Morocco, Jordan set to promote economic partnership

Jordanian Trade and Industry Minister, Mohamed Al Halaika, and his Moroccan counterpart, Mustapha Mechahouri, voiced, in Cassablanca Thursday, their countries' resolve to promote trade and business partnership.

Morocco and Jordan are bound by several accords, notably the "Declaration of Agadir" that provides for the setting up a free trade zone between the two kingdoms in addition to Egypt and Tunisia.

At the opening of the Moroccan-Jordanian partnership days, the two officials underscored the need to strengthen economic cooperation which remains weak with regard to the potentials and opportunities offered by the two Arab states.

The Moroccan minister said that last year, trade with Jordan, has not exceeded 0.1 percent (nearly US $18.1 million) of Morocco's overall foreign exchanges and 1.1 percent of its exchanges with Arab states.

Al Halaika, also deputy Prime Minister of Jordan, blamed this weak rate on a lack of communication between Moroccan and Jordanian businessmen and on the problem of transport, which, he said, both countries' officials will try to resolve.