By Aisha Al-Asfour
KUWAIT, Oct 22 (KUNA) — King of Morocco Mohammed VI’s scheduled visit to Kuwait on Tuesday would result in affirming depth of the close ties between the two countries at various levels.
The Monarch visit to Kuwait, part of a regional tour that would include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, is aimed at cementing the bilateral relations between the brotherly states of Kuwait and Morocco, boosting commercial exchanges between the two countries and paving way for joint investments, particularly in shadow of newly-established strategic partnership bounding Morocco with the GCC states.
Kuwait is bound with Morocco with diplomatic and economic ties that have prospered due to the common Arab identity of peoples of the two countries, their advocacy of Islam and joint destiny. The relations were established in early 60s, when the late Monarch, Mohammed V, paid a much celebrated visit to the Gulf state. Other senior leaders of the two countries followed suit exchanging visits at the official level.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah paid a landmark visit to the kingdom in January last year. His Highness discussed with the current king, Mohammed VI, issues of joint interest, regional and international affairs.
The late Monarch, Hassan II, remains entrenched in Kuwaitis’ memory for his robust support for Kuwait during the flagrant Saddami aggression on the country in 1990. Morocco had also rejected expansionist schemes against Kuwait by the late Iraqi ruler, Abdel Karim Kassem.
As to commercial ties between Kuwait and Morocco, the two countries worked out the first agreement in 1975, stipulating cooperation in air transports, followed by another one for cooperation in investments and development, in 1980. Later, they worked out a chain of other agreements covering trade, economy, investments, tourism, media, customs, sports, judiciary, tourism and media.
Moreover, Kuwait and Rabat signed an agreement for averting double taxation and a memorandum of understanding allowing Kuwaiti and Moroccan citizens carrying diplomatic passports and those of special services status to travel to the two countries without a visa.
Moroccan External Trade Minister Abdel-Latif Maazouz had stated that Kuwaiti entrepreneurs were the first among foreign businessmen to launch businesses in the country in 2009, that they ranked second, among the foreign investors, in 2010. In the following year, volume of the Kuwaiti investments in the kingdom reached USD one billion.
The supreme Kuwaiti-Moroccan Commission constitutes the legal framework that regulates cooperation between the two brotherly countries. Number of signed agreements and protocols, signed in 2011, reached 65, in addition to continuous coordination at various levels.
The joint committee is scheduled to hold its next meeting in Kuwait by the year-end.
Earlier this year, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) signed an agreement with the Moroccan press agency stipulating mutual cooperation in training and media expertise. The Kuwaiti-Moroccan meeting was held in the Moroccan city, Casablanca, in June, discussing means of enhancing level of the bilateral ties.
At the level of assistance, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), lent Morocco KD 15 million, in 1996, to finance construction of Rabat-Ares road. Another loan agreement, valued KD 15 million, was signed for the Fez-Wjdah road.
GCC countries, in May 2011, called on Morocco, as well as Jordan, to join the GCC. They also endorsed a program for funding development projects in the two countries, and up to USD 10 billion were earmarked for five years to back up development projects in Moroccan and Jordan. (end) aya.tb.rk KUNA 221639 Oct 12NNNN
