Argentina Shows Interest in FTA with Morocco

Argentina is interested in signing a free trade agreement with Morocco in order to foster bilateral trade, said Argentinian Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie who is on a visit to Rabat.

Speaking to the press following a meeting with Secretary of State for Fisheries, Mbarka Bouaida, the Argentinian official underscored that the FTA will help the two countries unlock their bilateral trade potential.

He highlighted in particular Morocco’s experience and assets in the field of fisheries, stressing the need to reinforce cooperation in this sector.

Hailing bilateral relations between Morocco and Argentina, the Foreign Minister called for deepening the economic partnership, particularly in agriculture, an area in which Argentina has a particular interest.

During his visit, the Argentinian official also met his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita. During the talks Faurie described Morocco as “ a strategic partner for the interests of Argentina in Africa”.

Faurie, who highlighted the Kingdom’s recent developments in several sectors, also commended the African policy and the initiatives of King Mohammed VI to broaden his country’s relations with several African states.

“We are expecting a lot of the relationship with Morocco because it is a very dynamic and visionary stakeholder” in Africa, he said, adding that “this relationship can help us to be more present in different countries on the continent.”

Argentina can take build on Morocco’s experience in this regard, he added, noting that “not only Argentina, but also Mercosur countries want to develop and expand their relations with Morocco”.

Morocco, he said, shares the same choices as Argentina, which has chosen integration with the Mercosur countries, recalling that Africa is moving in the same direction with the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).

He also noted that the two countries have diplomatic relations of nearly 60 years and that Rabat and Buenos Aires share a “very frank and concordant” dialogue on a number of bilateral and international issues. He stressed the importance to put more effort in the economic field to move forward in this relationship.

The Argentinian official also met Parliament Speaker Habib El Malki with whom he discussed a range of issues of mutual concern.