Tunisia to receive Moroccan businessmen in November

A Moroccan business delegation will pay a visit to Tunisia next November 25-27 to explore means of promoting trade exchanges between the two Maghreban states.

Moroccan-Tunisian talks will also survey the promotion of investments and partnership as well as the meeting of the standing joint technical committee entrusted with following up the economic and trade accords concluded between the two countries.

Morocco and Tunisia are bound by several cooperation accords, including an agreement setting up a free trade area concluded last March. The accord provides for the suppression of all duties on some 2,000 non-agricultural products carrying below 10 % customs duty.

The other custom duties will be gradually lowered up to the year 2007.

Bilateral trade is in favor of Morocco with a total amount of $ 103 million in 1998 against 90 million in 1997.

At the level of the Arab states, Morocco is Tunisia's second client and supplier, absorbing 10.3 % of Tunisia's exports and providing 12.2 % of the north African country's imports.

Morocco's exports to Tunisia are mainly made up of chemical wood paste, soluble coffee, tires, car spare parts, and industrial oils. The kingdom's imports from Tunisia consist of plastic items, electric transformers and TV sets.

Morocco and Tunisia are both member of the Arab Maghreb Union that also musters Algeria, Libya and Mauritania.