Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada on Monday, 24 August said India and Morocco are actively working to diversify their bilateral trade basket, widen market access, and unlock fresh avenues for investment and industrial cooperation. Prasada is on an official two-day visit to Morocco from 24 to 25 August, where he will co-chair the 7th Session of the India-Morocco Joint Commission alongside Morocco's Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Omar Hejira.

What the Joint Commission Will Cover

The commission meeting is set to review existing economic and commercial cooperation and chart a broader engagement roadmap. Discussions will span more than a dozen sectors, including trade and market access, fertiliser production and supply, investment, industrial cooperation, customs, agriculture and food safety, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, energy and mining, renewable energy, digital transformation, transport and logistics, AYUSH, tourism, and education and skills.

Key Agreements Expected to Be Signed

Two significant agreements are slated for signing during the session. The first is a Memorandum of Understanding on food safety between Morocco's National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) and India's Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The MoU will facilitate information exchange on food safety and quality standards, testing laboratories, analytical methods, and technical cooperation on import procedures, quality control, sampling, and labelling.

The second is a Cultural Exchange Programme for 2026-2030, which will promote exchanges of artists and professionals, participation in festivals and exhibitions, heritage conservation, and stronger institutional linkages between museums, libraries, and archival institutions of both nations.

State of Bilateral Trade

India and Morocco share longstanding diplomatic and commercial ties. Bilateral merchandise trade stood at approximately $4 billion in 2025. India's primary exports to Morocco include refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, vehicles, synthetic textiles, food products, and spices. Morocco, in turn, exports phosphates and fertilisers to India — commodities of strategic importance given India's dependence on imported fertiliser inputs.

This is the 7th iteration of the Joint Commission, reflecting a sustained institutional commitment to deepening economic engagement. Notably, the breadth of sectors on the agenda this time — from renewable energy to AYUSH — signals an intent to move well beyond the traditional trade-and-phosphates axis that has historically defined the relationship.

Business Forum and High-Level Meetings

Beyond the Joint Commission, Prasada is scheduled to participate in the India-Morocco Joint Business Forum and hold bilateral meetings with senior Moroccan officials. He will also engage directly with business leaders in Rabat to explore trade partnerships and potential joint ventures, giving the visit both a governmental and a private-sector dimension.

With the two sides looking to formalise cooperation across food safety, culture, and multiple industrial sectors, the outcomes of this visit are expected to lay the groundwork for a more structured and diversified bilateral relationship in the years ahead.