Morocco Reaffirms Commitment to Boosting African Development

Wednesday 24 January 2024 - 07:36

Morocco's top diplomat in the U.S., Ambassador Youssef Amrani, has emphasized his country's unwavering commitment to fostering development throughout Africa. Addressing a roundtable event in Washington D.C. on Monday, Ambassador Amrani lauded Morocco's robust economic ties with the U.S. while highlighting Rabat's initiatives to stimulate trade and growth within Africa.

Despite not being a member of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Morocco benefits from duty-free access to the U.S. market through a significant free trade agreement established in 2004. Described as an "innovative and virtuous partnership" by Ambassador Amrani, this agreement has propelled Morocco to become America’s fourth-largest African trading partner, fostering billions in investment flows between the two allied nations.

The ambassador argued that continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represent a new frontier for American companies seeking opportunities in Africa's substantial consumer base. With AfCFTA now in effect, he emphasized, "our continent will provide [firms] with a larger market of over one billion people."

However, Morocco remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing prosperity beyond its borders. Ambassador Amrani highlighted last year's $1 billion Morocco-Africa trade and investment program, designed to bolster export capacity and strengthen commercial ties across the region. Additionally, he acknowledged HM King Mohammed VI's efforts to connect Sahel countries to crucial Atlantic Ocean trade routes and infrastructure.

The ambassador emphasized that by sharing its integration expertise with both longstanding and newfound neighbors, Morocco aspires to unlock the "transformative power of free trade" throughout the entire African continent.