December 14, 2017
The Indian and Moroccan delegations discussed matters relating to India-Morocco bilateral cooperation in road transport, water resources and the marine sector
The two countries signed and exchanged four MoUs and agreements, includng collaborations between Indian and Moroccan institutes of technical expertise
Following successful trade missions to and from Morocco, backed by supportive policies, bilateral trade rose to US$1.4 billion in 2016 from US$1.3 billion in 2015
One of India’s top imports from Morocco is phosphates, a crucial fertilizer ingredient; meanwhile India’s top exports to Morocco are pharmaceuticals and automobiles
India and Morocco have signed a host of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements covering a cross-section of industries. The deals come after a delegation of the Moroccan Government, led by Abdelkader Amara, the country’s Minister for Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water called on Shri Nitin Gadkari, India’s Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in New Delhi on December 14th. The two sides discussed matters relating to India-Morocco bilateral cooperation in road transport, water resources and the marine sector.
The two countries signed and exchanged the following MoUs and agreements – a MoU on cooperation in the field of water resources; an agreement to establish cooperation between the Indian Maritime University (IMU) and the Higher Institute of Maritime Studies (ISEM) of Morocco; a framework agreement for cooperation in training between the National Ports Agency (NPA) of Morocco and the Indian Maritime University (IMU); and a cooperation framework agreement between the Institute of Training in Engines and Road Maintenance of Morocco (IFEER) and Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE).
Beyond diplomatic ties, India and Morocco have been key trading partners for long. Following a series of successful trade delegations to and from Morocco, bilateral trade rose to US$1.4 billion in 2016 from US$1.3 billion in 2015. One of the key factors determining the importance of the relationship is India’s need for phosphates. Moroccan phosphate resources are among the most extensive in the world and this important Moroccan resource is critical for India. Phosphates are used for making fertilizers, and for an agrarian economy like India, this is a vital import. In return, India exports automobiles and pharmaceutical products to Morocco.