Agriculture Represents 77% of Moroccan Exports to Russia (Minister)

Rabat – Agricultural products represent 77 pc of Moroccan exports to Russia, estimated at 1.5 billion dirhams, said, Thursday in Rabat, minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forestry, Aziz Akhannouch.

Speaking at a business breakfast devoted to strengthening trade and economic relations between Morocco and Russia, particularly in priority sectors, Akhannouch said that citrus fruits top agricultural exports, followed by fruits and vegetables, noting that since 2014, the evolution of trade between the two countries is in the order of 10 pc.

However, he went on to say, economic aspiration has not yet matched political aspiration, hence the need for economic operators to move forward in promoting Moroccan-Russian trade, especially after the royal visit to Russia, which has paved the way for even stronger and more diversified bilateral cooperation, he said.

In this regard, Akhannouch called on economic operators to further develop marketing networks in order to better understand the Russian market, highlighting the importance of creating the “Green Corridor” which will make this market more accessible, especially with the customs facilities offered by the two countries.

For his part, the Russian minister of Agriculture, Dmitry Patroushev, presented the various aspects of economic cooperation, referring in particular to the setting up of joint ventures in the production of fruits and vegetables, red meat and water.

He also highlighted Morocco’s economic assets, with an exceptional openness to the African continent, and expressed the interest shown by Russian investors in the partnership with the Kingdom.

This meeting was held as part of a mission to Morocco by the Russian Export Centre (REC) group of companies, carried out on the occasion of the 7th Moroccan-Russian Joint Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.