Russian Federation includes Morocco in North African free trade zone project
Fresh Plaza | 9 August 2023
Russian Federation includes Morocco in North African free trade zone project
During a meeting with his Cabinet of Ministers, president Putin announced his intention to sign free trade agreements with several North African countries, namely Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. Apparently, Putin has set himself the goal of transforming the existing political trust between Moscow and the North African countries into economic cooperation.
According to Vladimir Putin, the North African free-trade zone will be integrated into the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which already offers a common economic space on the model of the European Union with Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Minister for Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov, stated that African countries consider Moscow to be a reliable partner in the fight for economic independence.
Morocco’s involvement in this project therefore confirms the good relations between Rabat and Moscow. At the Russia-Africa Summit, the Kingdom, through its head of government Aziz Akhannouch, reiterated its determination to strengthen bilateral relations and trade with the Russian state.
