Moroccan Exports to Russia More than Doubled in one Year, Minister

Morocco's exports to Russia more than doubled between 1996 and 1997, reaching around $235.2 million (2.16 billion dh) in 1997, a Moroccan minister said on Wednesday.20

Minister of trade, industry and handicraft, Alami Tazi, told the upper chamber of the parliament that despite the crisis in Russia, Moroccan businessmen managed to export to the Russian market 12,000 tons of citrus fruits and 3,000 tons of tomatoes.

He added that negotiations are ongoing with Russian customers to increase and diversify Moroccan exports to Russia.

He also announced that an inter-ministerial commission was set up to assess the impact of the Russian financial crisis on Moroccan exports. This commission comprising executives from the agriculture, sea fisheries, industry, trade and handicraft ministries will look into a request for the reduction of transport fees submitted by Moroccan exporters.