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Monday 4 December 2017

13th Morocco -Portugal High-Level Meeting on Dec. 4-5 in Rabat

Vocal synthesis
13th Morocco-Portugal High-Level Meeting on Dec. 4-5 in Rabat

Morocco, Portugal Sign 12 Cooperation Agreements in Strategic  Fields

Morocco and Portugal inked, on Tuesday in Rabat, 12 cooperation agreements in strategic fields with the aim of reinforcing bilateral cooperation.

The agreements, signed on the 13th session of the Morocco-Portugal High-Level Meeting, cover the economic, energy, cultural, civil service and health fields, as well as triangular cooperation with third countries.

A protocol for cooperation in the area of digital government and information technologies was signed by minister of investment, trade and digital economy, Moulay Hafid El Alamy, and Portuguese Secretary of State for Administrative Modernization, Graça Fonseca.

The two countries also inked a cooperation action plan in the maritime and port sector for the period 2018-2019, which was signed by minister of equipment, transport, logistics and water, Abdelkader Amara, and Portuguese minister of sea, Ana Paula Vitorino.

In the field of health, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by minister of equipment, transport, logistics and water, Abdelkader Amara, and Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Teresa Ribeiro.

A MoU on cooperation in the fields of geology and mining was signed by minister of energy, mining and sustainable development, Aziz Rabbah, and Portuguese minister of economy, Manuel Caldeira Cabral.

Also in the energy field, a MoU in the field of renewable energies between the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) and Portuguese State Secretariat for energy was signed by Chairman of MASEN’s board, Mustapha Bakkoury, and Manuel Caldeira Cabral.

A MoU between the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE) and the Portuguese Energy Agency (ADENE) was signed by Director General of AMEE, Said Mouline, and José Miguel Sales Dias, member of the ADENE’s Board.

Minister of tourism, air transport, handicraft and social economy, Mohamed Sajid, and Mr. Cabral signed an agreement for the implementation of a cooperation program in the field of tourism for the period 2017-2019.

In the cultural field, the two countries signed an agreement for the implementation of the Cultural and Scientific Agreement for the years 2018-2019-2020. The document was signed by minister of culture and communication, Mohamed Laaraj, and President of the Camoes - Instituto da Cooperaçao da Lingua, Luis Faro Ramos.

An agreement on film and audiovisual coproduction was signed by Mr. Laaraj and Ms. Ribeiro.

In the area of employment, a declaration of intent on cooperation in this sector was inked by minister of employment and vocational training, Mohamed Yatim, and Mrs. Ribeiro.

A MoU on triangular cooperation was signed by state secretary for foreign affairs and international cooperation, Mounia Boucetta, and Ms. Ribeiro.

Delegate minister for administrative and civil service reform, Mohamed Ben Abdelkader, and Mrs. Ribeiro signed a MoU for cooperation in the areas of civil service and modernization of the administration.

 The signing ceremony was co-chaired by head of government, Saad Eddine El Othmani, and Portuguese Prime minister, Antonio Costa.

-MAP-05/12/17

HM the King's African Policy Creates 'Important' Opportunities for Bilateral, Multilateral Cooperation in Continent, Portuguese PM

The African policy led by HM King Mohammed VI for the continent's development creates "important" opportunities at the bilateral and multilateral levels, said Tuesday in Rabat, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa.

"Together, we can do much for Africa's development", he underlined at the opening of the 13th session of the Morocco-Portugal high-level meeting, which he co-chairs with head of government Saad-Eddine El Othmani.

Costa, who thanked Morocco for its "precious" collaboration to stop forest fire that broke out in Portugal, highlighted the "strategic" cooperation between the two countries, notably in counterterrorism, the fight against radicalization and in the defence field.

He also noted the "substantial" growth of economic exchanges in recent years, emphasizing that this high-level meeting, which was attended by members of the Moroccan government and members of the Portuguese delegation, is the occasion to follow up the partnership bilaterally and multilaterally.

The Portuguese official stressed the importance of energy complementarity between Rabat and Lisbon, underscoring that the two countries have a huge potential and boast "excellent conditions" for the production of renewable energy, notably solar energy.

The Morocco and Portugal energy interconnection project, whose technical study is completed, "will allow us to not only create better conditions to amortize the investment's costs, but also ensure a better balance in different consumption phases that will reinforce our energy autonomy", he said.

 The Portuguese Prime Minister is accompanied by an important delegation composed of cabinet members, top officials and businessmen.

-MAP-05/12/17

Morocco, Portugal Set to Give New Impetus to Bilateral Cooperation

Morocco and Portugal reiterated on Tuesday in Rabat their determination to give a new impetus to bilateral cooperation, on the 13th session of the Morocco-Portugal high-level meeting.

On this occasion, head of government Saad Eddine El Othmani and Portuguese Prime minister Antonio Costa commended the “excellent” and "distinguished" relations of cooperation between the two countries and called to boost these ties, including through greater involvement of the private sector in both countries.

Speaking at a joint press conference with the Portuguese PM, El Othmani said that this high-level meeting takes place in the framework of the distinguished political relations between Rabat and Lisbon.

The two countries have decided, on this occasion, to give a new impetus to economic exchanges, increase investment flows and diversify sectoral partnerships, he said, recalling, in this regard, the opening on Tuesday of the Morocco-Portugal Economic Forum.

