Africa-Press – Angola. The bilateral relationship between Angola and Morocco is characterized by an “active partnership”, according to the permanent representative of the Republic of Angola to the United Nations Office and other organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, Margarida Izata.
Quoted in a press release, the ambassador was also speaking during the session dedicated to the sixth review of Morocco’s trade policy, which takes place on the 22nd and 24th of this month, at the headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) , in Switzerland.
On the occasion, he said that, despite the modest partnership between Angola and Morocco, both countries are active in the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTFA), in addition to being members of the WTO since 1995 and 1996, respectively.
He highlighted that, during 2022, Angola exported to Morocco mainly food waste and related substances, consisting of bran, coffee, tea, mate and spices, whereas previously Angola imported essentially chemical and mineral products and processed fish from Morocco.
According to the diplomat, the commercial relationship can be considered “very modest and unbalanced”, a fact that requires further development in the coming years.
He considered that commercial relations between the two countries are still far below expectations, therefore, he assured of paving the way to raise cooperation to the level of an active partnership and build new economic and commercial ties, as well as profitable investments.
The ambassador, who led the Angolan delegation to the event, welcomed the important result of the sixth assessment of Morocco’s trade policies and practices, emphasizing that the Moroccan report and the WTO secretariat provided an exhaustive analysis of Morocco’s economic and trade developments over the last seven years.
He acknowledged, on the other hand, that it is remarkable to note that despite the global pandemic crisis and recent years of dramatic confrontations and geopolitical changes, Morocco grew at an average of 2.1% per year, mobilizing a consolidated democracy, economic diversification and global investments in human development.
“Angola praises Morocco’s continued commitment and hard work in framing and supporting the most relevant initiatives of the African Group. We also applaud Morocco’s sincere efforts to promote the integration of African and Arab countries into the WTO”, he praised.
He also recalled that, in the course of 2023, Morocco also became the main African destination for Foreign Direct Investment, the main internal African investor in West Africa and the second largest African investor across the continent.
For Ambassador Margarida Izata, the positive and resilient evolution of the Moroccan economy since 2016 is due to fundamental reforms, implemented alongside the opening of trade policies to international markets, through the application of various trade agreements at bilateral, regional and multilateral level, negotiation of new agreements and greater organization and transparency of commercial practices.
The Trade Policy Review (EPC) is part of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (MEPC), which aims to help WTO Member States comply with the rules, disciplines and commitments of the agreements of this international organization.
Last March, Angola was subjected to the same exercise, having been represented by a delegation led by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Rui Miguêns de Oliveira.
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