Morocco and Yemen sign economic, commercial accords

The third session of the Moroccan-Yemeni joint commission held in Rabat, April 28-30, was crowned by the signing of 14 accords covering social, economic and cultural cooperation.

The two sides signed an accord setting up a Moroccan-Yemeni business council, several economic and commercial cooperation accords meant to increase trade exchange, and an agricultural cooperation protocol providing for cooperation in matters of irrigation, forests and environment protection, water resources management, and vegetable and fruit marketing.

Other accords were related to cooperation in matters of fisheries and merchant navy, education and tourism.

During the commission's debates and the various Moroccan-Yemeni talks, the two countries' businessmen were called to step up efforts to face up the globalization challenges and international competitiveness and to endeavor to enhance bilateral commercial and industrial cooperation.

Trade exchanges between Morocco and Yemen dropped from 18.3 million DH in 1995 to 3.8 million DH in 1997.

The Yemeni delegation was led by Minister of Planning and Development Ahmed Soufane.