ISpeaking at the opening of the second edition of the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF), Bourita, who represents the King at this event, said that this cooperation can include in particular the implementation of the Royal Initiative to promote access of Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, aimed at making the Kingdom’s roads, ports and railway networks available to landlocked Sahelian states, and the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project, which constitutes an essential lever for stimulating integrated regional growth in the Atlantic zone.
This cooperation may also be of interest in the field of food security, development and modernization of African agriculture, particularly in the current geostrategic context, as well as investment in the health sector and health sovereignty, given its close link with the economic and social development of the countries of the continent, added the minister.
Bourita noted on this occasion that the IAF constitutes an exemplary model of South-South cooperation, capable of meeting the challenges facing both parties by going beyond traditional cooperation approaches to adopt new, inclusive, innovative and integrated formulas.
In this regard, he expressed his wish to make this forum a real melting pot to coordinate fruitful and constructive cooperation, through the strengthening of Indonesian investments in Africa and the establishment of bilateral and trilateral partnerships in promising and vital sectors such as infrastructure, industry, technology, renewable energy, tourism and artificial intelligence, in order to stimulate development and create more employment opportunities on the continent.
The minister also discussed the establishment of a regular economic forum, with the participation of the private sector, and cooperation to address global challenges, including water scarcity, which represents a serious threat to progress, economic and social development, as well as the security and stability of countries, recalling the King’s last speech in which the sovereign stressed “the importance of water resource management and of redoubling efforts and vigilance, of designing innovative solutions, of subordinating management models to the rules of good governance”.
He also welcomed the successful organization of this forum, stressing that Morocco’s strong commitment to participate in this event stems from the close friendship with Indonesia, under the leadership of the two heads of state, King Mohammed VI and President Joko Widodo, as well as the importance that the Kingdom attaches to the security, stability and progress of the African continent, and to the promotion of South-South cooperation.
Regarding the theme of this forum “The spirit of the Bandung Conference for Africa’s Agenda 2063”, Bourita indicated that he is deeply inspired by this conference, a major event that marked the dialogue on peace and the strengthening of economic and cultural cooperation between African and Asian countries.
The Minister also stressed that Indonesia’s position as an influential power, committed to supporting the stability, national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries on the continent, as well as its commitment to strengthening cooperation with African nations in a mutually beneficial framework, gives substantial value to this partnership, aimed at promoting development, progress and prosperity for both parties.
(with MAP)
