Morocco eyes FTA with Gabon, Sub Saharan countries, press

Morocco is negotiating a free trade agreement(FTA) with Gabon and another with some Sub Saharan countries of the Sahel, reported on Monday the Moroccan daily "l'Economiste"

Under the title, "Sub-Saharan Africa, a vast free trade zone?," the newspaper explained the choice of Gabon by its importance on the commercial level. Quoting the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Trade, l'Economiste noted that Gabon is a "net importer of agricultural, food and manufacturing products." On the investment level, it added, Gabon offers opportunities in tourism, distribution industries and especially in the mining field.

L'Economiste which was commenting the visit being paid by Morocco's King Mohammed VI to Gabon, third leg of a five-nation African tour, said the Moroccan delegation "has embarked on another huge project," that of the creation of larger free trade zone with the community of Sahelo-Saharan countries (Senegal, Benin and Niger), as was agreed upon in principle in March 2003.