India, Morocco conclude five MoUs to enhance cooperation in various fields

India and Morocco on Tuesday concluded five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering fields as diverse as water resources, television broadcasting, institutional cooperation and cultural and educational exchanges, further providing venues for enhanced cooperation.

Both the nations signed the MoUs in presence of the visiting Indian Vice President M. Hamid Ansari and Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane, which covered fields such as water resource management, television broadcasting, institutional co-operation, cultural and educational exchanges and trading partnership.

The trading partnership between the two countries has registered a steady growth. In 2014, trade between the two countries stood at $1.36 billion, with India's exports to Morocco amounting to $500.5 million, while imports were valued at $855.8 million.

After holding talks with Prime Minister Benkirane, Vice President Ansari said, "We reviewed all aspects of our expanding bilateral cooperation. Morocco is an important contributor to our food security. We emphasise the need to expand ongoing areas of cooperation and identify new areas of collaboration in Information Technology, services, water management and training of our professionals."

"We have wider-ranging discussions on global and regional developments of mutual interest. We look at Morocco as a trusted partner across a range of issues. We appreciate Morocco's support for India's candidature to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)," said Vice President Ansari after holding a wide-ranging of discussion with the Moroccan Prime Minister.

Vice President Ansari arrived in Rabat on Monday on a three-day visit.