Saudi Arabia and Morocco hope to boost trade relations

Saudi King Abdullah on a visit to Casablanca, Morocco, 27 August 2012 Casablanca – Yousif Abdelatif The Moroccan government will offer investment opportunities to Saudi Arabia at the Saudi-Moroccan Forum of Investment in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Sunday, where the establishment of a shipping route between the two nations is expected to be discussed.
Moroccan exports to Saudi Arabia witnessed a notable increase in 2011, reaching $260 million, while Saudi exports to Morocco hit $ 1.74 billion, according to the Secretary General of the Federation of Chambers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Saudi Arabia accounts for two-thirds of all trade between Morocco and the GCC states.
The Secretary General of the Industrial Trade Chamber in Riyadh said the housing and construction sectors would be the main topics of discussions at the forum.
Speaking to the Saudi News Agency, the trade official said the two countries would discuss ways to increase cooperation in these sectors, as well as in relation to tourism.
The major gathering in Jeddah will be attended by representatives of several governmental departments involved in investment activities.