Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 01:53 PM
Belgrade – The potential for cooperation between Morocco and Serbia in the economic and commercial fields is “enormous”, said Morocco’s Ambassador to Serbia, Mohammed Amine Belhaj.
In an interview given to the Serbian daily “Politika”, on the occasion of the celebration of the 66th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Belhaj estimated that the two countries still have a long way to go to develop their economic and commercial ties in a way that reflects the excellence of their political relations.
In this sense, he noted that Morocco and Serbia share similar positions on the defense of territorial integrity and national sovereignty and on the promotion of noble values such as peace, coexistence and multilateralism.
In this regard, Mr. Belhaj highlighted Serbia’s support for the autonomy plan as a serious and credible solution to the regional conflict around the Moroccan Sahara, noting that the legislative and governmental institutions of the two countries have succeeded in establishing exemplary cooperation, particularly in the various international bodies.
Similarly, Rabat and Belgrade are committed to revitalizing the economic and commercial aspect of bilateral cooperation through a solid legal framework. “That is why our Foreign Ministers have decided to give the next session of the Joint Economic Commission, which I hope will be held this year in Belgrade, an industrial and economic character,” he said. said.
The diplomat considered that the economies of Morocco and Serbia are complementary, which opens wide prospects for cooperation in several sectors such as agriculture, the automotive industry, tourism or biotechnology, Belgrade being considered as the one of the world’s leading centers in this field.
“We should encourage our business communities to explore and seize the huge untapped potential and opportunities for trade and investment,” he pleaded, also referring to the potential for cooperation in trade and investment. students between Morocco and Serbia or transition to green energy.
Asked by “Politika” how Morocco and Serbia, “two influential geopolitical players in Africa and the Balkans”, can promote a rapprochement between these two regions in the current context, Mr. Belhaj noted that the Kingdom is a reliable partner to help achieve this goal, through triangular cooperation with other African countries.
Morocco is regarded with great respect for being one of the largest African investors in Africa, working to create win-win partnerships focused on human and sustainable development, he stressed, noting that Moroccan companies are present in more than two-thirds of African countries in important sectors such as agriculture, banking, construction and services.
“Given our traditional friendship with Serbia, I believe that a partnership in the African market, of more than a billion people, would be very beneficial for both parties,” he said.
For its part, Serbia, as a major crossroads in the Balkan region, could offer Moroccan investors and companies a foothold to explore this promising market and expand their activities to this part of Europe, added the Diplomat.