Moroccan-Hungarian talks on economic cooperation

Hungarian Agriculture Minister Josef Torgyan met in Rabat Tuesday on the last day of his visit to Morocco with Andre Azoulay, economic and financial advisor to King Hassan II.

Talks covered means of developing bilateral relations, mainly in high-technology used in agriculture, irrigation and new-generation fertilizers.

On Monday, the Hungarian official reviewed with Moroccan Secretary of State for Cooperation Aicha Belarbi Alaoui means of setting up a new partnership based on the larger participation of the private sector.

Morocco and Hungary have agreed to encourage the creation of a bilateral business council and facilitate contacts between the two countries' export promotion and development bodies.

Moroccan-Hungarian talks also reviewed a set of measures to be taken in the perspective of creating a free trade area before Hungary becomes a member of the European Union.

The Hungarian official also held a meeting with Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries Habib El Malki, who deplored the low level of Moroccan exports to Hungary, which barely stand at $2.3 million while exports are estimated at $0.5 million.

El Malki stated that despite the existence of promising potentials, bilateral exchanges of agricultural produce are also very low as Moroccan agriculture imports from Hungary, consisting mainly of soft wheat, corn and fertilizers, were worth only $1.7 mln in 1997 and exports represent $0.2 mln.

The Hungarian minister's visit is scheduled to be crowned with the signing of a cooperation agreement in the exchange of agriculture produce.