The Chilean Association of Exporters (ASOEX) is to visit Morroco next month to see how they can strengthen ties with the country which is already a big Chilean apple and pear importer, magazine Del Campo reported.

Last year the country imported more than 1,900 metric tons (MT) of Chilean fruit including 880 MT of apples and pears via Spain.

Asoex hopes its visit on Dec. 7-13 will strengthen its knowledge of phytosanitary protocols and stimulate larger imports of red apples, pears, red grapes and kiwifruit.

Asoex president Ronald Bown said he saw the country as a gateway for accessing other markets.

"Morroco has become a platform for exports to North Africa because of its political and maroeconomic stability," he was quoted as saying.

He also said there was increased penetration of supermarket chains such as Carrefour, which partnerned up with leading network Morrocon Sun in 2010.

Morroco's gross domestic product currently stands at US$101,767 million but is predicted to rise to US$ 145,389 million by 2016.

It is a major fruit producer  in its own right exporting 446,000 MT of oranges, tangerines and clementines last year.

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