This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Hibapress
The strengthening of integration between Morocco and Mauritania in the agriculture and maritime fishing sectors significantly contributes to the achievement of the objectives of sustainable development and to the consolidation of food security in the two countries, said on Friday in Nouakchott, the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Ahmed El Bouari.
Speaking on the first day of the 1st Moroccan-Mauritanian economic parliamentary forum, Mr. El Bouari expressed the entire provision of Morocco to support any initiative aimed at concrete development in the agriculture, maritime and breeding sectors, in the common interest of the two countries.
He also stressed that the realization of this objective necessarily involves deepening integration into these sectors, as an essential lever to achieve the objectives of sustainability and food sovereignty in Morocco as in Mauritania.
Likewise, the Minister has formulated the hope that this economic parliamentary forum marks the start of a new step, characterized by strengthening the exchanges of agricultural products in both directions.
In this regard, he reaffirmed Morocco’s desire to examine and remove the obstacles laid, in particular through the creation of mixed commissions responsible for simplifying procedures for the benefit of investors in the two countries.
Mr. El Bouari reported on the desire of Moroccan producers to invest in plant and animal sectors in Mauritania, as well as design offices to provide their know-how in the field of water resources and irrigation.
In addition, he announced that a technical mission comprising specialists in veterinary medicine and officials of the National Office for the Safety of Food Products (ONSSA) will be dispatched soon to visit the regions known for livestock farming in Mauritania, in particular sheep, as part of an approach aimed at facilitating work procedures in this area.
Regarding maritime fishing, the Minister stressed that the sector (maritime and aquaculture fishing) represents a promising field to strengthen the partnership between the two countries, recalling the conclusions of the mixed commission which was recently held on the sidelines of the Halieutis fair in Agadir, including in particular that relating to the strengthening of cooperation in the fields of scientific research, training, aquaculture, maritime security and fishing craft.
In the same vein Mr. El Bouari called to encourage mutual investments in value chains linked to maritime fishing, including transformation, valuation and marketing, as well as aquaculture, in particular by stimulating partnerships between private actors and facilitating investors’ access to opportunities available in the two countries.
The forum, whose opening session was co -chaired by the president of the House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami, and the president of the National Assembly of Mauritania, Mohamed Bamba Ould Meguett, brings together parliamentarians, ministers, sectoral officials and economic actors from the two countries. The objective is to ensure effective legislative support for bilateral projects and to promote investment and economic exchanges, in particular in the strategic sectors.
The forum also aims to promote the exchange of expertise and good practices, to strengthen trilateral cooperation by involving other African and international actors, and to build sustainable partnerships through an integrated approach bringing together the legislative and executive powers as well as the private sector. A monitoring and evaluation mechanism is envisaged to ensure the realization of the recommendations and agreements from the work of the forum.
