New Delhi: In a first, Indian think tank in the area of defence The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) held its bilateral dialogue on ‘India-Morocco Partnership: Challenges and Opportunities’ with a Moroccan think tank CMES in Rabat on January 15.

The Dialogue was held via Skype. The Indian Embassy in Morocco partnered with the CMES and facilitated the Dialogue with IDSA.

Director General, IDSA, Ambassador Sujan R Chinoy appreciated the fact that Morocco was an important Arab and African country that has a stable polity and tolerant society, thus making it a beacon of peace and security in a turbulent region.

He said that India and Morocco share liberal values that eschew extremism, and this could translate into cooperation on counter-terrorism and radicalisation.

The IDSA DG added that the two countries must build on the historical ties going back to the travels of Ibn Batuta, and increase the level of trade especially in phosphates. There is also scope for cooperation in the IT, health and tele-medicine sectors, he said, apart from energy and food security.

Earlier inaugurating the event in Rabat, Indian Ambassador to Morocco Kheya Bhattacharya outlined the scope for India-Morocco cooperation in the defence, space and other strategic sectors.

The President of CMES Prof Md Benhammou emphasised that India’s presence and influence in Africa is substantial and agreed that the two countries could cooperate in the areas of renewable energy, climate change and counter terrorism as some key areas of focus.