Morocco, Bulgaria sign cooperation agreement

Morocco and Bulgaria signed in Rabat on Tuesday a cooperation agreement to promote and develop relations in agriculture and forests.

The two countries agreed to encourage all private initiatives likely to consolidate partnership and trade of agricultural produce.

The document was signed by Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries Habib El Malki and visiting Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture, Forests and Agrarian Reform Ventsislav Varbanov.

The two countries also agreed to cooperate in animal stock and plant diseases and exchange statistics on animal infectious and parasite diseases.

On Monday, the two countries exchanged ratification documents of a non-double taxation agreement, signed in 1996. Under the agreement, individuals and companies of the two countries will not be liable to double taxes on income and wealth.

Morocco's imports from Bulgaria --made up of natural and chemical fertilizers, wheat, copper and equipment used in food industry-- totalled $7.5 million in 1997, while exports, mainly phosphates and lead, were valued at $10.5 million.

The high joint commission is scheduled to convene next March.