Morocco May become Japan's 'Largest Trade Partner" in Africa: Official
Rabat - Morocco may become Japan's "largest trade partner' in Africa while Japan can be "the Kingdom's first partner in Asia", said Monday in Rabat minister delegate to the minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans abroad, Mohcine Jazouli. The Japanese official is leading a delegation of officials from the public and private sectors to Morocco.
Speaking to reporters following talks with Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nakatani Shinichi, Jazouli said trade between Morocco and Japan represents 4.5% of trade between Morocco and Asia and 2.7% of trade between Japan and Africa. Morocco seeks to become the largest trade partner of Japan in Africa, while Japan can become "the largest partner of the Kingdom in Asia", he added.
Economic and commercial relations between the two parties are developing thanks to concrete projects and the presence of Japanese companies in Morocco, El Jazouli noted, adding that 71 Japanese companies are present in Morocco and employ more than 40,000 people. The two countries signed, last month at the 5th joint Morocco-Japan commission, two important agreements to strengthen economic relations which represent "an appropriate framework to increase trade and investment between the two countries”, he said, adding that the Kingdom has experienced a "new dynamic" thanks to a "global vision" which has enabled it to open up on its continent.
As part of this dynamic, the private sector is "strongly" present, El Jazouli said, adding that Morocco seeks to become "a delocalized platform for Japanese industrial exports to the African continent and to the Mediterranean region". Regarding tripartite cooperation, the Moroccan official underscored "the importance" of the programs carried out in this regard and which benefit African partner countries.
He also commended the good relations between Morocco and Japan, noting that these relations are marked by the deep friendship between the Moroccan Royal family and the Japanese Imperial family. For his part, Shinichi reiterated his thanks for "this opportunity" which allows twenty Japanese companies to be represented in Morocco.
The Japanese official commended Morocco's potential, explaining the choice of Japan to invest in Morocco in particular by the interest that the companies of the private sector show towards the North-African country. Morocco also represents a "gateway" to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and North America, he said, adding that he hopes that his visit to Morocco at the head of a large delegation will build up "a network" and "a strong relationship" with Moroccan companies.
Through this visit, "we hope to strengthen economic relations between Moroccan and Japanese companies", said, for his part, general manager of Mitsui OSK Lines, Masao Fukushima, who expressed the hope to see the number of Japanese companies in Morocco increase, thanks to the support of the Kingdom. The meeting between the two officials was an opportunity to discuss diplomatic relations between the two countries as well as the means to give new impetus to bilateral relations.
Speaking to reporters following talks with Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nakatani Shinichi, Jazouli said trade between Morocco and Japan represents 4.5% of trade between Morocco and Asia and 2.7% of trade between Japan and Africa. Morocco seeks to become the largest trade partner of Japan in Africa, while Japan can become "the largest partner of the Kingdom in Asia", he added.
Economic and commercial relations between the two parties are developing thanks to concrete projects and the presence of Japanese companies in Morocco, El Jazouli noted, adding that 71 Japanese companies are present in Morocco and employ more than 40,000 people. The two countries signed, last month at the 5th joint Morocco-Japan commission, two important agreements to strengthen economic relations which represent "an appropriate framework to increase trade and investment between the two countries”, he said, adding that the Kingdom has experienced a "new dynamic" thanks to a "global vision" which has enabled it to open up on its continent.
As part of this dynamic, the private sector is "strongly" present, El Jazouli said, adding that Morocco seeks to become "a delocalized platform for Japanese industrial exports to the African continent and to the Mediterranean region". Regarding tripartite cooperation, the Moroccan official underscored "the importance" of the programs carried out in this regard and which benefit African partner countries.
He also commended the good relations between Morocco and Japan, noting that these relations are marked by the deep friendship between the Moroccan Royal family and the Japanese Imperial family. For his part, Shinichi reiterated his thanks for "this opportunity" which allows twenty Japanese companies to be represented in Morocco.
The Japanese official commended Morocco's potential, explaining the choice of Japan to invest in Morocco in particular by the interest that the companies of the private sector show towards the North-African country. Morocco also represents a "gateway" to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and North America, he said, adding that he hopes that his visit to Morocco at the head of a large delegation will build up "a network" and "a strong relationship" with Moroccan companies.
Through this visit, "we hope to strengthen economic relations between Moroccan and Japanese companies", said, for his part, general manager of Mitsui OSK Lines, Masao Fukushima, who expressed the hope to see the number of Japanese companies in Morocco increase, thanks to the support of the Kingdom. The meeting between the two officials was an opportunity to discuss diplomatic relations between the two countries as well as the means to give new impetus to bilateral relations.
Source : https://www.emouaten.com/english/Morocco-May-becom...