Moroccan premier dedicates Nice international fair
Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, dedicated on Saturday the international fair of the French southern city of Nice, giving thus the kick to the economic component of "Morocco's Season" (Le Temps du Maroc) in France.
In an address he made on the occasion, Youssoufi said "Morocco and France have jointly decided to organize in France, all along 1999, a prestigious event with a great political, cultural and economic dimension."
Morocco's Season in France aims at publicizing Morocco through its history and culture as well as through its modernity and the richness of its contemporary creation. It is also meant to mobilize the two countries' economic operators for the promotion of partnership through enterprise, Youssoufi said.
Besides the Euro-Mediterranean dimension of partnership between Morocco and France, Youssoufi pleaded for the construction of a large Euro-African area.
"Our future cooperation should be marked by stronger resolve and solidarity through a renovated debt management, better access to markets, capitals and technologies, a negotiated monitoring of the movement of persons through the promotion of a global integrated development and the setting up of a more efficient decentralized cooperation," the Moroccan premier said.
He expressed satisfaction that the first economic event, part of Morocco's Season in France, be held in Nice, a city where he spent several years and where he attended the college of law.
Morocco has been unanimously chosen the guest of honor of the international fair of Nice by the economic and social operators of the city.
Several artistic and cultural events, music shows and exhibitions will be held in the city on the occasion of the fair that runs from March 6 through 15. On Thursday, some 22,000 pupils of kindergartens and primary schools will be initiated in schools canteens to Moroccan cooking.
Youssoufi who wound up his trip to France on Sunday was accompanied by several ministers including the minister of industry, trade and handicraft.
In Strasbourg, French minister of culture and communication, Catherine Trautmann, said Morocco's Season will constitute for both Moroccans and French a very strong event and France's proximity with Morocco will acquire a great dimension during this year.
Trautmann who made the statement while dedicating an exhibition of paintings by artists from the Moroccan Atlantic city of Essaouira, repeatedly voiced France's pride to open onto Morocco's presence all along 1999.