MOROCCO: French president Francois Hollande visits Morocco and meets King Mohammed VI in Casablanca

Record ID: 850684

  • Title: MOROCCO: French president Francois Hollande visits Morocco and meets King Mohammed VI in Casablanca
  • Date: 3rd April 2013
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH MINISTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, GENEVIEVE FIORASO, SAYING: "We have fairly similar systems in higher education and research, which means that exchanges and cooperation between us is easier. In the fields of energy, vocational training, environment and also in training engineers and technicians, we can do a lot." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOROCCAN TOURISM MINISTER, LAHCEN HADDAD, SAYING: "The relationships between Morocco and France are strategic. Francois Hollande's visit to our country will contribute to strengthening these relationships more, because they are important and so diverse in politics as well as in economy. There are thousands of French companies in Morocco and French investment in our country is very important. France is among the largest investors in Morocco. There are also cultural and social relationships that will improve a lot. We have very strong and strategic bilateral relationships and this visit will boost them."
  • Embargoed: 18th April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Morocco
  • City:
  • Country: Morocco
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4YY1FYZ0BG0T7BI5UI2YJVW3A
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: French president Francois Hollande arrived in Casablanca on Wednesday (April 3) for a two-day state visit.
    Hollande was greeted by Morocco's King Mohammed VI on his first visit to the country since he became the premier in France last year in May.
    Hollande and his partner, France's first lady Valerie Trierweiler, also met with the King's wife Princess Lalla Salma, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, the King's brother Prince Moulay Rachid, and two of the King's sisters.
    The president will hold talks with the King and speak to the city's French community.
    Hollande's visit to Casablanca, the business capital of Morocco, was seen as a step to encourage French businesses operating in Morocco to continue investing in the country.
    "The French President's visit is an important one because the bilateral relationships are excellent. But because of the political and security question, and also because of the economic situation, we need to strengthen more of these relationships. To do this, a number of agreements were signed today, in the presence of the King and the French President, in some vital sectors such as the economy, culture and education," said Morocco's Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister, Saad Edine El Otmani.
    Hollande, who was accompanied by at least eight ministers and 60 French business leaders, will oversee the signing of some 30 accords and contracts, covering higher education, environment, renewable energies and fisheries.
    "We have fairly similar systems in higher education and research, which means that exchanges and cooperation between us is easier. In the fields of energy, vocational training, environment and also in training engineers and technicians, we can do a lot," said France's Minister for Higher Education and Research, Genevieve Fioraso.
    Morroco's Tourism Minister, Lahcen Haddad, said the relationship between the two countries was a strategic one.
    "Francois Hollande's visit to our country will contribute to strengthening these relationships more, because they are important and so diverse in politics as well as in economy. There are thousands of French companies in Morocco and French investment in our country is very important. France is among the largest investors in Morocco. There are also cultural and social relationships that will improve a lot. We have very strong and strategic bilateral relationships and this visit will boost them," he said.
    On Thursday (April 4), Hollande will travel to Rabat for a meeting with Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane and will address both houses of the Moroccan parliament.
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