Moroccan-Italian trade cooperation discussed in Rabat

Means to rev up Moroccan-Italian trade cooperation were examined at a meeting in Rabat between Moroccan Minister of trade and industry, Alami Tazi, and Italian under-secretary of state for foreign trade, Antonello Cabras.

The two sides voiced determination to promote trade exchanges and looked into the investment opportunities offered by Morocco.

Cabras and his accompanying delegation of Italian economic operators held on Monday in Casablanca a meeting with members of the Moroccan employers' association (CGEM).

The economic operators from both countries stressed the need to give a new momentum to economic relations and to explore the existing partnership opportunities.

"We are determined to give a new impetus to bilateral cooperation and to promote relations of complementarity through the consolidation of trade exchanges," said Cabras.

CGEM chairman, Abderrahim Lahjouji, on his part, called for upgrading cooperation within the Mediterranean basin and for settling a number of pending issues. He cited among these issues, the need to find a new approach to fisheries, to include agriculture in the free-trade accords, and indebtedness which hampers development.

The Italian guests were also briefed about the ongoing political and economic reforms in Morocco, that are targeting the consolidation of macro-economic balances, the modernization of the industrial fabric and the consolidation of the juridical environment of enterprises.

Morocco is Italy's 4th trade partner. Moroccan exports to Italy are made up mainly of fertilizers, fresh fish and garments, while imports are made up mostly of cars, machinery and various industrial tools.