External trade improve in first three months

At the end of the first three months of 1998, indicators of Morocco's external trade showed significant improvement at the levels of both exports and imports while private investments and loans slowed down in comparison with the same period last year.

By end of March 98, global trade transaction were worth 40.24 billion Dh ($4.19 billion) against 35.47 billion Dh ($3.6 billion) recorded last year, growing by 13.4 percent. Global trade transactions encompass imports, exports and remittances of Moroccan workers abroad and of travel.

Imports progressed by 11.3 percent to reach 23.6 billion Dh ($2.4 billion) while exports improved by 16.7 percent reaching a value of 14.22 billion dh ($1.4 billion). Consequently, the trade deficit remained stable standing by March 1998 at 7.02 billion Dh ($732.08 million).