During the meeting, the two parties reviewed the implementation of the main provisions of the Agreement and set out the prospects for cooperation in the coming year, in particular the projects underway in Morocco as part of cooperation with the Government of Japan, according to a press release from the Department, which reports to the Ministry of Agriculture, Sea Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forestry.
Praising the level of cooperation in the fisheries sector, the two parties agreed to make up for the delay in implementing projects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. On the sidelines of the session, they also signed the minutes for the implementation of an aquaculture development project for Blue Growth in Morocco, as part of their technical cooperation with Japan.
The minutes were signed this Wednesday at JICA headquarters in Tokyo by Driouich and Osamu Kubota, Vice-President of JICA. The signing ceremony was also attended by senior officials from both parties.
The project, which will run for three years from 2023 and is the result of several meetings between officials from the two countries, aims to improve and diversify aquaculture activities in coastal villages with a view to blue growth. The project also aims to lay the foundations for small-scale aquaculture in Morocco, based on a concept integrating scientific research, training and development.
Maritime fishing relations between the two countries date back over 40 years, notably with the fishing agreement still in force since 1985. Cooperation has focused in particular on fisheries research, training, the construction of Fishing Villages, and the provision of experts to coordinate and support the implementation of projects.
