Catalan President stresses both Spain, Catalonia can offer Morocco exactly same things as France does, but with better deals.
Middle East Online
By Saad Guerraoui – CASABLANCA, Morocco
Morocco is an important strategic partner for Catalonia as it is the third most important market in the world for both Spain and Catalonia after the US and Turkey, Artur Mas, President of the Catalan government, said on Thursday.
More than 125 Catalan companies and around 200 entrepreneurs accompanied Mas to Morocco in order to boost institutional and economic ties with the North African kingdom.
“Today is the most significant day because it is a day of the economy and entrepreneurship,” said Mas at the Forum “Towards a new economic cooperation between Morocco and Catalonia” held in Casablanca.
The Forum has been held by the Catalonian Enterprise Support Agency (ACC10) and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) to discuss economic cooperation between the two Morocco and Catalonia on a number of issues, including industry, agriculture and tourism.
“Morocco is a country full of opportunities and has concrete plans. There are common fields of cooperation, mutual interests and opportunities from which Catalan firms should benefit,” said Mas.
Morocco’s Minister of Trade, Industry and new technologies Abdelkader Aamara said that his country is offering Catalan businessmen a favourable environment for investment supported logistically and judicially.
“In the past, we used to say to our European friends that we are a politically stable country close to Europe. However, they were asking us what Morocco could offer them,” said Aamara
“In the last few years, we have had many offers in many sectors, including agriculture tourism and fisheries. We want to turn these offers into attractive investments in Morocco,” he added.
Catalonia is among Morocco’s major economic and trading partners. The region’s firms constitute some 40% of Spanish firms based in Morocco, with 55% of Spanish investments from Catalonia.
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| Signing of a cooperation agreement |
In 2010, Catalonia’s exports to the Kingdom stood at 670 million euros, which represents 21.75% of Spanish exports. Its imports from Morocco reached 433 million euros (18.19% of Moroccan exports to Spain).
Mas, who rules the richest and most highly industrialized part of Spain, called on Morocco to lessen its dependence on its long-time partner France.
“France is a strategic and big partner of Morocco. However, Spain in general and Catalonia in particular can offer the kingdom exactly the same things as the French but with better deals,” said Mas to the laughter and applause of the audience.
Europe is now eyeing investment opportunities in its neighbouring Mediterranean countries as its economy has been severely affected by the international economic meltdown.
Last month the European Parliament approved an agricultural and fisheries trade agreement with Morocco.
The agreement lifted tariffs on 55 percent of Moroccan farm exports to the 27-nation European Union compared to 33 percent today. Morocco will in return eliminate tariffs on 70 percent of agricultural imports from the EU within 10 years, compared to 1.0 percent now.
Dr. Saad Guerraoui is senior editor at Middle East Online
