Pakistan and Morocco agree to boost Trade and Commercial ties

Pakistan and Morocco will give priority to boosting trade and commercial cooperation by finalizing Preferential Trade Agreement between the two countries at an early date. This was agreed in meeting between Advisor to Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz and Foreign Minister of Morocco Salahuddin Mizwar. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 20th Session of OIC’s Alquds Committee convened in this ancient Moroccan town. The two sides decided to call the second session of their Joint Ministerial Commission in April in Pakistan for which the Moroccan Foreign Minister will visit Pakistan. Pak-Morocco Joint Business Council will also be revived. Aziz said that a forward move in negotiations for a Pak-Morocco PTA, stalled since 2008, was imperative if the bilateral trade was to be enhanced which at present was in Morocco’s favor. The two sides also agreed to facilitate issue of business visas and increase exchange of business delegations to improve their commercial cooperation in addition to exploring extra means of doing this. Mizwar said that Morocco was a completely open market and would welcome increased business cooperation particularly with the brotherly Islamic nation of Pakistan. Both sides held that the closeness and goodwill that exited in political field must be reflected in economic and commercial cooperation.

Aziz said that the people of Pakistan look forward to welcome HM King Mohammad VI, under whom the Kingdom has made enviable progress in all fields. Frequency of bilateral visits on other levels should also be increased.

Mizwar lauded Pakistan’s active participation in the Alquds Committee meeting. He said that Pakistan has always played a proactive role in the Palestinian cause and resolving other issues facing the Muslim Ummah.

Islamabad

19 January,2014

09/2014