News
Friday 9 February 2018

Morocco, Belgium Discuss Means to Develop Bilateral Cooperation in Energy

Vocal synthesis
Morocco, Belgium Discuss Means to Develop Bilateral Cooperation in Energy

Chairman of the Board of the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), Mustapha Bakkoury, held talks here on Thursday with Belgian Minister of Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development, Marie-Christine Marghem.

During the meeting, the two sides underlined the important opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in the field of renewable energies.

Morocco’s assets combined with the Belgian expertise can be used to further develop bilateral cooperation in the field of renewable energies, Bakkoury said at the meeting.

The Moroccan official, who highlighted the projects undertaken in the Kingdom under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI in the field of renewable energies, said that Morocco plays a leading role in this area and seeks through South-South cooperation to strengthen the exchange of expertise, to launch projects and to contribute effectively to electrification efforts in Africa.

Bakkoury also referred to plans for interconnections with Europe and prospects for strengthening the partnership with the European Union in the areas of renewable energies and sustainable development.

For her part, the Belgian Minister hailed the efforts made by Morocco for the development of renewable energies, expressing the wish to set-up an in-depth bilateral partnership in this sector.

"I had the opportunity to observe with admiration Morocco's efforts in the field of renewable energies and sustainable development during my participation in the COP 22 in Marrakech," she said at the meeting.

On bilateral cooperation, Marghem recalled that Belgian economic actors are present in Morocco with major energy and sustainable development projects, noting that the Kingdom has assets that can attract more Belgian operators.

Bakkoury had also talks with Pascale Delcomminette, General Administrator of Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI).

WBI is the instrument of international policy of Wallonia, Wallonia-Brussels Federation and the French Community Commission.

WBI, the Cooperation agency APEFE (Association for the Promotion of Overseas Education and Training) and the Wallonia Export-Investment Agency (AWEX) are dedicating 2018 to highlighting the dynamism and quality of present and future collaboration between the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Wallonia and the Kingdom of Morocco.

All operators and partners of WBI, APEFE and AWEX will organise events in both territories throughout the year, thus strengthening the links between French-speaking Belgians and Moroccans and between their governments.

AWEX will make Morocco its priority market and target country for 2018, with a large number of focused promotional and marketing activities.

-MAP-08/02/18