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Trade cooperation and development potential between Morocco and Russia were the main focus of the preparatory meeting of the 8th session of the Moroccan-Russian Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which took place Wednesday via video-conference.
Speaking at the opening of this meeting, Russian Minister of Agriculture, Dmitry Patrushev said he hoped that the stabilization of the current economic situation will restore and increase trade between Morocco and Russia.
Patrushev, who co-chairs the Morocco-Russia Joint Commission noted that «the adoption of new regulatory bases will be a guarantee for the consolidation of the partnership between the two countries», referring in that regard to a set of documents «to be finalized and harmonized».
On agriculture and food products, Patrushev hoped that both parties will succeed in reversing the negative trend in trade figures, expressing the interest of the Russian exporters in increasing their deliveries to the Moroccan agrarian market.
On industry, he underlined the «enormous potential» for development in several directions, mainly in the automotive, pharmaceutical, energy and chemical industries.
For his part, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita identified five areas to be developed, in order to advance the multisectoral partnership between Morocco and Russia.
These are the completion of the legal framework between the two countries; including agreements ready for signing in the sectors of aviation and customs, in addition to finalizing agreements on maritime transport and cross-border crime.
Focusing on investments to which the partners have not given a great impetus, Morocco's FM proposed holding a Morocco-Russia Investment Forum to highlight the potential and opportunities Morocco offers to Russian investors.
The minister also mentioned joint economic operations on the African continent, as well as areas of traditional cooperation.
The minister also tackled the issue of human exchanges, noting that waiving visa requirements for Russian citizens has not impacted the arrival of tourists, which explains the need to further promote Morocco to the Russians. On education, Bourita called for expanding scientific research, high technology and university twinning.
