The Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, highlighted, in an interview granted to the Chinese public television channel CGTN, the “very strong” commercial relations existing between Morocco and China.
“Morocco-China trade relations are already very strong and the two countries have set up a working group aimed at further strengthening these ties and bringing them to their potential”, Mezzour indicated in this interview granted on the occasion of his visit to China, at the head of a delegation, to take part in the 3rd edition of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (June 29-July 2).
In this sense, the minister dwelt on the memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries last November, aimed at facilitating and promoting Morocco-China trade. “It is a question of synchronizing the procedures so that Moroccan exports have more fluid access to the Chinese market and vice versa, while facilitating investments on both sides,” he explained.
For the Minister, smoothing trade between the two countries is the first step, to be followed by efforts to ensure that industrial systems operate in an integrated manner so that Chinese companies can benefit from Moroccan competitiveness when they wish to develop their presence on Moroccan or continental markets, and vice versa.
The third step, continued Mezzour, is Sino-Moroccan cooperation for the development of the African continent, “cooperation on which we share the same approach of co-development and shared prosperity”. “The goal is for Chinese exports to the continent and particularly to Morocco, to be better valued and create more jobs for Africans,” he explained.
In addition, the Minister noted that a significant acceleration in investment projects between the two countries has been noted within the framework of the “Belt and Road” initiative, also recalling that the Kingdom was among the first African countries to join this initiative, which has raised the strategic partnership between Morocco and China to a new level.
In addition, Mezzour highlighted the major reforms carried out by the Kingdom under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. “Morocco is working in favor of a population that is better and better trained, with different aspirations”, he said, indicating that the economic fabric of the country is thus in the process of being modernized to allow these young skills better express themselves and fully exploit their potential.
With regard to the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, the Minister noted that it is an “important” initiative which makes it possible to take stock of the progress made in terms of bilateral and multi-party cooperation while evaluating new ways to strengthen these relationships.
China is an extremely important partner for Africa, and Morocco, as a country with a fairly advanced continental policy, wishes to develop, alongside China, joint action vis-à-vis other African countries. , said Mr. Mezzour.
Morocco took part in the China-Africa Expo with a digital stand that highlighted the Kingdom’s African leadership in the economic, commercial and environmental fields, with a focus on the automotive, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and textiles.
The Moroccan participation also made it possible to highlight the Kingdom’s efforts in the fight against climate change and the elimination of carbon.
Held every two years, the expo aims to establish a new mechanism for economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa, and serve as a new platform for economic and trade initiatives between the two sides.