Moroccan official Mbarka Bouaida met with China's Wang Luming in a forum held in Rabat, this past week, to talk about cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture industry.
On July 26, Secretary of State for Sea Fisheries Mbarka Bouaida presented Morocco's natural assets to Mayor Wang Luming, of Qingdao in Shandong province, eastern China, and his delegation, comprising of other government officials and representatives from the private business sector.
According to Morocco World News, Bouaida is quite confident with what the country could offer to China. The official confirmed that the meeting proved fruitful for both parties, saying that it "was very interesting" given that the Asian giant is one of the leading global players in the aquaculture industry.
A data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, revealed that China produces 1.2 million tons of fish per year while its counterpart supplies the world market with its aquatic products at a slightly higher rate.
This estimate from the international agency suggests that fish and aquaculture industries comprise a big chunk on the respective economies of both countries.
Partnering up could further bolster the trade potentials of these two nations in the aforementioned food sector.
"We are very interested in this important partner because China has very important know-how in aquaculture that the country has developed on several levels," Bouaida said.
This cooperation could lead to the development in the aquaculture and seafood processing industry. For the Moroccan official, this partnership comes "in terms of scientific research," particularly with the country's Institute for Fisheries Research and with China's own research institute.
During a press briefing conducted after the forum, Wang chimed in saying that aside from bringing innovation in marine sciences, the agreement also opens up huge opportunities for big Chinese investments to pour in Morocco.
This won't be the only front in which the two countries have collaboration with. On March of this year, the Morocco-China Silk Road Council (MCSRC) was established with aims to further promote the strong bilateral relations that Rabat and Beijing have long been working on.
According to reports, a summit was conducted to formalize various economic and trade agreements. Heading the gathering was Morocco's Employers Union and attended by Chinese delegation including those with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).
The "joint platform" agreed by the two parties gave further emphasis on China's much bigger "One Belt, One Road Initiative." The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as it is commonly referred to, is an intercontinental development strategy by Beijing with goals to create cooperation between countries in the Eurasian region.
