MoS Jitendra Prasad to Visit Morocco
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India–Morocco
Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation in Focus During Jitin Prasada’s
Visit from 24–25 August 2026
·
Official
Visit:
MoS Commerce & Industry and MeitY Jitin Prasada is visiting Morocco
from 24–25 August 2026 to boost bilateral trade, investment and economic
cooperation.
·
7th
Joint Commission:
He will co-chair the 7th India–Morocco Joint Commission with Morocco’s
Foreign Trade Secretary Omar Hejira.
·
Trade
& Market Access:
Both countries will focus on diversifying the trade basket and improving
market access.
·
Key
Cooperation Areas:
Discussions will cover fertilizers, investment, industrial cooperation,
customs, agriculture, food safety, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, energy, mining,
renewable energy, digital transformation, logistics, AYUSH, tourism, education
and skills.
·
Food
Safety MoU:
FSSAI and Morocco’s ONSSA are expected to sign an MoU covering food
safety, testing laboratories, quality control, sampling, import procedures,
packaging and labelling.
·
Cultural
Exchange Programme: India and Morocco are expected to
sign a 2026–2030 Cultural Exchange Programme
covering arts, festivals, heritage conservation, museums, libraries and
archives.
·
Bilateral
Trade:
Merchandise trade between India and Morocco reached approximately USD 4
billion in 2025.
·
India’s
Major Exports:
Refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, vehicles, synthetic textiles, food
products and spices.
·
Morocco’s
Major Exports:
Phosphates and fertilizers, making fertilizer cooperation an important
area of bilateral engagement.
·
Business
Opportunities:
The Minister will participate in the India–Morocco Joint Business Forum
and engage with businesses to promote investment, joint ventures and
partnerships.
·
70
Years of Diplomatic Relations: India and Morocco will celebrate the 70th anniversary of
diplomatic relations in 2027.
[ABS News Service/24.08.2026]
Minister
of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & Information Technology
Jitin Prasada is on an official visit to the Kingdom of Morocco from 24 to 25
August 2026. During the visit, both sides are expected to discuss measures to
further diversify the trade basket and enhance market access opportunities.
Jitin
Prasada will co-chair the 7th Session of the India–Morocco Joint Commission
with his counterpart, H.E. Mr. Omar Hejira, Secretary of State to the Minister
of Industry and Trade, in charge of Foreign Trade, Kingdom of Morocco.
The
Joint Commission meeting will provide an opportunity to review the existing
areas of bilateral economic and commercial cooperation and work towards further
consolidating and broadening mutually beneficial engagement. Discussions are
expected to cover a wide range of areas, including trade and market access,
cooperation in fertilizer production and supply, investment, industrial
cooperation, customs, agriculture and food safety, pharmaceuticals and
healthcare, energy and mining, renewable energy, digital transformation,
transport and logistics, AYUSH, tourism, education and skills.
The
two sides are also expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
cooperation in the field of food safety between the National Office of Food
Safety (ONSSA), Morocco, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI). The MoU will facilitate the exchange of information on the safety and
quality of imported food products, promote cooperation in sharing information
on food testing laboratories and analytical methods, and facilitate the
exchange of expertise in areas of mutual interest. It will also enable
technical exchanges relating to import procedures, quality control operations,
sampling, testing, packaging and labelling.
A
Cultural Exchange Programme between India and Morocco
for the years 2026–2030 is also expected to be signed during the Joint
Commission Meeting. The Programme will promote
cultural exchanges and collaboration through exchanges of artists and
professionals, participation in festivals and exhibitions, cooperation in
heritage conservation, and strengthened linkages among museums, libraries and
archival institutions.
India
and Morocco share longstanding and close relations, with significant potential
for further expanding bilateral trade and investment. Bilateral merchandise
trade reached around USD 4 billion in 2025. India’s major exports to Morocco
include refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, vehicles, synthetic textiles, food
products and spices, while Morocco’s major exports to India include phosphates
and fertilizers.
As
part of the visit, Jitin Prasada will hold bilateral and high-level meetings
with senior Moroccan leaders. He will also participate in the India–Morocco
Joint Business Forum and engage with the business community to identify new
opportunities for trade, investment, partnerships and joint ventures. The
Minister will further interact with business leaders in Rabat during his visit.
The
visit assumes added significance as India and Morocco will commemorate the 70th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027, providing an
opportunity to further deepen the longstanding partnership between the two
countries.
The
visit is expected to further strengthen the institutional framework for
India–Morocco economic cooperation and provide fresh impetus to bilateral
trade, investment, industrial partnerships and business-to-business engagement.