2024-07-21 11:45:14
Speaking at a high-level panel on the theme “Perspectives of a Wider Atlantic: Similarities and Differences”, on the occasion of the 12th edition of the international conference “The Atlantic Dialogues”, Mr. Amrani stressed that the speech of HM the King initiated an integrated, united and ambitious Royal Vision for the establishment of an “Atlantic Africa” which is continually establishing itself as an essential geostrategic space on the international scene.
The diplomat indicated that this Royal Vision “calls for boldness and innovation to create a dynamic space for co-development and shared progress, which is transformed with the stated ambition of constituting a space marked by lasting peace, mutual respect, stability and progress for nations.”
Indeed, explained the Kingdom’s ambassador-designate in Washington, the Atlantic represents for Morocco much more than a simple geographical construction. “It is a space of expanded projection that allows the Kingdom to connect the axes of its large-scale integration efforts in its immediate environment, its neighborhood and its maritime flanks open to a multitude of traditional and strategic partners of the Americas,” he said.
While recalling that “the Atlantic is a geopolitical opportunity and boon, a space of opportunities and a prosperous ground for successful integration processes”, Mr. Amrani noted that the Atlantic also “faces challenges that require massive investments coupled with substantial political leadership”.
“This area needs coherent, forward-looking, inclusive and cross-cutting regional and sub-regional policies, particularly in its African dimension,” he continued.
The diplomat noted that countries in the South, whether in Latin America or Africa, face the same problems, in terms of development, good governance and the provision of social services.
For these reasons, he explained, “we cannot dissociate our fate from that of other countries – the challenges are too great to be faced alone,” noting that in this spirit, Morocco always strives to preserve and strengthen its traditional partnerships, while constantly engaging in initiatives aimed at promoting greater regional integration.
In this regard, Mr. Amrani stressed that “connectivity is the key to sustainable cooperation,” explaining that “connecting the shores with more cables, pipelines and roads immediately offers not only an economic benefit, but also catalyzes a strong political will to promote cooperation, as an obstacle and in opposition to all divisive alternatives.”
The ambassador specified that the priority is to establish cooperation mechanisms that can promote integration, not only economic but also political, security, human, cultural and scientific. “This is the heart of Morocco’s diplomatic action driven by His Majesty the King within the AU, but also in all of our partnership relations with our brother countries and African friends,” he stressed.
Further proof of this solid commitment, Africa today concentrates 2/3 of Morocco’s foreign direct investments (FDI), since the Kingdom has invested, since 2008, more than 3 billion dollars on the continent and has become, today, the largest African investor in West Africa and positions itself as one of the two largest African investors across the continent.
In Morocco, the diplomat recalled, this process began at the national level, under the leadership of HM the King, noting that this resulted in the development of a major policy for the Saharan regions of the country, which have become an integral part of an integrated maritime economy, with maritime fishing, logistics, ports, renewable energies, offshore resource exploration, tourism, as well as infrastructure.
“The extension of highways, the high-speed train, the Atlantic port of Dakhla are all part of an ambitious vision for the development of Morocco and for the entire continent, starting with its Atlantic coast and ending with its extension towards its natural African depth,” he said.
“The Royal Vision has thus established a clear roadmap, which enriches the pillars of the sharing capacities that Morocco strives to solidify by working closely with brotherly and neighboring Atlantic African countries through strategic and concrete projects that can better integrate our economies such as the Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline,” noted the diplomat.
And to conclude by pointing out that the challenges facing our African countries have this common denominator: the requirement to establish homogeneous regional spaces with smooth and controlled traffic where not only understanding would dominate, but also dialogue, cooperation, the spirit of compromise and good neighborliness.
2024-07-21 11:45:14