Germany and Morocco: a partnership ranging from strategic cooperation to solidarity support
- Sustainable economic development, training and employment
- Climate and energy transition
- Digitalisation, good governance, gender and migration
- Security: Morocco as a pole of stability
- Budget support of EUR 100 million for the reconstruction of Al-Haouz
Within the framework of consolidated bilateral relations, Germany not only committed itself to implementing various projects in Morocco for sustainable development, energy transition and security, but also granted the country a loan of 100 million euros in budgetary support for the reconstruction of the regions affected by the Al-Haouz earthquake.
The priority areas of Morocco-Germany cooperation are aligned with the objectives of the New Development Model (NMD) adopted by the Kingdom. Bilateral cooperation focuses mainly on the following areas:
Sustainable economic development, training and employment
Cooperation for sustainable development is a central pillar of Moroccan-German relations. The Sustainable Development Goals, set out in the 2030 Agenda and established by the Member States of the United Nations in 2015, constitute the guiding framework for development cooperation with Morocco.
Germany is also supporting Morocco in improving income and employment opportunities in rural areas, especially for young people and women, and helping to make better use of the human capital of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through vocational training.
As a result of structural change in the Moroccan economy, the framework for cooperation in sustainable economic development is expanding. The common objective between the two countries is to promote a diversified, competitive and inclusive economy that creates decent jobs.
Climate and energy transition
Morocco has significant potential for renewable energy and green hydrogen generation, which has helped it to set ambitious climate targets. In this regard, the German government aims to help the country achieve a just energy transition, strengthen its resilience to the impacts of climate change, as well as manage water demand well.
In bilateral energy cooperation, particular importance is attached to strategic advice, peak load planning, strengthening the electricity grid in the face of the volatility of renewable energies, energy efficiency and the promotion of sustainable mobility.
Digitalisation, good governance, gender and migration
All measures aim to promote gender equality and advance the digitalisation of processes as a central lever for further reform processes in the Alawi kingdom.
Bilateral cooperation focuses on regionalisation and good financial governance in the regions; in addition to supporting partners in transparent investments through participatory processes.
Improving the processes of preparing Moroccans for professional migration and strengthening the capacities of the actors involved are other important areas of Moroccan-German cooperation.
Security: Morocco as a pole of stability
Morocco is a guarantor of stability and security, and an ally whose participation in the global security architecture is necessary. For this reason, relations between Morocco and Germany are based on permanent cooperation and partnership.
The two parties are working together to strengthen bilateral operational cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism and other forms of transnational organised crime (illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, illegal immigration and cybercrime).
Budget support of EUR 100 million for the reconstruction of Al-Haouz
Fouzi Lekjaa, Minister Delegate of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, in charge of the budget, and Sandra Rohleder, Head of Division of the German Development Bank (KfW), signed a loan agreement in Rabat for 100 million euros to support the programme for the reconstruction and improvement of the regions affected by the earthquake in Al-Haouz.
The objective is to support Morocco in managing the aftermath of the earthquake and to cushion its socio-economic impact on the local population. On this occasion, Lekjaa stressed that this loan represents ‘a further step towards consolidating the exemplary and lasting partnership that unites Morocco and Germany’.
For his part, the German Ambassador in Rabat, Robert Dölger, said that ‘the signing of this contract will make a significant contribution to the reconstruction of the disaster-stricken region, as well as emphasising the spirit of solidarity that marks the bilateral relations between Germany and the North African country.
‘I believe that Germany's contribution will make a real difference for those affected by the earthquake,’ the German ambassador concluded, urging at the same time ‘to engage in joint discussions to increase and strengthen access to KfW's financial resources’.