Mr. Sallaheddine MEZZOUAR, Minister of Economy and Finance, met with Mrs. Anne Marie IDRAC, the French Under Secretary of State in charge of Foreign Traded on Friday November 14th, 2008 in the ministry`s head office.
Mr. MEZZOUAR and Mrs. IDRAC expressed their satisfaction at the constant and positive dynamic that characterizes relations between Morocco and France.
The two ministers equally discussed the international financial crisis and its impact on world economy and particularly on the economies of the two countries. Mr. MEZZOUAR indicated that this crisis had not had then a direct impact on Moroccan economy, mainly because the fundamentals of Moroccan economy are solid but also because Moroccan financial institutions had not been exposed to what was going on in the international financial market.
Mr. MEZZOUAR seized this opportunity to express Morocco`s satisfaction for the French government support during the Advanced Status negotiations. Mr. MEZZOUAR emphasized that the outcome of such a status would start a new phase wherein the privileged partnership that relates Morocco to the EU would have to explore novel cooperation fields at the political, economic and social level.
In her turn, Mrs. IDRAC extended her congratulations to his Excellency the minister for the outcome of the advanced status negotiations. She underlined that by granting Morocco such an advanced status, the EU acknowledges the gigantic advances that Morocco has achieved so far in political, economic and social reforms and social cohesion.
The two ministers then moved to review infrastructure and transport projects endorsed by the government of the Republic of France related to a 625 loan to finance the rolling stock and railroad equipment for the Casablanca-Tangiers TGV.
Finally Mr. MEZZOUAR and Mrs. IDRAC noted the positive evolution of the economic and financial cooperation between Morocco and France and reiterated their determination to consolidate such cooperation.
Were present in the meeting: from the Moroccan side, his Excellency the Minister of Transport and Equipment, the President Director General of ONCF (The Moroccan Rail Office), and other senior executives from the Ministry of Economy and Finance. As to the French side, there was his Excellency the Ambassador of France to Morocco as well as the staff accompanying her Excellency the Under Secretary of State.