Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & Information Technology Shri Jitin Prasada Concludes Official Visit to Morocco; Co-Chairs 7th India–Morocco Joint Commission

Key Highlights:

• Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Jitin Prasada, co-chaired the 7th India–Morocco Joint Commission in Morocco from August 24-25, 2026.
• Bilateral trade between India and Morocco reached approximately USD 4 billion in 2025.
• Both nations agreed to work towards doubling bilateral trade over the next five years.
• An India–Morocco Joint Working Group (JWG) will be established to explore trade opportunities and the feasibility of a Preferential Trade Agreement.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Morocco’s National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) and India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on food safety cooperation.
• A Cultural Exchange Programme for 2026–2030 was also signed to promote cultural ties.

Detailed Insights:

• The visit aimed to provide renewed momentum to the bilateral economic partnership and expand cooperation.
• Key areas for deeper collaboration include trade, investment, industry, fertilisers, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy, mining, and digital transformation.
• Potential trade areas identified include fertilisers, chemicals, mineral resources, automotive parts, agri-food products, and tourism.
• Both sides emphasized facilitating predictable and timely market access for pharmaceutical products.
• The Morocco–India Business Forum highlighted investment opportunities in automotive, AI, renewable energy, start-ups, and healthcare.
• India invited Moroccan businesses to invest in India, aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
• The longstanding partnership in phosphates and fertilisers, involving OCP Group and India-Maroc Phosphore (IMACID), was reaffirmed.
• The 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027 will further promote cultural and people-to-people ties.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Joint Commission: A bilateral body established by two countries to review and advance cooperation across various sectors.
• Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA): An agreement between two or more countries to reduce tariffs on certain products, but not necessarily eliminate them.
• SPS Measures (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures): Regulations applied to protect human, animal, or plant life or health from risks arising from food additives, contaminants, toxins, or diseases.