King Hassan receives French minister as an agreement is concluded

King Hassan II received over the weekend in Marrakesh, Ms. Martine Aubry, French minister of employment and solidarity, currently on a work visit to Morocco.

The king decorated the French minister with the Throne Wissam of the Grand Officer Rank.

The King then held talks with Ms. Aubry in the presence of Andre Azoulay, Royal advisor for economic and financial affairs and Khalid Alioua, minister of social development, solidarity, employment and vocational training.

Ms. Aubry initialled on Friday with Alioua a social cooperation accord whereby Paris will extend Morocco a technical assistance in matters of employment and vocational training.

The agreement also provides for the creation of an employment intermediation agency and an employment and training observatory to assist decision-makers settle employment issues.

The two sides decided to set up a joint inter-ministerial committee to study best means to use the 200 million French Franc assistance to Moroccan small and medium enterprises, allotted by Paris last October, part of the alleviation of Morocco's debt to France.