Moroccan finance minister meets Italian businessmen delegation

Moroccan Finance minister, Fathallah Oualalou, conferred tuesday here with visiting Italian businessmen delegation on ways of reving up trade exchanges and fostering further economic cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, the Moroccan minister informed the Italian delegation on the importance granted by Morocco to forging a balanced Euro-mediterranean partnership and underlined the investment opportunities offered in Morocco and incentives granted to foreign entrepreneurs, MAP reported

The Moroccan minister also spoke of Morocco's privatization program, positive economic performance and attachment to Euro-mediterranean cooperation.

The Italian delegation, which represents several industrial and commercial sectors, arrived Monday in Morocco to explore the potentials of Moroccan market and foster partnership with Moroccan businessmen.

Morocco is Italy's 4th trade partner. Moroccan exports to Italy, made up mainly of fertilizers, fresh fish and garments, amounted in 1997 to usd 280 million, while imports made up mostly of cars, machinery and industrial tools neared usd 390 million the same year.