases for peace and stability in the world."

He also voiced hope that trade will be reinforced, particularly in phosphates and energy.