Morocco, Guinea assess fisheries cooperation

Morocco and Guinea have assessed their cooperation in matters of fisheries and discussed the implementation of the fisheries accord that was concluded by the two countries last May.

At a meeting in Conakry on the sidelines of the 4th session of the ministerial conference on fisheries cooperation between African Atlantic countries, the Moroccan and Guinean ministers of maritime fisheries, Thami Khyari and Mansa Moussa Sidibe, expressed satisfaction at this cooperation.

The Guinean official requested Morocco's assistance so that Guinea promotes its infrastructures and settles some problems such as waters surveillance and catches monitoring.

Guinea is relying on Morocco, which is experienced in matters of fisheries, to help it improve the fisheries sector, the Guinean official told reporters after the meeting.

The two officials also discussed the role of the private sector stressing the need to involve it in promoting Moroccan-Guinean fisheries cooperation. They called on the Conakry-based Moroccan-Guinean popular bank to finance some projects of the sector that they described as promising.

Moroccan-Guinean cooperation was discussed at another meeting between Khyari and the Guinean Prime minister Lamine Sidibe, who underlined that Morocco is Guinea's "best friend and ally" in the continent in matters of fisheries cooperation.

He expressed thanks to Morocco which has always, he said, extended the required assistance to Guinea.

Khyari is leading the Moroccan delegation to the ministerial conference on fisheries cooperation between African Atlantic countries hosted by Conakry this October 14-15. The session was preceded October 12-13 by a meeting of experts.