Hibapress / Aziz EL Guennouni
As part of its ongoing coverage of important economic issues, Hibapress received Mr. Jamal Diwani, leader of the Istiqlal party, parliamentarian from the Agadir Edoutan constituency and head of the productive sectors committee of Parliament, to share his point with us of view on a certain number of strategic questions which provoke reactions in Morocco.
In light of the royal directives aimed at strengthening commercial cooperation between Morocco and African countries, what is the importance of establishing a direct maritime line between the city of Agadir and Senegal to strengthen commercial exchanges between the two countries? ?
The launch of a direct maritime line linking the city of Agadir and the city of Dakar constitutes a historic step towards the activation of strategic ambitions between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Senegal. This project is of great importance for strengthening economic cooperation and trade, and also contributes to strengthening Morocco’s presence in West African markets. This line is considered an important step in the field of transport and trade between the two countries, and strengthens the position of the Kingdom of Morocco as an economic link between Africa and Europe, within the framework of the far-sighted royal vision of His Majesty King Mohammed. VI, may God help him.
Can you tell us about the potential benefits of this maritime line for Moroccan productive sectors, particularly in the areas of fishing, agriculture and manufacturing industries? How do you assess its impact on improving Moroccan exports to West Africa?
Certainly, the direct maritime line between Agadir and Dakar will have considerable positive repercussions on the productive sectors in Morocco. It will enable businesses and exporters to reduce high land transport costs, thereby facilitating the rapid and cost-effective arrival of trucks loaded with goods in Dakar. This line will also help facilitate the transport of goods, and also improves passenger transport, which strengthens economic and commercial ties between Morocco and West African countries. This maritime line would respond to the problems linked to the long duration of navigation, which represented an obstacle to the increase in trade rates between Morocco and its African partners, which would have a positive impact on the Moroccan economy. Additionally, this project will strengthen the activation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which is considered an important step towards achieving regional integration of the continent. The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, signed in 2018 and ratified by 43 countries, has helped generate numerous gains in areas such as agriculture and fisheries, thereby strengthening food security on the continent.
To what extent can the new maritime lines, in particular the Agadir-Senegal line, contribute to strengthening commercial links between Morocco and the Atlantic coastal countries in general? How can these lines translate into increased trade with countries like Gambia, Guinea and Ivory Coast?
The new maritime lines, in particular the direct maritime line between Agadir and Dakar, contribute significantly to the strengthening of commercial relations between Morocco and the coastal countries of the Atlantic. As highlighted by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God protect him, in his speech on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Green March, where he stressed that “the Atlantic-African facade suffers from a deficit of infrastructure and investments, despite its human qualifications and natural resources. His Majesty stressed that Morocco is working with its partners in Africa to find practical solutions to this challenge, within the framework of international cooperation. The Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project, mentioned by His Majesty, is part of this strategy. It aims to promote regional integration and common economic growth, to encourage the development of the Atlantic strip, in addition to providing energy to Europe. This project is part of the trend that pushed Morocco to launch an initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation between the 23 African-Atlantic countries. Trade between Morocco and African countries has experienced remarkable growth, going from 36 billion dirhams in 2013 to 52.7 billion dirhams in 2023, an increase of 45%. This project is part of the trend that pushed Morocco to launch an initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation between the 23 African-Atlantic countries. Trade between Morocco and African countries has experienced remarkable growth, going from 36 billion dirhams in 2013 to 52.7 billion dirhams in 2023, an increase of 45%. Moroccan exports to African markets amounted to 32.7 billion dirhams in 2023, with 100% growth recorded compared to 2013, which far exceeds the growth rate of Moroccan exports to the rest of world markets.
Regarding investments in maritime infrastructure, including ports, ships and logistics systems, what measures should be taken to ensure the success of this shipping line? What is the role of Parliament in encouraging the private sector and the government to make these investments?
The far-sighted vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI serves as a roadmap towards economic renaissance, as investments have been made in strengthening maritime infrastructure, the most prominent example of which is the Atlantic port of Dakhla. This port benefits from a strategic location on the Atlantic coast. It is considered a new gateway to Africa on the ocean, thanks to its large transport capacity and the importance of its location in the maritime transport. The port is expected to become one of the most important ports on the African Atlantic coast by 2029. The Atlantic port of Dakhla is also part of the new development model launched by His Majesty the King in 2013, which aims to strengthen cooperation between Morocco and African countries, particularly in the Sahel region. This investment is also part of the national port strategy 2030, which aims to develop Morocco’s port infrastructure to meet the needs of international trade. Regarding the role of Parliament, it can contribute significantly to motivating the private sector and government to invest in these strategic projects by enacting appropriate legislation and providing investment incentives.
