The visit, part of a six-day tour of the Middle East, North Africa and Europe aimed at strengthening partnerships and promoting shared priorities in the region on behalf of the United States of America, was an opportunity to highlight, once again, the close and exemplary relations of partnership and friendship that have always linked the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America.

"The United States is grateful for its centuries-old partnership and friendship with Morocco," the First Lady of the United States said in a speech in Marrakech on Sunday, praising at the same time the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in empowering women and young people.

The First Lady of the United States also recalled having been "graciously welcomed" on her arrival in Marrakech on Saturday afternoon by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa.

"And as we got to know each other, she told me about Her work to raise awareness among children and young people of the importance of protecting the environment", noted Mrs. Biden, who said she was "inspired by Her Royal Highness's passion."

"I'm inspired to relay His story when I return to the U.S., as part of our efforts to capitalize on opportunities to learn from each other. Because our world is bound together in so many ways, and shared values are the foundation on which our future should be built," she said.

During her stay in the Kingdom, on Sunday the First Lady of the United States visited the Medersa Ben Youssef, an iconic historical and educational institution located in the heart of Marrakech's ancient Medina, where she exchanged views with a group of young people on Moroccan culture and civic engagement.

Jill Biden then visited the Association Ennakhil pour la Femme et l'Enfant (AEFE) to learn more about its programs to help women and girls in difficult circumstances.

During her visit, the First Lady of the United States met the staff and participants of two programs funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Valued at $820,000, the first program aims to expand support services for women victims of gender-based violence. The program includes the creation and launch of a mobile application enabling virtual consultations, as well as the setting up of a solidarity restaurant where women are actively involved in vocational training.

The second program involves six cooperatives that have received cash grants under the cooperative financing program.

Worth $18 million, this initiative was implemented by GiveDirectly, in partnership with the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH). The program directly supports 1,400 Moroccan cooperatives economically impacted by various shocks such as COVID-19, climate change, drought and inflation, helping them to boost production, improve their livelihoods and become more resilient.

On Monday, Jill Biden visited the Ibn Al Aarif Collegiate High School, which has benefited from the "Secondary Education" project.

Implemented in partnership with the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports, and supported under the "Compact II" cooperation program between the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Government of the United States of America, the $112 million project has benefited 90 public schools in the Marrakech-Safi, Fez-Meknes and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima regions.

During her visit, the First Lady of the United States met with students, teachers and staff at the Collegiate High School, and was impressed by the school's various capacity-building clubs, including the Robotics and Life Skills Clubs.

"To this end, my country shares its expertise in the application of nuclear techniques in the fields of health, water, environment and agriculture among others, with the African Member States, through the organization of training courses, workshops, advisory mission, as well as scientific visits," he said in his address to the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which runs from June 5 to 9.

Speaking under the Agenda Item 2, Farhane reiterated the Kingdom's determination to "continue upholding its emergency response capabilities."

To this end, the Kingdom hosted an IAEA Emergency Preparedness Review (EPREV) Mission on a voluntary basis in November 2022, which welcomed Morocco's solid foundation for nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness arrangements, he recalled.

The diplomat also referred to the important visit of IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi to Morocco in June 2022, which provided an opportunity to establish a framework for cooperation in the fight against cancer and zoonotic diseases, and to further strengthen the partnership between the Agency and Morocco, particularly in the field of triangular capacity building in Africa.

He added that, at regional level, the Centre national de l'énergie, des sciences et des techniques nucléaires (CNESTEN) and the African Atomic Energy Commission (CAEN) signed a memorandum of understanding last month to strengthen their cooperation in the field of civil applications of nuclear energy and nuclear safety and security.

This protocol will provide a solid basis for Morocco to share its experience in the peaceful use of nuclear energy with African countries, in order to stimulate and promote sustainable industrial and economic development in Africa, the diplomat noted.

"Morocco has developed, thanks to IAEA support, recognized expertise in the peaceful use of nuclear applications and technologies in many fields, and remains fully committed to sharing its experience with its partners, in particular interested IAEA African member states", he concluded.

"The autonomy model for the southern provinces of Morocco, within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty, is a very positive way to a definitive solution" to the Sahara issue, Troch, a member of the National Council of the Austrian Parliament, told the press following his talks with House of Representatives Speaker Rachid Talbi El Alami, and the chairwoman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Islamic Affairs and Moroccan Expatriates, Nadia Bouaida.

Troch, a member of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Austrian National Council, also praised the Kingdom's efforts "to promote development and peace in the region."

The Austrian parliamentarian further stressed that his talks with Talbi El Alami and Bouaida had provided an opportunity to exchange constructive views and ideas, and to discuss relations between Morocco and Europe and between Rabat and Vienna.

Last March, the Moroccan Parliament signed in Rabat a memorandum of understanding with its counterpart in the Republic of Austria, aimed at giving a new impetus to Moroccan-Austrian parliamentary cooperation and strengthening relations between the two legislative institutions.

"Tanger Med Port is ready to welcome and accompany Moroccans from all over the world in the framework of the Marhaba 2023 operation," Lakhmas said in a statement to MAP and its streaming news channel, specifying that a budget of about MAD 80 million has been allocated to improve port infrastructures and services provided to travelers.

For his part, Abdellah Omar Moussa, the Head of the Medical and Humanitarian Unit of the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, stressed that the 2023 edition of the Marhaba operation was launched on Sunday night to Monday, by Altas Instructions Réalise, and will continue until September 15.

