Editor’s Note: The following are excerpts from an interview with Moroccan Ambassador Saubry Abdeljalil.
The embassies of Morocco and Ukraine were established only 10 years ago in the respective nations, a sign of the fledging bilateral ties. However, the tradition of Moroccans pursuing education in Ukraine started during Soviet times and continues today.
More than 90 percent of the 1,200-member Moroccan community in Ukraine are students; most of them major in medicine, pharmacy and sciences. The rest are mainly former students who stayed to open restaurants or engage in small-scale trading.
The total bilateral trade between the two nations is only $300 million. Investment is scant on both sides. That’s why all our efforts are aimed at bolstering economic cooperation and attracting investment through promoting business opportunities in both nations.
The potential areas of export from Morocco to Ukraine are fruit, processed foodstuffs, seafood products, leather goods and textile. With regards to imports from Ukraine, possible areas include cereals, metal, wood, machinery, aviation sector and boat construction.
Several months ago, a delegation of Ukrainian businessmen visited Morocco to investigate possible areas of business involvement and in October we are to bring together Arab and Ukrainian business communities to catalyze interaction.
Africa should not be taken exclusively as a continent with many issues and troubles. It has vast natural and human resources and great economic potential.
Morocco is standing at the crossroads of the African, European and Arab worlds. That’s why tight coop eration with other African countries is essential for us. We have encouraged development of trade on the continent by dispensing debts and decreasing custom rates in assistance to the least advanced African countries.
Morocco signed more than 400 political, economic and technical agreements with African countries during the 2000-2010 decade.
Kyiv Post staff writer Nataliya Bugayova can be reached at [email protected].
Read also ”South Africa diplomat: My nation ‘has a lot to offer’ Ukrainians‘ , ‘‘World in Ukraine: Ukraine’s ties with African nations remain superficial‘ and ‘Nigerian ambassador: Trade balance is in Ukraine’s favor‘ by the author.
