The two sides discussed the development of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Morocco.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has agreed to establish a joint committee with Morocco this year to improve relations between the two countries in the fields of investment, tourism, trade, and exchange of human resources.

"We visited Rabat, Morocco, on March 12, 2013 and met Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Saad El Dine-Otmani, Moroccan Tourism Minister Lahcen Haddad and Secretary General of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and New Technologies El Aid Mahsoussi," Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu said in a press statement received here on Thursday.

Both countries have agreed that there are a lot of things to be done to improve relations in the fields of investment, tourism, trade, and exchange of human resources, she said.

Indonesia and Morocco have also agreed that the joint committee between the two countries should be held as soon as possible this year, she said.

During the meeting, Mari Pangestu and Haddad agreed to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two ministries.

"The MoU will be signed at the first meeting of the joint committee between Indonesia and Morocco later this year," she said.

Mari said the MoU covers capacity building cooperation, exchange of training and increased connectivity between Indonesia and Morocco.

During the meeting, the two ministers exchanged experiences on the ongoing effort to increase tourism cooperation and improve the quality of tourism services.

The two sides discussed the development of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Morocco, the development at regional level and the future of the multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General whose term of office will expire on August 31, 2013.

The meeting of both countries` officials took place in a positive atmosphere, especially as Indonesia and Morocco have a long history of relationships.

Both are part of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Asia-Africa Conference which was for the first time held in Bandung, West Java, in 1955. Morocco became an independent state in 1956 and President Sukarno visited Morocco in 1960.

Furthermore, Pangestu said at the discussion with Minister El-Otmani, both sides agreed that the WTO as an institution and its rules framework has contributed significantly to the conduct of fair and balanced trade.

The two ministers also agreed that development is an integral part of the multilateral trade negotiations.
(Uu.A050/S012)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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