It is intended to assist Moroccan firms in priority sectors build their capacity to develop and maintain long-term commercial partnerships with US companies, working mainly in the textile and leather industry.

In addition to working with firms, the project will provide support to business associations to help promote Moroccan industry to US counterparts, through their presence at US trade shows, promotion of Morocco in key US trade journals and facilitation of trade and investment missions of US buyers and investors to Morocco.

“We have launched this programme to help Moroccan firms penetrate the American market and identify the best American partners,” said the US Ambassador to Rabat, Thomas Riley.

An NBO Strategic Orientation Committee, chaired by Minister of Commerce, Industry and Economic Upgrading Salaheddine Mezouar, was established in November 2005 to provide guidance to the project and elaborate a work plan. It is comprised of representatives from USAID, MICMANE and private and public enterprises.

The event was held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and attended by senior Ministry officials, including the Minister of Industry, Trade and Economy Upgrading, Salaheddine Mezouar, US Ambassador Thomas Riley, and USAID Mission Director Monica Stein-Olson.