On January 31, 2006, the trade exchanges between the two countries
amounted to 11.08 million dollars, Romania exporting to Morocco
productsworth 10.68 million dollars and importing goods worth 0.40 million
dollars.
Romania exports to Morocco Dacia Logan cars, wood, steel products,
chemicals, fertilizers, sanitary equipment, consumer goods, synthetic fibres
and yarns, etc. From Morocco it imports phosphates (more than 90 percent),
tinned vegetables, tinned fish, citrus fruits, footwear, textiles.
The Romanian-Moroccan Business Forum was hosted on Tuesday by Romania's
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIR) and was an occasion for both
countries' businessmen to identify new business opportunities and joint
interest fields.
The event was presided by CCIR vice-president Aurel Vainer and included among the participants Minister of Economy and Trade Codrut Seres representing the Romanian Government, and Minister of Industry, Trade and Economy Upgrading Salahaddine Mezouar, Director of Industrial Production Jamal Eddine El Jamali and His Excellency Lahcen Azoulay, Morocco's Ambassador in Bucharest, representing Morocco.
The Minister of Economy from Morocco was keen on underlining the advantages the Romanian businessmen would derive from the relation of his own country, both with the Arab world and with African countries.
"Morocco's geographic and geo-strategic position is interesting and
attractive for exports. As well, it can widen the business range for
Romanian investors," said Salahaddine Mezouar.
The Forum was followed by a session of bilateral discussions between
businessmen from the two countries.
The economic relations between Romania and Morocco dropped until 2000
(from 53.1 million dollars in 1995 to 40.7 million dollars in 2000) and then
they followed an upward trend, attaining the level of 93.38 million dollars
in 2005.
Imports of phosphates stood at 850,000 tonnes annually in 1989, recording
asharp drop until the end of the 90s (89,000 tonnes in 1998). In the past
two years, there has been a growing tendency, with 300,000 tonnes in
2005.
Romanian Foreign Ministry's state secretary for global affairs Teodor Baconschi and visiting Moroccan Minister of Industry, Trade and Economy Upgrading Salaheddine Mezouar expressed the wish to expand their two states' economic cooperation during a meeting here on Tuesday.
The Romanian side reiterated the domestic companies' readiness and capability to take part in infrastructure projects in Morocco, like port works and welfare constructions. Also mentioned was tourism, which is another area of cooperation having a particular potential for the bilateral relations.
Baconschi and Mezouar highlighted the excellent political relations between Romania and Morocco, but stressed that the economic cooperation should be boosted so as to make better use of the two countries' potential.
Therefore, the two officials pronounced for stepped up contacts between the Romanian and Moroccan business circles, to be conducted on a regular basis. The Romanian side voiced satisfaction that the Moroccan minister is accompanied by a group of important business executives.
Mezouar is paying an official visit to Romania at the invitation of Economy and Trade Minister Ioan Codrut Seres.
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