The  has signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Chamber of Commerce in Morocco calling for the organizations to promote trade and build mutually beneficial business connections.

The development comes on the third day of an Alabama trade and business development mission that began in Spain on Monday before shifting to Morocco. The trade memo was announced at a press conference organized this week by the U.S. Commercial Service in Morocco’s largest city.

Bill Sisson, president and CEO of the Mobile Area Chamber, said the memo formalizes an agreement between the two organizations to collaborate on trade and business promotion to benefit their members.

“This agreement opens a strong relationship between the chambers in Mobile and Morocco,” Sisson said. “Most importantly, it provides a gateway for businesses in the Mobile area to develop new business opportunities in Morocco, and, in turn, for those businesses to develop opportunities in the U.S.”

The agreement calls for the chambers to exchange best practices, facilitate matchmaking services to expand business opportunities, and to share information about trade shows and other events.

Sisson said the U.S. and Morocco have had a Free Trade Agreement in place for the past decade, the only pact of its kind with an African nation.

Alabama Commerce Sec. Greg Canfield speaks in Casablanca on the trade memo between Mobile and Morocco. (Photo courtesy of Made in Alabama)

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS