Hamid Ansari arrives in Morocco

Rabat (Morocco): Vice President Hamid Ansari arrived in Morocco on Tuesday on the first leg of his two-nation tour as part of efforts to build on diplomatic gains from the India-Africa Summit and lay platform for a future partnership.

Ansari and his wife Salma Ansari were received by the Prime Minister of Morocco Abdelilah Benkirane and his wife Nabila Benkirane at the Rabat Sale International Airport.

Ansari will be in Morocco till June 1 at the invitation of Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane and the two leaders would jointly launch the India-Morocco Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Rabat.

In the second leg of his tour, Ansari will visit Tunisia from June 2-3.

This is the first visit by an Indian Vice President in 50 years to Morocco and Tunisia.

The Vice President will discuss with leaders of the two north African countries issues of terrorism, UN Security Council expansion and investments in private sector, as well as ways to strengthen outreach to Africa and regional matters.

During his stay in Morocco, a number of MoUs will be signed in areas like education, IT and communication technology sectors, focusing on "capacity building and cultural exchange".