Rabat, Morocco, 3 June 2004 – To signify the improving ties between the Philippines and Morocco, the two countries signed today the Agreement for the Establishment of a Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation and the Agreement on the Abolition of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic, Official, Service and Special Passports. Secretary Delia Domingo Albert and Foreign Minister Mohammed Benaissa signed in behalf of their respective governments.

The Secretary said that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and King Mohammed VI of Morocco met at the fringes of the 10th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Malaysia in 2003 and agreed to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries through the establishment of a Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation.

“The signing of this agreement establishing the JCBC, together with the accord waiving the visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders, has ushered in a new phase in our diplomatic relations,” Secretary Albert said.
 
“The Philippines will host the first meeting of the JCBC which can serve as a mechanism to move our bilateral relations forward,” she added.
 
Secretary Albert noted the current low levels of trade and investment between the two countries and urged Morocco to consider the Philippines not only as an individual country but as a member of the ASEAN, a regional grouping with a market potential of 500 million people.

“There is much room for improvement in our trade relationship. I hope Morocco can consider the Philippines as a base for joint production and marketing of goods and commodities for the growing Southeast Asian market,” the Secretary said.

During their talks, the two foreign ministers also discussed the possible areas where the Philippines and Morocco can expand their cooperation. The following sectors were identified: fisheries and aquaculture, services, education, and information technology, a field where they discussed the possibility of pursuing a trilateral arrangement with third countries. Under this arrangement, third countries will shoulder most of the financing of the technical assistance projects to be undertaken by the Philippines.

Secretary Albert also invited Morocco to participate in the Multi-Donor Program in Mindanao, especially the training and capability- building of Muslim youth leaders.

“Morocco, known as a ‘moderate’ in the Islamic community of nations, can assist us in accomplishing the objective of this program, which is to prepare the youth leaders of Mindanao to assume responsible positions in government and civil society. It will also draw in the participation of the other Islamic countries to these important projects,” she said.

After her meeting, Secretary Albert expressed satisfaction over the results of the bilateral discussions, which she described as fruitful and comprehensive.
 
“My visit to Morocco is aimed at reviving the high level of cooperation between our two countries which began in 1975, when we established diplomatic ties,” said the Secretary.

“I am confident that my meeting today and the signing of two important bilateral agreements have contributed to the main objective of strengthening our political and economic relations,” she added. END.