Morocco, Russia Boosting Agricultural Cooperation

The two officials examined the agriculture strategies of their respective countries in addition to the means to facilitate the access of Morocco's agricultural products to the Russian market.

The meeting was also an opportunity to highlight the green Morocco plan which aims at boosting the contribution of agriculture to the GDP, developing agricultural production at the qualitative and quantitative levels, fostering agricultural products exports, and ensuring a rational use of irrigation water resources.

Morocco is willing to promote its exports to Russia to exceed 350,000 tons of fruits and vegetables, Akhannouch said.

For her part the Russian Minister underlined that Morocco remains an important African partner for Russian.

Renew Fisheries Agreement
Morocco and Russia renewed the three-year fisheries agreement sealed in 1995.

The agreement, which spans two years, was signed by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Aziz Akhannouch, and president of the Federal Agency for Fishery of the Russian Federation, André Karayni.

According to the accord, the authorized annual catch quota will be decreased by 50 % and the direct payment of the financial contribution by the Russian state.

The accord regards small pelagic from the South Atlantic, and allows Russian ships to fish in accordance with the Small Pelagic Development Plan, the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry said.

According to the agreement, ships will be monitored by satellites, scientific observers will be on board and the catches’ notifications will be transferred.

On the scientific level, both sides agreed on offering Moroccan students grants in Russian institutions and organizing prospecting campaigns to evaluate Morocco’s fisheries resources.

The signing of the agreement will reinforce bilateral economic relations and will open new cooperation prospects for both countries, said Akhannouch.

For his part, Karayni said that the new agreement reflects the depth of relations between Russia and Morocco and will contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two countries.