Morocco proposes roadmap to deepen cooperation with OAS

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By: Azzat Manal

Morocco proposes roadmap to deepen cooperation with OAS

Morocco has proposed establishing a practical roadmap to deepen cooperation with the Organization of American States (OAS), with a particular focus on knowledge-sharing, training, innovation and sustainable development.

Morocco’s Ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, presented the proposal on Wednesday during a strategic dialogue with permanent observers to the OAS, held as part of a special meeting of the organization’s Inter-American Council for Integral Development in Washington.

During the meeting, Amrani highlighted Morocco’s status as a permanent observer to the OAS, describing the Atlantic not as a barrier separating regions but as a shared space capable of creating opportunities for partnership and economic and human development.

The Moroccan diplomat argued that South-South cooperation should move beyond political dialogue toward concrete initiatives driven by the priorities identified by member states themselves. He stressed that development cannot be reduced to financial assistance, emphasizing instead the importance of exchanging expertise, institutional experience and technical capabilities.

Knowledge, technology and human capital, he said, should be placed at the heart of efforts to address shared development challenges. This approach, according to the Moroccan ambassador, could provide a foundation for more practical cooperation between Morocco and countries across the Americas.

Amrani pointed to several areas in which Morocco has developed expertise that could be shared with OAS member states, including sustainable agriculture, water management and desalination, as well as large-scale renewable energy projects. These sectors have become increasingly important as countries seek to strengthen food and water security while accelerating the transition toward cleaner energy sources.

He also highlighted the role of Moroccan specialized institutions, research centers and training organizations in supporting knowledge transfer. Such institutions could help create links between researchers, professionals and young innovators from Morocco and the Americas, allowing technical expertise to circulate more effectively between the two regions.

For Morocco, development is fundamentally a human-centered process. Against this backdrop, Amrani said the kingdom is interested in building cooperation with the OAS around professional training and the exchange of knowledge, particularly by creating opportunities for young people and skilled professionals.

He announced Morocco’s readiness, through the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation, to expand scholarship opportunities, technical training programs and professional exchanges for young people and specialists from OAS member states.

The Moroccan proposal also emphasizes a gradual and practical approach. Rather than immediately launching large-scale programs, Morocco suggested beginning with pilot projects in areas particularly affected by water stress, soil degradation or energy shortages. Successful initiatives could then be expanded and adapted to other regions facing similar challenges.

Such projects could serve as testing grounds for solutions in sustainable agriculture, water efficiency, renewable energy and human-capacity development, while allowing participating countries to assess their effectiveness before wider implementation.

To ensure that cooperation remains structured and measurable, Amrani proposed the creation of a joint roadmap between Morocco and the OAS. The framework would establish clear priorities, identify concrete projects and introduce mechanisms for monitoring progress and evaluating results.

The proposal reflects Morocco’s broader efforts to strengthen its partnerships with countries and institutions across the Atlantic. By combining technical cooperation with training and knowledge exchange, Rabat seeks to position its relationship with the Americas around practical development initiatives rather than diplomatic engagement alone.

Amrani concluded that Morocco intends to act not simply as an observer within the OAS framework, but as an active partner willing to contribute, learn and work alongside American countries. The proposed roadmap is intended to help transform the shared Atlantic space into a platform for knowledge, solidarity, innovation and sustainable prosperity.