Morocco supports India's UN bid

New Delhi, June 26 (UNI) Morocco today supported India's permanent candidature to the UN Security Council and expressed desire for closer cultural ties between the two countries.

Morocco's Foreign Minister, Mohammed Benaissa, who arrived here last night on a two-day official visit to India, called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Minister of State for External Affairs and discussed cultural and economic cooperation with them. He also discussed bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The Foreign Minister who also is a former Culture Minister, underlined the possibilities of closer cultural cooperation between the two countries and a number of cultural exchange activities are planned.

Indian films are a major hit in Morocco and an annual week-long festival is held in Morocco. The Cultural Exchange Programme is likely to come into effect next year which will focus on youth exchanges as well as bringing together not just Indian and Moroccan but Asian and African cultures.

An External Affairs Ministry spokesman said bilateral relations had witnessed significant growth over the last decade as underlined by the exchange of high-level visits.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Morocco in February 1999. Mr Ahamed visited Morocco in May 2005 while former Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi visited India in 2000.

King Mohammed VIth visited in 2001 and also paid private visits in 2003 and 2005.

The bilateral relations cover many aspects and sectors encompassing political, commercial and cultural cooperation.

On the bilateral economic and trade relations, the growing sectors of mutual interest are phosphates, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, power, IT, education, telecommunications and tourism.

Bilateral trade saw a steady growth and reached 575 million US Dollars in 2005. Indian companies are taking increasing interest in Moroccan market for investment and trade.

Morocco investment is also flowing into India, particularly in the phosphates sector.

UNI RB MIR RS2005