São Paulo – Morocco is keen on boosting trade relations with Brazil, and will hold the seminar “Morocco: a strategic partner for Brazil,” alongside the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, in April, to show the businessmen what are the opportunities the two countries can explore. A business mission should also pay a visit to the North African country. According to the Arab Brazilian Chamber CEO, Michel Alaby, the trip will likely take place in November.
According to the chargé d’affaires of the Moroccan embassy in Brasília, Abdeslam Maleh, the seminar will show Brazilians that the Arab country can be more than just an export target. Brazil is the third leading trade partner of Morocco’s, after France and Spain. The diplomat paid a visit to the Arab Brazilian Chamber headquarters this Monday (11th) with the honorary consul of Morocco to São Paulo, Hilton Antonio Peña.
“Morocco is a hub that connects to Africa, the Middle East and Europe, and may provide Brazil with a platform from which to export to several markets. Brazil could take advantage of Morocco’s free zones, such as the Port of Tangiers, to cut costs and increase its industrial competitiveness in major markets,” said Maleh.
The effort to boost trade relations with Brazil, says Maleh, is an attempt of Morocco’s to become less dependent on trade with Europe. “Our trade concentrates on Europe and, considering the current economic scenario, we need to fight the crisis and seek new partners. Rmerging countries can form a partnership network right now that could influence the international trade system,” he said.
Maleh said Morocco has trade agreements with several major markets, such as the United States, the European Union, and Turkey, and that Brazil could benefit from said agreements by having local companies operate in Morocco. The partnership may include auto parts, meats, fruit juice, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, aircraft parts, and information technology.
On the other hand, Moroccan companies could increase their sales not only to Brazil, but to Latin America. The country is the leading fertilizer supplier to Brazil and OCP, Morocco’s government-owned fertilizer company, owns a 50% stake in a plant in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Last week, the company also announced that it will set up distributing operations in Brazil.
“In addition to supplying Brazil [with fertilizers], Morocco can provide Latin America with regular supplies at steady prices. Brazil can also cooperate in fighting hunger and attaining food security,” he said. To Maleh, trade relations between Brazil and Morocco are “complementary,” because Brazil is a major exporter of agricultural commodities, but needs large volumes of fertilizers, which it imports from Morocco.
According to information from the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, bilateral trade between Brazil and Morocco amounted to US$ 2.1 billion in 2012. Of those, Brazil exported US$ 872.3 million, up 7% from 2011, and imported US$ 1.2 billion, up 6.8%. The main products shipped from Brazil were sugar and cereals. Fertilizers accounted for over half of Brazil’s imports from Morocco in 2012.
“Brazil-Morocco relations go back over a century and the outlook is very promising. Our international policies are convergent, there is mutual support. We must carry that convergence over to trade,” said the chargé d’affaires.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
