Morocco, Gabon sign four cooperation accords

Visiting King Mohammed VI of Morocco and Gabonese President, El Haj Omar Bongo Ondimba, co-chaired, in LibrevilleThursday, the signing of four cooperation accords in fisheries, trade and industry.

The fisheries accord provides for cooperation in training and scientific and technical research. The two countries undertake to carry out joint programs to improve exploitation and marketing of their sea resources. Morocco and Gabon agreed under a second accord to strengthen industrial and trade cooperation, notably in infrastructures, hosting free zones, exports, partnership between small and medium-sized enterprises and know-how and technology transfer. The goal is to promote economic and social development and to guarantee a better integration of their economies.

Economic integration will further be consolidated by a third agreement that projects cooperation in standardization, quality promotion and conformity assessment. Under the accord, Morocco will assist Gabon in the establishment of a center for standardization and technology transfer in Libreville.

The fourth accord covers funding methods for joint actions conducted by the Moroccan national Agency for small and medium-sized enterprises promotion and the Agency for private investments in Gabon. The accord meets the need for a greater south-south cooperation with the assistance of international institutions or other countries part of three-party cooperation.

After the signing ceremony, King Mohammed VI and president Bongo held private talks.

Gabon is the first leg of the Moroccan monarch's visit to three African countries. The King dedicated Thursday a new haemodialysis center in a hospital in Libreville.

The center is part of Moroccan-Gabonese health cooperation and of sustainable development endeavors in the African continent.