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(ANSAmed) - FEZ, JULY 1 - Moroccan Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Aziz Akhannouch called for stepping up efforts in order to create a free trade zone among Maghreb countries, Map news agency reports. The minister, who was speaking at a conference on "Maghreb Agriculture: Challenges and Perspectives" in the central city of Fez, noted that agriculture can be a major vehicle for development in the Maghreb region (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia). He said the creation of a free zone is dictated by the world's course towards liberating markets and opening new FTZ, urging Maghreb countries to pool up efforts to reach this goal. The minister insisted that agriculture should be placed in a pole position in Maghreb countries' national policies, which are called to set up emergency measures and long-term strategies to promote the sector, mainly to reduce the impact of the difference between offer and demand on international markets. He ensure that Morocco has made efforts in the field, especially the "Maroc Vert" program, which is meant to promote national agriculture and reinforce its competitiveness. The program is due to erect agriculture as one of the country's economic driving force during the coming 15 years, the minister said, noting that the project includes measures such as developing an agriculture sector with a strong added value, and creating complementary incomes for vulnerable farmers, he ensured. Speaking on the occasion, Secretary General of the Maghreb Union (UMA), Habib ben Yahia said the union cannot guarantee food security without creating a free trade zone to exchange agricultural products, increasing investments in agriculture, promoting scientific research, fighting desertification and beefing up the production of cereals. Yahia added that the Fez meeting provides a good opportunity to deepen reflection on the aspects of a multi-dimension strategy in the Maghreb. (ANSAmed).