Morocco-Guinea Joint Cooperation Commission: Eight Agreements Signed in Several Fields

Eight cooperation agreements and conventions covering a wide range of fields were signed on Monday in Dakhla, during the 7th session of the Morocco-Guinea Joint Cooperation Commission, co-chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Guineans Living Abroad, Morissanda Kouyaté. A security cooperation agreement was signed by the two parties, with the aim of strengthening cooperation mechanisms for joint action against international terrorism and the various forms of transnational crime, notably drug trafficking and illegal migration. An agreement on the international carriage of goods and passengers by road was also signed. It is meant to organize the international road transport of goods and passengers between the two countries, or in transit through their territories. The parties also signed a Cooperation Protocol in the hydrocarbons sector, which aims to create a framework for cooperation in order to implement projects of common interest in the hydrocarbons sector. The purpose of the cooperation agreement on metrology, accreditation and consumer protection is to establish a framework for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of metrology, accreditation and consumer protection. It defines the technical assistance services to be provided in this field, as well as the respective commitments of the Parties for the proper implementation of this Agreement. The memorandum of understanding in the fields of standardization and certification aims to establish a framework for cooperation between the two parties through the exchange of information on the standards development process, and the implementation of measures likely to promote the mutual recognition of certificates of conformity to internal and international standards. In the cultural field, a memorandum of understanding was signed. It aims to strengthen and promote mutual cooperation in the cultural field, notably through the exchange of experts and expertise, the organization of cultural weeks, participation in book fairs, etc. The two parties also signed a framework cooperation Convention concerning the award of academic scholarships, internships and the sharing of expertise. The aim of this Framework Agreement is to promote cooperation between the two countries in the cultural, scientific, technical and socio-economic fields, notably by awarding scholarships, organizing training and advanced training courses, sending experts and exchanging visits by officials, etc. To this end, the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI) provides the Republic of Guinea with an annual quota of 180 university and technical scholarships. Lastly, a framework Convention for cooperation in the field of vocational training was inked by both parties. The aim of this Convention is to set out the overall framework for cooperation between the parties in the field of vocational training, with a commitment to strengthen cooperation, notably by reserving a quota of 150 teaching places, spread over a 3-year period at a rate of 50 places per year, from the start of the 2023-2024 academic year, for the benefit of young trainees undergoing initial training in the levels and specialties defined by the Guinean Ministry of Technical Education, Vocational Training and Employment (METFP).