RABAT: Morocco has thrown its weight behind the Indian government for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. On Tuesday, at a meeting between Morocco's Prime Minister Abbas el-Fassi and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, the two agreed that the North African country would support India's candidacy for a spot on the United Nations Security Council. The two leaders, said Vishnu Prakash, the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, also discussed means of increasing their economic cooperation, as India looks to make a larger push into Africa. The countries' commerce ministers are expected to meet in New Delhi in the near future to hold joint commission meetings “when the foreign office consultations will also take place,” said Prakash. “Both sides expressed similar views on the menace of terrorism and evinced on interest in enhancing cooperation in counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing,” the official added. According to the spokesperson, bilateral trade between the two nations went over the $1 billion mark last year. Prakash continued to say that Morocco is one of India's largest and most important phosphate suppliers, which both nations see as vital to future bilateral cooperation. A number of Indian companies are involved in mining projects and converting rock phosphate into phosphoric acid, which is then exported to India, Prakash added. Recently, Morocco signed an agreement with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to improve its solar and wind energy sectors. The Moroccan PM did express some interest in increasing cooperation in this sector, said Prakash. BM