In this respect, he pointed out that the Foundation, which contributes to this operation with all national actors, has mobilized its human and logistical resources to carry out this operation successfully.

The head specified that nearly 1,400 people, including teams from the Foundation, social workers, doctors, paramedical staff and volunteers, have been mobilized to listen to Moroccan expats, assist them and provide them with the necessary support and help.

He further highlighted, in this regard, the contribution of the Ministry of Health, local and port authorities and airport administrations, which have intensified their efforts to welcome Moroccans from all over the world and accompany them at the different stages of their journey to Morocco.

The press conference will shed light on the Atlas Lions' friendly against Cabo Verde on June 12 in Rabat and their official match against South Africa on June 17 in Johannesburg as part of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, the federation said on its website.

According to the same source, the first fifteen minutes of the Atlas Lions' training session, scheduled after the press conference, will be open to the press.

This stance was expressed by Maltese Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Ian Borg, on a working visit to the Kingdom, in a Joint Declaration adopted at the end of his talks in Rabat with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita.

In the said Joint Declaration, Malta encourages all parties to demonstrate greater political will in favor of a definitive solution, and to re-engage in the UN's efforts in a spirit of realism and compromise.

The Maltese minister also reiterated his country's long-standing support for the UN-led process for a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution for the parties, the declaration said.

The two ministers agreed on the exclusivity of the UN in the political process and reaffirmed their support for UN Security Council Resolutions 2602 and 2654, which noted the role and responsibility of the parties in the search for a realistic, practical, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.
 

Speaking at the 2023 edition of the Africa CEO Forum, Akhannouch gave a broad overview of Morocco's undeniable investments and efforts in the development of logistics infrastructures, pointing out that the Kingdom boasts the largest port in Africa and a large number of international airports.

He also highlighted the new Investment Charter and sectoral priorities, such as healthcare, automotive industry, agro-industry, fertilizers and aeronautics.

The Head of Government pointed out, however, that the value chain cannot be confined to a single country, but should be integrated regionally. "No country can do everything on its own, so we need complementarity, and Africa has that characteristic," he said.

Recalling the context of Covid-19, he pointed out that Morocco gives high priority to health sovereignty, in addition to industrial and agricultural sovereignty, recalling, in this respect, the Green Morocco Plan which has doubled the added value of agriculture, as well as the new "Generation Green" strategy.

Akhannouch also presented Morocco's progress in the field of green and renewable energies, thanks to a far-sighted Royal Vision, pointing out that the share of renewable energies in the energy mix has risen to almost 40pc today, and the ambition is to reach 52pc in a few years' time.

Morocco, which is also particularly interested in green hydrogen, is in the process of preparing a bid for investors, which will certainly be ready before the end of this year, he added, recalling at the same time the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and its importance in terms of resource diversification.

With regard to the public/private relationship, Akhannouch explained that Morocco's ambition is to increase the private sector's share of investment to 2/3, compared with 1/3 for the State.

He also stressed the importance of increasing trade between the continent's countries, through taking advantage of the opportunities available, pointing out that Africa is a continent that complements itself through its natural resources.
 

In a joint declaration issued at the end of talks held in Rabat on Monday between Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and Maltese Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Ian Borg, the two parties also called for the opportunities offered by new value chains to be seized.

The two ministers also praised the excellent relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Malta, while reiterating their common desire to further strengthen them.

In this context, the two parties agreed to hold the 2nd session of the Moroccan-Maltese Joint Commission in Valletta, an occasion to give a strong impetus to bilateral relations, through the exploration of new avenues of cooperation, especially since both countries are a gateway to the African and the European continents respectively.

Morocco and Malta also reaffirmed the centrality of the historical and privileged partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union (EU), and stressed the importance of this strategic partnership.

In this respect, Malta reiterated its commitment to contribute to the preservation and strengthening of this Morocco-EU strategic partnership at all levels.

In this declaration, the Republic of Malta appreciates the fact that the "Kingdom of Morocco has strived to be an agent for peace and understanding among nations and has fostered excellent relations with the EU". Both countries look forward to enhancing these relations further, the same source stressed.

Regarding the issue of migration, Morocco and Malta expressed their determination to strengthen their cooperation in the fight against illegal migration and human trafficking.

Both sides agreed to efficiently address the migration pressure as a common challenge and a shared responsibility, and to further enhance cooperation in the area of return and readmission.

In this context, Malta recognizes Morocco's efforts in the fight against illegal migration and its chairmanship in 2023 of the Rabat Process.

This appreciation was expressed in a joint declaration issued at the end of talks held in Rabat on Monday between Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and the Maltese Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Ian Borg.

The Maltese FM also stressed that these reforms make Morocco "a credible reference partner and a pole of stability in the region".

Through this declaration, the Republic of Malta praises Morocco's role as an actor for peace and understanding among nations.

On this occasion, the two countries also reaffirmed their commitment to deepen their economic and trade cooperation, particularly in the field of renewable energy, while calling for the opportunities offered by new value chains to be seized.

The two ministers praised the excellent relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Malta, while reiterating their common desire to further strengthen them.
 

Morocco takes part in this annual Forum with a large delegation led by Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, and including Minister Delegate for Investment, Convergence and the Evaluation of Public Policies, Mohcine Jazouli, president of the Moroccan Employers' Association (CGEM), Chakib Alj, and chairman of the National Museums Foundation, Mehdi Qotbi.

This Africa's largest annual private sector event (June 5-6) brings together over 1,800 African and international business leaders and public decision-makers, with the aim of meeting the ambitious challenge of transforming the crisis into opportunities, rapidly and sustainably.