VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi held a bilateral meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on Friday (22/12/2023). During the meeting, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding with the Strategic Partnership.

"The increase in the status of this partnership reflects the commitment of the two countries to further strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation in strategic and significant sectors, such as politics and security, regional and global cooperation, economic partnership, development cooperation, including triangular cooperation, then socio-cultural cooperation as well as consular and immigration cooperation," Foreign Minister Retno said in a statement received in Jakarta Friday (22/12/2023).

During the meeting, according to Retno, Indonesia encouraged the acceleration of Preferential Trade Arrangement (PTA) negotiations, including encouraging cooperation in the halal industry and vaccine production. According to Retno, Indonesia-Morocco trade volume continues to show a positive trend with an average increase of 13.34% in the last five years.

"Indonesia encourages the holding of preliminary meetings as a way to pave the way and the first step for both parties to start negotiations," Retno said.

Similar cooperation is also encouraged in the halal industry. Foreign Minister Retno said the two countries have the potential for cooperation in the halal sector including exploring cooperation in recognizing halal certification for food, medicine, and cosmetic products and opening markets for Indonesian Muslim fashion products.

In addition, the two countries also discussed phosphate cooperation for the fertilizer industry. "Morocco has more than 70 percent of the world's phosphate reserves and is one of the suppliers of fertilizer raw materials for various countries in the world," Retno said.

Another thing that was also discussed in the meeting between Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita was socio-cultural cooperation, especially education and religious tolerance. She said that Indonesia and Morocco have close cooperation in the field of education, especially the provision of scholarships and the improvement of human resources.

"In the future, Indonesia and Morocco will continue to strengthen people-to-people contact, including by increasing tourist visits, cultural exchanges, and encouraging contacts and networks between religious leaders, especially to encourage tolerance and moderate Islamic values and rahmatan lil alamiin," she explained.