Secretary (CPV&OIA) also interacted with Moroccan ITEC alumni as well as the Indian community and Indian business leaders…reports Asian Lite News
The friendly bilateral relations between India and Morocco received a further impetus with the recent visit of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary Ausaf Sayeed.
During the visit from November 22-25, Secretary (CPV&OIA) Ausaf Sayeed co-chaired the India-Morocco Foreign Office Consultations and held bilateral meetings during which the two sides resolved to further expand & strengthen bilateral partnership in different domains.
Sayeed also represented India at the 9th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), which took place in Fez on November 22–23.
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The Secretary (CPV&OIA) met with Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali in Rabat to discuss bilateral cooperation in the fields of fertilizers, renewable energy, climate change, the MEA said.
He co-chaired the fifth round of India-Morocco Foreign Office Consultations, during which a wide variety of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest were discussed.
Secretary (CPV&OIA) also interacted with Moroccan ITEC alumni as well as the Indian community and Indian business leaders.
According to the MEA, “the visit provided further impetus to the bilateral friendly relations between the two countries the two countries”.
India and Morocco are now experiencing record-breaking levels of bilateral trade (USD 3.2 billion in 2021-22). About 40 Indian companies in diverse sectors are operating in Morocco.
A sizeable number of candidates from Morocco have been benefiting from India’s capacity building programmes, including ITEC. Both sides are keen to enhance the level of economic engagement and people to people exchanges, the MEA added.
“Secretary (CPV & OIA) @drausaf co-chaired 5th India-Morocco Foreign Office Consultations in Rabat. Both sides resolved to further expand & strengthen bilateral partnership in different domains,” Indian Embassy in Morocco said in a tweet.
Earlier in September, Girish Chandra Murmu, Comptroller and Auditor General of India and Zineb El Adaoui, the first President of the Court of Accounts, Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation between the supreme auditing bodies of the two countries. Both sides agreed to conduct training programmes in their respective countries and explore other means of capacity development support.
For long, India has been one of the major markets for Moroccan phosphates and its derivatives. India’s export basket to Morocco has also grown significantly in recent years.
The main items of India’s exports to Morocco are cotton yarn, synthetic fibre, chemicals, manufactured metals, machinery and instrument, transport equipment, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts and spices.
Main items of Moroccan export to India are phosphoric acid, phosphate, metallic ores and metal spray and inorganic chemicals.
Relations between India and Morocco go back to the 14th century when the famous traveller and writer from Tangier, Ibn Batuta, travelled to India. In modern history, India was active in the UN supporting the Moroccan freedom movement and recognised Morocco on June 20, 1956 immediately after its independence. Diplomatic relations were established in 1957.
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