Highlights

Programme to support the agricultural sector policy: the Signing of a Financing Agreement with the EU

17/12/2010
Programme to support the agricultural sector policy: the Signing of a Financing Agreement with the EU

Mr. Salaheddine Mezouar, Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Aziz AKHANNOUCH, Minister of Agriculture and Maritime Fishing and His Excellency Mr. Eneko LANDABURU, Ambassador, Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Rabat signed Friday, December 17th 2010 at the Ministry of Economy and Finance the financing agreement program to support the agricultural sector policy.

Mr. MEZOUAR stressed that community support amounting to 70 million Euros (about 770 million DH) is an important competition to achieve the targets set within the Green Morocco Plan, namely its Pillar II whose total cost is estimated at 20 billion DH.

He noted that with the signing of this agreement, the commitment rate (the signed agreements) to finance the National Indicative Programme 2007/2010, will reach 92% of the overall amount of the signed agreements by nearly 664 million Euros (about 7.3 million DH).

For his part, Mr. AKHANNOUCH recalled that Morocco`s Green Plan, two years after its implementation, has been strengthened and made operational, providing visibility to national and international stakeholders. He also stressed the progress made over the past two years on different levels namely the organization of the sector and its management.

Mr. AKHANNOUCH noted that this program includes a set of structured projects for the harmonious development of agriculture based on solidarity in four integral parts of our country: the Oriental, the Boulemane, Tafilalet and Draa.

It`s worth noting that the areas selected within the framework of this gift are the date palm, olive, red meat and other regional products that are of high importance in these regions. The financing of structuring reforms projects vital to Moroccan economy.

The two ministers stressed the important socioeconomic benefits that will result from this ambitious strategy in the years to come. This strategy is based on two pillars: Pillar I is on the development of modern agriculture with high added value, pillar II concerns the inclusive upgrade of agricultural production patterns in areas with fragile economy by improving the incomes of farmers.

After the ceremony, the Ministers and the Ambassador, Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Rabat welcomed the level and quality of cooperation ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the EU and affirm their commitment to working to strengthen them.