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Tunisian-Mauritanian joint commission meeting kicks off: re-vitalising co-operation

Published the:  06/11/2018

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(TAP Special Correspondent Aida Hichri) - Prime Minister Youssef Chahed stressed the desire to breathe new life into Tunisian-Mauritanian relations through the diversification of areas of co-operation.

"Tunisian-Mauritanian co-operation should develop further to encompass promising sectors," he said at the opening in Nouakchott of the 18th session of the Tunisian-Mauritanian High Joint Commission.

Chahed who co-chaired the meeting with his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Salem Ould Bashir insisted on the need to increase the volume of trade, which remains below expectations, according to him.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed Tunisia's commitment to implement the agreements reached in all areas, citing in this regard, tourism, handicrafts, transport, agriculture, fisheries, health and environment.

In this context, Chahed noted both countries’ willingness to conclude, as soon as possible, the Free Trade Agreement and the Protocol concerning the definition of originating products.

He stressed the need to work together to promote the Public-Private Partnership and to take full advantage of the potential offered by both countries’ markets.

He also called on the economic actors of Tunisia and Mauritania to implement the Joint Business Council. The last meeting of that council dates back to 2008.

Chahed also called for more diverse co-operation that should encompass the security and military fields to deal with the challenge of terrorism.

For his part, the Mauritanian Prime Minister said the agreements and implementation programmes to be signed at the end of this meeting will focus on trade, tourism, administration, industry, education, Islamic affairs, housing, agriculture, culture, information, employment, youth, sport and the environment.

In addition, Mohamed Salem Ould Bashir emphasised the imperative of vitalising Maghreb joint action in the investment sector, one of the important levers for the achievement of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA)’s integration and sustainable development