2024-05-13 20:22:22
“We have built infrastructure according to the best international standards, with unprecedented air-land-sea connectivity in the region,” he said, in an interview with the daily La Repubblica, published Wednesday, the day after his participation in the “Italy-Africa: A bridge for common growth” summit.
”The kingdom has developed a motorway network, which extends over 2000 km, the first high-speed railway line in Africa, the continent’s largest port on the Mediterranean and soon the most important maritime infrastructure in the Atlantic, as well as only 14 international airports, offering a very significant African projection capacity,” he detailed.
According to Mr. Akhannouch, these infrastructures have enabled Morocco to develop efficient industries, notably automobiles and aeronautics, “which are today a benchmark”, but also “resilient and sovereign” agriculture. , as well as a “particularly attractive” tourist sector.
Under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, the Kingdom was also able to become “the main African producer of renewable energies and to consolidate its position as a pioneer in terms of green transition”, continued the Head of Government, highlighting moving forward with the renewable energy development strategy, launched in 2009.
Mr. Akhannouch also highlighted Morocco’s actions in the development of the green hydrogen sector and the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline initiative, which will contribute to the energy security of West Africa and the European Union. , highlighting Italy’s interest in the Kingdom’s initiatives in this area.
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has chosen Morocco as one of the first countries where she will launch new investments in this sector, welcomed Mr. Akhannouch. It is, in particular, “a major center of excellence for professional training on the theme of renewable energies”, he said.
Regarding the Mattei Plan, presented as part of the summit, Mr. Akhannouch explained that this initiative aims to integrate Africa into global value chains, noting that “it is necessary to involve the Italian private sectors, European and African countries to meet this challenge.
“The plan also requires that the resources mobilized actually correspond to the expected ambitions,” he added.
Furthermore, the Head of Government stressed that “investments between Europe and Africa could contribute positively to the management of migratory flows, if they are initiated in a logic of partnership and co-development”, citing , for example, the investments of the Stellantis automobile group, which announced in 2022 its desire to double the productive capacity of the Kenitra factory.
The Head of Government represented His Majesty King Mohammed VI at this summit, which was held on January 28 and 29 in the Italian capital.
The Italy-Africa Summit is part of a journey started by the Italian government since taking office through numerous bilateral meetings, the central moment of which was the Conference on Development and Migration, which took place in Rome in July and which launched the ”Rome Process”.
2024-05-13 20:22:22