Morocco’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mustafa al-Mansouri, has said that Rabat is looking forward to consolidating its cooperation with Riyadh in vital industries, such as auto making and aeronautics. Mansouri lauded, in remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi Arabia’s contribution to Morocco’s development. He said Riyadh has funded huge Moroccan industries, mainly auto making and aerospace, adding his country manufactures 250,000 vehicles annually and exports them to several Arab and European countries. Riyadh and Rabat have strong and historic ties, and they work together for the consolidation of joint cooperation, he said. Saudi Arabia “continues to back Morocco in his development path,” al-Mansouri said, adding that it had a major role in huge and vital projects in the country. “We are aware that the relations would grow and would improve financial, economic and industrial cooperation in the future,” the ambassador told Asharq Al-Awsat. “In general, Morocco has made a major leap forward in progress and development,” he said. The head of the Saudi-Moroccan Business Council, Mohammed al-Hmadi, told Asharq Al-Awsat in a phone conversation from Paris that economic relations between the two countries would further develop. Bilateral trade would increase by 20 percent, mainly after the direct shipping route between them became operational, he said. Saudi investments have grown, reaching 2 billion dollars in the past two years, Hmadi added.