Japan-Morocco Relations

May 2012

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:: Established in 1956 with the recognition of Morocco's independence; 1961 Embassy of Japan opened in Morocco; 1965 Embassy of Morocco opened in Japan
Bilateral Treaties and Agreement:: 1960 Trading Arrangement; 1985 Fisheries Agreement
Number of Residents:: Number of Japanese Nationals residing in Morocco: 301 (March 2009); Number of Moroccan Nationals residing in Japan: 470 (November 2009)
Economic Relations
Trade with Japan:: Imports: U.S.$ 739 million (2008) (automobiles, machinery); Exports: U.S.$ 226 million (2008) (seafood, phosphate rock)
Other Economic Relations:: 1) A JETRO business mission and a Japanese Study mission to North Africa on industrial investment climate visited Morocco in 2003 and 2006 respectively, looked into business environment in Morocco. Also, in cooperation with JETRO, UNIDO and JCCME (Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East), the Embassy of Morocco in Japan hosts the Morocco business seminars every year in Tokyo as well as other local cities. In addition, Moroccan representative group、which the minister of Energy, Mine Water and Environment is the leader of, had attended Japan-Arab Economic Forum in December 2009 and appealed for cooperation with Japan regarding the promotion of using solar energy as a generation system.; The number of Japanese Tourists to Morocco increased to 23.000 in 2000, but decreased to 15.000 after the 9.11 in 2001. Ever since then the number has not changed dramatically (16.000 visitors in 2008).
Japan's Economic Cooperation:: List of Exchange of Notes; Loans: 222.848 billion yen; Grants: 32.515 billion yen; Technical Cooperation: 30.148 billion yen

* Accumulative total as of the end of 2007; (a) Japan has provided support in the form of loan aid, grant aid and technical cooperation in the fields of local development and environment for managing infrastructure, narrowing the economic and social difference between urban and local areas, and developing water resource in order to promote major industries, fishery and agriculture, and secure water for agriculture and drinking.; (b) Morocco has many experiences in South-South Cooperation toward African nations in such fields as fishery and road rehabilitation. In September 2003, to promote Japanese technical cooperation towards the southern African nations, Japan and Morocco signed a framework document regarding the "Japan-Morocco Triangular Technical Cooperation Programme for The Promotion of South-South Cooperation in Africa."; (c) Recent Major Projects:
Watershed Management Project (2006 loan), Urban Areas Living Environment Improvement Project (2006 loan), Sewerage System Development Project (II) (2006 loan), Le projet d' amelioration des soins de sante maternelle en milieu rural (Phase II) (2006 grant), Flood-Control Equipment management Project (2007 grant), Local Road Develpment Project (2007 loan), Local Water Supply Project (2007 loan), Clean Energy with Solar System Introduction Project (2009 grant), Local City Water Supply Development Project ( 2009 loan), Mediterranean Highway Construction Project ( 2009 loan)
Cultural Exchange:: (a) Receiving Moroccan students to study in Japan as Japanese governmental scholars every year; (b) Inviting and exchanging cultural figures and sports athletes.; (c) Senior volunteers from JICA teach Japanese language at 4 institutes including Mohammad V University.; (d) Cultural grants are provided upon requests and other cultural events are being held as embassy projects.; (e) In 2006, various cultural events were held in both Japan and Morocco as a celebration of 50th year since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two.
Friendship League:: Japan-Morocco Parliamentary Friendship League; Morocco-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League; Japan-Morocco Association; Morocco-Japan Friendship Association

VIP Visits

From Japan to Morocco:

Year	Name
1987	Minister for Foreign Affairs Tadashi Kuranari
1991	His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito
1994	Minister for Foreign Affairs Tutomu Hata
1996	Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Takamado
1997	Minister of Education Takashi Kosugi
1999	Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shoichi Nakagawa (January) His Imperial Highness Prince Takamado (July) Former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto (July)
2000	Their Imperial Highness Prince and Princess Takamado
2001	Minister of Environment Yoriko Kawaguchi (November) Senior Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Shigeo Uetake (November)
2002	Minister of Internal Affairs and Communication Toranosuke Katayama
2003	Senior Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Seiichi Ota
2004	Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori (may) Senior Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Ichiro Aisawa (December)
2006	Senior Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Katsutoshi Kaneda
2009	State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Koichi Takemasa

From Morocco to Japan:

Year	Name
1995	Minister of Fishery and Maritime Traffic Al Mustafa Saher
2001	Minister of Fishery Mr. Shivart
2002	Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Benaissa
2003	His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid
2005	Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Salma, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan (February and June) Her Royal Highnes Princess Lalla Amina (Nagano Special Olympic Games) (March) His Majesty the King Mohamed IV (State guest invited by the Japanese Government) (November)
2006	Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Benaissa
2008	Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi (TICAD IV) (May)
2008	Minister of Industry, Trade and New Technologies Ahmed Reda Chami (October)
2009	Minister of Energy, Mine, Water and Environment Amina Benkhadra (December)
2010	Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Maritime Fisheries Aziz Akhenouch

Press Secretary's Press Conference on Morocco

Year	Month	Date
2006	April	4
2005	November	29

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2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
1.25 million	0.45 million	1.36 million	2.85 million	8.01 million	6.44 million