Akhannouch says China-Africa strategic partnership is a solid pillar for the continent
- Food security at the heart of Morocco's African policy
- Atlantic Initiative and Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline
Aziz Akhannouch, who represents King Mohammed VI at this Forum recalled the fruitful visit of the Alawite monarch to the People's Republic of China in May 2016, which was crowned with the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership Relations, reflecting the great potential for bilateral cooperation and the strong and sincere political will of the two states to accelerate the implementation of this common vision and move towards promising prospects for the continent.
Speaking at a High-Level Conference on “Industrialization and Modernization of Agriculture in Africa,” the head of government noted that the choice of the theme of this meeting reflects the deep awareness of China and Africa on the importance of industrialization, modernization of agriculture and sustainable development for the continent.
Aziz Akhannouch recalled that Morocco has adopted ambitious strategies in this framework, such as the National Pact for Industrial Emergence and the Industrial Acceleration Plan that have contributed to the development of industrial capacities and the promotion of innovation in the Kingdom.
In the same vein, he stressed Morocco's concern to equip itself with a new Investment Charter, with the objectives of strengthening the presence of Moroccan companies at the international level and promoting the attractiveness and flow of foreign investments to the Kingdom.
In this context, the head of government pointed out that Morocco is aware of the importance of focusing on the sectors of the future, such as renewable energies, electric cars, aeronautical construction, electronic industries and green hydrogen.
As for agriculture, Rabat has launched ambitious initiatives to modernize this sector, notably the “Green Morocco” plan and the “Green Generation 2020-2030” strategy, he recalled.
Thanks to these two initiatives, Morocco has been able to modernize its agricultural sector and strengthen its productivity and sustainability to ensure its food sovereignty, in the face of the challenges of climate change and its effects on agriculture and food security in African countries, at a delicate juncture marked by a setback in economic and social development and pressure on natural resources, especially water resources, Akhannouch noted.
He also stressed that Morocco, in the framework of promoting good governance of water resources, in accordance with the Royal High Guidelines, is preparing major projects with a financial value of more than $14 billion, related in particular to the adoption of drip in the agricultural sector, the construction of dams, the transfer of water between water basins, in addition to other innovative seawater desalination projects, the prime minister said, assuring that these projects “will allow us to meet our water needs, both for the agricultural sector and for drinking water.”
Food security at the heart of Morocco's African policy
Morocco's African policy has put agricultural development and food security at the center of concerns, he insisted, adding that during Mohammed VI's visits to African countries, agriculture has always been a key element in the cooperation strategy with the continent's states, either through the multiple cooperation programs or thanks to the Royal Directives granted to the Cherif Phosphate Office (OCP) to develop special programs in this field in favor of African countries.
To meet the challenges of food security on the continent, Morocco has launched major projects, including the construction of fertilizer production plants in Ethiopia and Nigeria, knowing that the OCP has strengthened its presence in Africa by opening 12 representations in all corners of the continent, as well as stimulating the production and distribution of fertilizers thanks to the launch of eight industrial projects on the continent.
Thanks to its strategic assets and resources, Morocco will remain an ideal partner for China and Africa in the implementation of various joint initiatives, he stressed, noting that this cooperation will make it possible to focus on vital sectors such as the modernization of agriculture, infrastructure development and renewable energy.
As the international system faces in recent years a succession of interconnected crises and profound geopolitical changes in a multipolar world, common action such as strengthening Sino-African cooperation has become essential to address the various challenges, the head of government noted.
Atlantic Initiative and Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline
In this regard, he stressed that Morocco is committed to contributing to giving concrete content to the Sino-African Cooperation Forum through the development of its mechanisms, programs and initiatives in various sectors, in the framework of greater openness to the Chinese pioneering experience, especially as the objectives of this Forum intersect with several initiatives launched by Mohammed VI, thus reflecting Morocco's commitment to peace, stability, regional integration and sustainable development in Africa.
These include, in particular, the International Initiative to facilitate the access of Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, which aims to provide this region with a more direct and beneficial access to the ocean, thus strengthening trade and economic, in addition to the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project which aims to create a strategic energy corridor that promotes energy cooperation and stimulates economic growth in the region.
The Kingdom of Morocco is firmly convinced that these initiatives, supported by trilateral partnerships, will play an essential role in achieving a prosperous and sustainable future for Africa, concluded the head of government.
During the work of this Summit, Prime Minister Akhannouch is accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Morocco Resident Abroad, Nasser Bourita, the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government, in charge of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, Mohcine Jazouli, the ambassador director general of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), Mohamed Methqal, the Moroccan ambassador in Beijing, Abdelkader El Ansari, as well as the president of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), Chakib Alj.
