"Our commitment to reinforcing our standing on the United Kingdom's economic scene has put Morocco at the heart of the British operators' agenda as the kingdom represents a true partner that is open to businesses and a hub in the Mediterranean region," the Moroccan diplomat underlined at the opening of the first day on Moroccan-British trade, held in London.

    Trade between the two countries reached £ 1 billion in 2008, the diplomat recalled, adding that Morocco’s imports from the United Kingdom represent two-thirds of this number.

    The United Kingdom is Morocco's 7th customer and 9th supplier, Chrifa Lalla Joumala Alaoui said, underlining that the north African country is the UK's first trading partner in the Maghreb region.

    The diplomat added that the Moroccan-British relations have great prospects of stronger cooperation, which can be revitalized through Morocco's commitment towards trade liberalization and modernization, as evidenced by the several free trade agreements inked by Morocco, and the north African Kingdom’s huge improvements, particularly in terms of port infrastructure and exceptional attractiveness.

    “Morocco’s free trade agreements with Europe, the United States, Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan are turning the north African country into a platform of production and export, which offers access to a region of over 1.3 billion consumers,” Chrifa Lalla Joumala Alaoui said.