This meeting was an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the two countries since the last high-level meeting held in Lisbon in 2015, El Othmani said, noting that since that meeting, Morocco's political relations and economic ties with Portugal have been strengthened.

Talks held on this 13th session were an opportunity to highlight the "close cooperation" between Rabat and Lisbon within the European institutions and Portugal's support for the Kingdom's partnership with the European Union, he said.

El Othmani hailed, in this regard, the level of cooperation between the two countries at various regional and international fora, including the 5 + 5 dialogue and the Union for the Mediterranean, where the two countries are jointly working to secure a stable and prosperous Euro-Mediterranean space.

On the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, El Othmani said that this session was an opportunity to reaffirm the spirit of openness adopted by the Kingdom, while respecting its national constants.

He affirmed, in this framework, that the Kingdom remains committed to the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and the resolutions of the Security Council.

For his part, Portuguese Prime Minister mentioned the electricity interconnection project between Morocco and his country, which will contribute, according to him, to enhance the energy security of the two countries by diversifying their sources of energy.

Commenting the African policy led by HM King Mohammed VI, Mr. Costa said that the Sovereign is a “great reference not only in Africa but also in Europe".

Regarding the Sovereign's participation in the 5th African Union-European Union Summit held last week in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, he said that the presence of HM the King has "greatly added value" to this summit.

Portugal and Morocco can help implement a joint project turned towards Africa, he noted, adding that the partnership between the two countries can contribute to the development of Africa, in particular sub-Saharan Africa, which is a major challenge of the 21st century.

Regarding the issue of Morocco’s territorial integrity, the Portuguese Prime Minister said that his country supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and of his personal envoy for the Sahara.

Morocco and Portugal inked 12 cooperation agreements in strategic fields with the aim of reinforcing bilateral cooperation.

The agreements, signed on the 13th session of the Morocco-Portugal High-Level Meeting, cover the economic, energy, cultural, civil service and health fields, as well as triangular cooperation with third countries.

A Moroccan-Portuguese economic forum was held on this occasion, and brought together Portuguese enterprises and Moroccan economic operators.

-MAP-05/12/17

Portugal Hails Morocco's 'Leading Role' in Africa's Development

Portuguese Prime minister, Antonio Costa, hailed, Tuesday in Rabat, Morocco’s "leading role" in the development of the African continent, thanks to the "enlightened action" of HM King Mohammed VI.

Speaking at the opening of the Moroccan-Portuguese economic forum, held on the occasion of the bilateral high level meeting, Costa highlighted the policy implemented by Morocco to contribute to the development of Africa, the continent of the "future" that has a "huge potential" for development.

In this regard, the Portuguese Prime minister expressed the willingness of his country to develop partnerships with Morocco in order to strengthen its presence on the African continent, where the Kingdom "now plays a leading role" in several areas.

"We are capable of developing triangular cooperation in Africa," said Costa at the forum, held under the theme "Synergies for industrial co-investment," adding that such cooperation will open up new investment opportunities for both countries’ companies.

Portugal and Morocco have built, since the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation in 1994, a "solid legal framework" and laid the foundations for a "relationship of trust," stressed the Portuguese official, recalling that since 2016, Morocco has become the 10th customer of Portugal.

The number of Portuguese companies exporting to Morocco has steadily increased in recent years, he said, adding that the global amount of trade has reached one billion Euros annually.

Costa also noted that Portuguese investors have a "special interest" in the Moroccan market where nearly 300 Portuguese companies are already operational, describing as “huge” opportunities available for operators in both countries to give a new impetus to bilateral partnership, notably in the fields of energy, automotive industry, construction, agri-food, tourism, information and communication technologies and textiles.

-MAP-05/12/17

Portuguese PM Lauds African Policy Led by HM King Mohammed VI

Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa lauded, Monday in Rabat, the African policy led by HM King Mohammed VI, noting that the Portuguese people take a genuine interest in this approach.

Following a meeting with first vice-speaker of the house of advisors Abdessamad Kayouh, Costa lauded cooperation between Portuguese and Moroccan businesses at the level of the African continent, underlining that many promising fields could contribute to the development of a win-win partnership between the two parties, all the more so because the African policy advocated by Morocco makes the Kingdom a major regional partner for several countries in the continent.

According to a statement by the house of advisors, the Portuguese prime minister also hailed the solid friendship ties and shared past uniting Morocco and Portugal, calling on the two sides to exert more efforts to enhance their bilateral relation in order to encompass all areas.

Kayouh highlighted efforts made by Morocco to fight terrorism and immigration-related issues, stressing the need for an inclusive and advisory approach to address challenges linked to security and stability in the Mediterranean region.   

-MAP-05/12/17

The 13th Morocco-Portugal High-Level Meeting will take place on December 4-5 in Rabat, a statement by the head of government's office said on Sunday.

The meeting will be chaired by head of government Saâd Eddine El Othmani and Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa, who will lead an important delegation composed of government members, top officials and businessmen, it added.

The event will be marked by the signature of a series of cooperation agreements on the different fields.

During his visit to Morocco, the Portuguese prime minister will kick off, along with El Othmani, the Moroccan-Portuguese Economic Forum, it noted.

Costa will also meet with the head of government and the speakers of both houses of parliament, the source concluded.

-MAP-03/12/17