Morocco boasts very varied weather, cities, populations, productions, activities and customs, but is nevertheless a united country. From Tanger to Dakhla, Oujda to Laayoune, it is the same country with the same people devoted to their traditions and standards of living as well as modernity and progress.

Morocco –Casablanca more specifically– will host MAIREX 2003 (1 – 10 June 2003), the first ever exhibition and trade fair exclusive to Iranian goods. In our previous issue, we at Iran International Magazine set foot on a mission to familiarize Iran and Morocco with one another. As the MAIREX 2003 steadily approaches, we remain committed to our undertaking and are determined to highlight the historical, cultural and especially economical ties of Iran and Morocco. What better way of achieving this task than by speaking with –the pioneers of this progress– the Ambassadors of the two countries?

What follows are the comments of His Excellency Jamal Eddine Ghazi, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and an interview with His Excellency Mohammadreza Bakhtiari, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Kingdom of Morocco, where they give an overview of the ties between Iran and Morocco and where their historical bonds of the past will lead them in the future.

On the eve of the Iranian New Year 1382 and the beginning of the Norouz festivities, I would like to seize this auspicious opportunity to extend my best wishes of serenity and prosperity to the brotherly people of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Kingdom of Morocco, throughout its history, has always maintained an open minded spirit in the conduct of its foreign relations; its policy resides upon dialogue and tolerance, the pillars of peace and prosperity worldwide.

In the economic arena, the Moroccan government has pursued a reform program, supported by the international Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, since the early 1980s. It has restrained government spending, revised the tax system, reformed the banking system, followed appropriate monetary policies, eased import restrictions, lowered tariffs, and liberalized foreign exchange regulations. These statutory reforms aim at establishing a competitive business environment while boosting foreign investors’ interest in Morocco.

His Majesty King Mohammed VI has said:

{{ Our Kingdom has seen reforms that have had tangible repercussions on the economic situation, but our ambition is to widen prospects for growth even further by promoting small and medium sized enterprises, and encouraging both national and foreign, public and private investment, while encouraging the private sector to be more entrepreneurial … }}

Therefore, Morocco welcomes foreign investors and provides them with the same rights and advantages as it does its local investors. There is no activity for which foreign investment is prohibited or restricted. Profits, sell-offs and liquidation funds can be fully transferred to the country of origin. The already existing investment laws have been improved through a new charter that responds more efficiently to the needs of investors.

The Kingdom is also pursuing an aggressive privatization program that started in 1993. Already 27 firms and 18 hotels have been sold, raising $1.4 billion in revenue and new investments. The privatization took place through a mixture of open tenders, public issues, through the stock exchange open to all investors, and trade sales. Still some more firms remain to be sold; many of which will be of interest to foreign investors. In addition, plans are being made for the privatization of the telecommunications, water supply and energy sectors.

Morocco boasts:

• The largest phosphate reserves in the world (75% of world reserves, with an annual output is 22.2 million tons).

• A diverse agricultural (including aquaculture) sector, generating 11.3% of the GDP (including fisheries and forest activities), 40% of employment and 31% of exports.

• A very active industrial sector (including phosphates processing) that plays a leading role in the Moroccan economy.

• An ever-growing manufacturing sector, including:

• Food processing industries

• Fisheries

• Textile and leather industries,

• Mining industries (separate from phosphate production)

• A large tourism industry, which is a dynamic and expanding sector and earned 18.8 billion dirhams in 1999.

• A considerable inflow of funds from Moroccans working abroad.

The bilateral relations between Morocco and Iran have witnessed quite a development in recent years, thanks to the determination of their leaders. It is governed today by a number of legal instruments that, if applied fully, will further boost relations in all fields, including of course, economy and trade.

Therefore, it is the role of the private sector, business community and investors of both countries to look for and take advantage of all existing opportunities, in an attempt to establish two-way exchange collaboration in all sectors, which undoubtedly will enhance the Morocco-Iranian cooperation.

Finally, I would like also to take this opportunity to present my gratitude to the Mehan Paknam Co. Ltd, which is preparing for the organization of the Trade Fair "MAIREX 2003" ( 1 – 10 June 2003 ), in Casablanca, for its endeavor to promote economic and trade exchange between Morocco and Iran. Both encounters fall perfectly well under the genuine foreign policy of Iran and Morocco, which advocates understanding, comprehension and cooperation among people and nations.

The challenge of economic globalization and its effect on Islamic countries means that the time is right for expanding economic ties and establishing a common market of Islamic countries. This policy is currently being pushed through the OIC. Moroccan officials also look forward to a strong economic bloc of Islamic countries. All of this has led to a promising progress in exchange of delegations on legal, financial and economic matters. With the entrenchment of these relationships it is hoped that the Islamic world can meet global challenges head-on.

Since the level of political relations between Iran and Morocco has been promoted in 1993, there have been attempts to achieve a similar boost in trade and commercial ties between the two. Morocco has held several exhibitions showcasing Iranian products since 1995, which have been met with enthusiasm from Moroccan people and merchants alike. We will soon be having an exhibition exclusive to Iranian goods in Casablanca. Sometimes Moroccan merchants and industry owners are not familiar with the quality standards of Iranian good –especially in industrial sectors. This exclusive exhibition will serve to introduce our capabilities to the Moroccan market. We have been in contact with the Industrial Confederation of Morocco, its chamber of commerce and other industrial and commercial institutions –state-owned and private sector– to not only familiarize them with Iran’s capabilities, but also to invite them to take part in international exhibitions held in Tehran. It is the responsibility of our embassy’s economic department to provide whatever information it can on the capacity and potential for joint economic endeavors.