Morocco, Portugal sign package of cooperation agreements

Morocco and Portugal signed, on Friday, three cooperation agreements in cultural, financial and economic realms, at the end of the 8th session of their high joint commission that convened under the chairmanship of the two countries' prime ministers Driss Jettou and Pedro Santana Lopez.

The first agreement provides for allocating a loan of 100 million Euro to Morocco to fund development projects part of encouragement of Portuguese investments in the kingdom. Meanwhile, the second agreement defines the general framework of partnership between the two sides with regard to the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the necessary instruments to realize this goal.

Under the third accord, financial and technical resources will be mobilized to restore historical monuments in the north African country through coordination between cultural heritage institutions in the two sides.

Jettou qualified on Friday the works of this 8th session as "very positive," saying they open prospects for a promising future.

At a joint press conference with his Portuguese peer, Jettou said the joint commission examined questions of common interest, particularly Portugal's role in revitalizing foreign investments flow in Morocco, upgrading small and medium-sized enterprises and support of Morocco in its relations with the European Union (EU).

On his part, the Portuguese premier voiced his government's disposal to bring "strong support" to Morocco in its relations with the EU.