Tunis — Increasing the trade exchange volume of the agricultural produce, materialising the creation of a free trade zone and an intra-Maghrebi market, are the recommendations of the participants in the second congress of the Maghrebi Farmers' Union (UMAGRI) held on January 16-17, 2013 in Algeria.

The participants called for eliminating tax and customs double imposition between the member countries and vitalising the Maghrebi convention in the agricultural sector, specifies a statement of the Tunisian Agriculture and Fishery Union (UTAP) published, on Friday.

In their final statement, they urged the Presidents of the Arab Maghreb Union's (AMU) countries to guarantee a favorable environment to the materialisation of the objectives of creating this regional group, namely free movement of persons, goods and capitals, as well as the adoption of joint policies in the different fields.

Besides, the participants proposed the establishment of a joint Maghrebi structure to be tasked with importing cereals, exporting agricultural products and exchanging surplus of production between the countries of the region.

UTAP President said to TAP news agency that the objective of this structure is to decrease the price of the imported agricultural products.

A Tunisian delegation led by UTAP President took part in this second congress, whose works focused on the files of agriculture and food security in the region.

In this session, Egypt and Sudan become officially UMAGRI members.