- Governor jaunts to Morocco to participate in “The Atlantic Dialogues”
- Will highlight Delaware-Morocco trade ties
Governor Jack Markell will be across an ocean on Friday, participating in an international forum in Marrakesh, Morocco. Markell’s office says he will be highlighting the “strong relationship between that country and Delaware,” specifically, a trade deal that brings north African mandarin oranges through the Port of Wilmington en route to pleasing palates across America.
The fruit in question is actually the “darling” little clementine, a close relative of the tangerine, actually, both easy-to-peel members of the mandarin family. Few First Staters were probably aware that a deal with Fresh Fruit Maroc, a Moroccan association of citrus growers and exporters, makes Delaware the North American distribution hub for its clementines.
Markell will reflect on this agreement as a panelist in “The Atlantic Dialogues,” a think-tanky gathering of senior government and business officials to talk politics and economics.
“In a world where the vast majority of wealth is going to be created outside of the United States, it is more important than ever for Delaware to be engaged in the global economy, whether it is to strengthen business at the Port of Wilmington … or boost exports from Delaware companies,” said Markell.
Conference organizers will pay for Markell’s travel expenses, where he’ll be joined by luminaries including the former Prime Minister of Poland, the EU Ambassador to the UN and New Mexico Governor Brian Sandoval.
Markell’s term as governor will end in a bit more than a month when Democrat John Carney is sworn on January 17, 2017.