Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kuteesa has pledged to strengthen bilateral relations between Uganda and Morocco.
The North African kingdom is one of Africa’s biggest economies.
Kuteesa made the remarks on Wednesday, January 16, while receiving credentials from newly appointed Honorary Consul of Morocco in Uganda, Dr Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari at his office in Kampala.
Kuteesa also welcomed Morocco back into the African Union.
In 2017, Morocco was readmitted to the AU more than three decades after it left in protest because the continental body recognized the independence of the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
Kuteesa told Dr Mwesigwa that he hoped Morocco would solve the Western Sahara issue.
On his part Dr Mwesigwa pledged that the two countries will concentrate in cooperation in areas of trade, tourism, agriculture and industry.
“Uganda’s growing economy and social background is of paramount importance to Morocco’s interest and I shall spare no effort to serve both countries,” he said, adding that Uganda has lessons to learn from Morocco, which since 1952 has undertaken giant steps towards industrial activity that has seen the kingdom grow a robust industrial structure and later a vibrant agricultural processing industry between 1978 and 1982.
Dr Mwesigwa cited the processing industry, flour mills, sugar refineries, cement factories, co-operatives and assembly companies, milk production, oils, tires and handicrafts as areas where Uganda can take lessons from Morocco.
Morocco is Africa’s biggest tourist destination. Last year, the country -one of only three nations along with Spain and France to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines – recorded 10.5 million tourists visiting the country.
Ugandans wishing to travel to Morocco will now not have to travel to Dar es salaam in Tanzania to process visas but will get them from the new consulate located in Kololo, Kampala.
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