MFA: Slovak-Moroccan Relations Have Prospects for Development

Bratislava, November 28 (TASR) - Slovakia and Morocco are interested in developing political and economic relations with a view to strengthening trade cooperation as well as partnership in the fight against illegal migration, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's communications department told TASR on Thursday, adding that Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) spoke by phone with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita at the end of last week and today received Azzeddine Farhane, the Ambassador of Morocco to Austria, Slovakia and Slovenia. In terms of mutual trade, which reached €386 million last year, Morocco is one of Slovakia's most important trading partners in Africa. "As part of Slovakia's foreign affairs policy oriented in all four cardinal directions, we want to make more intensive use of markets where we see untapped potential. That's why we're strengthening our representation on the African continent by opening two new embassies in Algeria and Tanzania and a permanent representation in Ethiopia. This will give us a stronger position for closer dialogue and partnership with economically interesting territories, such as Morocco," said the head of Slovak diplomacy. The Slovak foreign minister and the Moroccan ambassador see prospects especially in the automotive and defence industries. Morocco is creating a programme for the development of its defence sector and welcomes cooperation, especially via joint ventures, whose production can be placed on the large African market. am