The Minister of Industry, Trade and Services, Marcos Pereira, discussed on Tuesday with the ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco in Brazil, Larbi Moukharik, measures to expand and consolidate bilateral relations between the countries. It was the 12th minister meeting with ambassadors, since he took the folder in May, with the aim to diversify trade partners of Brazil.

Larbi Moukharik said he was confident in the current management of the MDIC and Temer government to Morocco to deepen relations with Brazil, through direct agreements between countries. The goal is that, with bilateral trade, there is resumption of trade to 2012 levels, when exceeded the mark of $ 2 billion.

Marcos Pereira made a commitment to advance the pending solution to that agreement should be concluded between the countries. "We now have all the conditions to advance in trade relations between Brazil and Morocco. Therefore, it is essential that we maintain permanent contact between the staff of the ministry and the counterparts of Morocco. We will schedule missions between countries, "he said.

Currently, Brazil analyzes Moroccan counterproposal to the Cooperation Agreement and Investment Facilitation (ACFI) to be signed soon. The focus of ACFI is facilitating the flow of capital, risk mitigation and prevention of disputes, which should bring more security to bilateral investors, and encourage the expansion of investment flows between Brazil and Morocco.

The minister proposed to conclude the talks so that the agreement can be signed by the first quarter of 2017. "It is a determination of President Michel Temer us to bring Brazil and Brazilian companies out, increasing the trade," he said.

Morocco has a strategic location, since it facilitates access to both the African continent and the European. Currently, the country imports from Brazil commodities and semi-manufactured goods, categories that accounted for 90% of exports in 2015, especially sugar, corn and wood. Already Moroccans are major exporters of fertilizers, and other chemicals used in the production of the product in Brazil.

Since last year, Brazil has signed ACFIs with seven countries, including Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and in Africa, with Angola, Mozambique and Malawi. Morocco might be the first country in North Africa to celebrate the gender agreement with Brazil.

Mercosur-Morocco

The ambassador also highlighted the interest of Morocco to resume negotiations for a country agreement to be signed with Mercosur. The minister said that there is also interest from Brazil. In 2004, Mercosur and Morocco signed Framework Agreement for negotiating free trade. Was held in 2008, the first round of negotiations, but there was no progress. This year, the country indicated interest in the resumption of the process.