News
Monday 10 July 2017

Morocco, a strategic country for Argentina that seeks to enter Africa

Vocal synthesis
Morocco, a strategic country for Argentina that seeks to enter Africa

Morocco is an important and strategic country for Argentina which considers it as a gateway to Africa, Argentina's vice-president, Gabriela Michetti, said.

"Argentina views the Kingdom as a strategic and important country in the context of the opening of Buenos Aires to the world," Michetti said in an interview with MAP on the eve of her working visit to Morocco next week.

The Argentinean vice-president, who is also the Senate’s speaker, noted that her country considers the return of Morocco to the African Union (AU) as "a very important step because we hope that Morocco will lead us to Africa," adding that her country, which has embarked on a new process of openness, can offer Africa and Morocco, in particular, a gateway to South America.

"We have decided to visit Morocco because we know that the Kingdom reflects Arab-African culture, and we attach great importance to our relations with Morocco, a country which has succeeded in acquiring a clear identity and an importance that is internationally recognized," she explained.

Buenos Aires is looking to strengthen its relations with Rabat, she said, adding that bilateral relations offer several development opportunities at different levels, particularly in terms of trade.

According to Michetti, the best way to promote relations between Argentina and Morocco is to set up bridges that promote mutual understanding as well as relations between the two peoples, notably through tourism.

In this context, the Argentinean Vice-President stressed the need to encourage tourism between the two countries and to strengthen co-operation in  economic, cultural, academic, scientific and social fields.

She said that during her forthcoming visit to Morocco, she will highlight Argentina's experience in technical and scientific research, adding that the two countries could develop their cooperation in these two areas.

Argentina is interested in cooperating with Morocco in the field of renewable energies, she said, noting that the Kingdom, which has launched the project of the world's largest solar power plant, is an "example to follow".

Morocco succeeded into organizing the COP22 held last November in Marrakech, she pointed out, adding that Argentina, which expressed its commitment to the Paris Climate Accord, decided to invest heavily in the energy sector, in particular in renewable energies, and announced the launch of major projects in several regions of the country.

The Argentinean official will pay a working visit to Morocco on July 11-14, during which she will meet members of the government, MPs and representatives of Moroccan employers' association (CGEM) and National Human Rights Council (CNDH).

MAP 07 July 2017