MOROCCAN NATIONAL DAY:
The Moroccan people to renew their indefectible link and allegiance to the Throne
At the international level Morocco hosted many events and international meetings and conferences on global issues like migration or climate change.
THE National Day of the Kingdom of Morocco, is celebrated each year on the 30th of July coincides this year with the 21th Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI. This anniversary is an occasion for the Moroccan people to renew its indefectible link and allegiance to the Throne. As we are celebrating 21 years of the reign of Our August King His Majesty Mohammed VI who since 1999 dedicated Himself to the development of His country and didn’t spare any effort for the wellbeing of His people.
During these twenty one years the Kingdom of Morocco witnessed tremendous and positive changes in various area. Indeed many reforms have been launched and implemented in political, economic and social fields. Actually Morocco has been put on the right track to undertake public policies permitting to attain its development goals and to transform the Kingdom into a favourite destination for foreign investors thanks to the incentives measures taken by the Moroccan authorities and to the favourable business climate offered by the country.
In this regard, big and multinational companies have chosen my country to set up their industrial production units encompassing many sectors such as automotive, aeronautics, textile, agroindustry or energy.
Morocco has achieved a significant progress in terms of infrastructures by building new motorways, launching high speed trains, having new ports, particularly the Tangier Med on the Mediterranean Shores, solar plants and other flagship projects.
Education as the key to any progress in any country was, is and will be a high priority for the Moroccan authorities. In this regard, a high number of public and private universities have been set up in different regions of the country providing studies in different fields of knowledge for Moroccan students as well as for foreign students from 70 countries includig 47 in Africa. This year Morocco receives 13,000 students through the cooperation channel mainly from brotherly African countries (11, 000 students) among which 85% are granted with Moroccan scholarships.
Furthermore, other crucial decisions have been taken to reform the constitution, the family code and to improve human rights, gender equality and offer better opportunity to vulnerable people through the National Human Development Initiative launched in 2005 and which benefited to more than 10 million people who have been granted financial means to set up small projects allowing them to earn their living with dignity. It also contributed to alleviate poverty and exclusion both in urban and rural areas.
At continental level, during the 28the Summit of the African Union held in January 2017, the Kingdom of Morocco marked its return to its African Family, the Pan-African organisation. This return has been supported by the majority of our brotherly African countries.
In fact Africa is a top priority for Morocco leadership and to the Moroccan diplomacy translated in frequent Royal visits to brotherly African countries and fostered by the signing of more than 1000 agreements and memorandums of understanding with 80% of African countries. Morocco is also ranked as the second African investor in Africa.
At the international level Morocco hosted many events and international meetings and conferences on global issues like migration or climate change. In this regard, Morocco hosted the COP 22 Conference on climate change in Marrakesh from 7 to 18 November 2016 and the Conference on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration held also in Marrakesh in September the same year.
In the same vein, allow me to mention all the efforts dedicated by my country to deal with migration challenges and the new migratory policy launched by Morocco to manage the migrants flows while taking into consideration the fact that Morocco which used to be only a country of origin and transit is also, since few years, a host country for migrants.
Similarly, the King of Morocco has been designated as African Leader for migration issue and my country has been chosen to host the African Observatory for Migration and Development.
Another phenomenon and not least is the scourge of terrorism which is facing developing countries as well as those developed and targeting innocent people is a crucial and global issue to which Morocco gives a special interest through a proactive approach and anticipated actions to curb this scourge and to combat the terrorist cells.
To reach this goal Morocco maintains close cooperation with security authorities and agencies in partner countries and also in working at the cultural level by adopting a moderate Islam and offering training to Imams and preachers from Morocco and other countries in order to spread universal human values preached by all monotheistic religions which will contribute to eradicating this very dangerous phenomenon.
I wish on this occasion to reminisce on the State Visit of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI to the Republic of Zambia in February 2017 on the invitation of His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia. This visit gave, with no doubt, a strong impetus to the bilateral relations and contributed to further strenghthen the ties of partnership and brotherhood between the two countries and the two peoples. It was a successful visit, in many ways, as it allowed the enrichment of the legal framework through the signing of 19 agreements in areas of general cooperation, diplomatic consultations, economy, science, technology, culture, investment, industrial cooperation, agriculture, education, mining, air services, energy, insurance, finance and tourism.
In addition, the Kingdom of Morocco has also been supporting the development of the country through training Zambian students under the Moroccan Government Scholarship in areas such as health, economy and management, engineering, agronomy, veterinary sciences, architecture, computer science and geology
In this spirit, and given the excellent relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Zambia, some prominent personalities and good friends of Morocco have founded
Friendship Association (ZMFA).
The objectives: Promoting cooperation between the two countries and friendship among peoples and encouraging partnerships between Zambian and Moroccan institutions, scientific bodies and other economic, tourist, commercial, cultural or artistic structures……..etc. In the same context, the laureates of the great Moroccan Schools and Universities have recently proZamceeded to the creation of bia Morocco Alumni Association (ZMAA).
Although the Kingdom of Morocco is also facing the new coronavirus and its economic effects, this reality has not affected its willingness to help its African brothers. The initiative of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI to send medical aid to African countries to support their efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, is a flagship example of inter-African solidarity and the illustration of real leadership.
In this regard, His Majesty the King Mohammed VI, has given His Instructions for the delivery of medical supplies to assist the Zambian Government in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic that has caused disruption to lives worldwide.
This donation contained various items that are part of preventive and sustainable approach beyond the Covid-19 pandemic: • Strengthens the existing friendship and solidarity between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Zambia; • Materialises the pragmatic and action-oriented initiative proposed by His Majesty the King Mohammed VI, with the objectives of establishing an operational framework to support African countries in the various phase of this pandemic; • Show once again the possibility of providing an African response to African challenges; • Highlights the fact that South- South solidarity and active cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco for the benefit of the African continent is one of the concrete and regular protesting of the Kingdom’s constant mobilization and commitment in favour of African countries and populations.
This donation bears testimony of the excellent relations and cooperation between, demonstrated through the exchange of visits at all levels, bilateral agreements and the opening of Morocco's Diplomatic Mission in Lusaka.
I must confess that the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Zambia are enjoying
cordial and excellent bilateral relations, sharing common values and similar views on many regional and international issues of common concerns and are keen to work together for the wellbeing of their peoples. They are also contributing at different levels and by all available means to the development of our beloved continent Africa and to the wellbeing of African peoples.
Since my arrival to this beautiful country, I have been really impressed by the enormous efforts to develop the country’s infrastructures and also by the important ongoing projects which are boosting the country’s economy and will have a positive impact on the daily lives of the Zambian citizens.
The Republic of Zambia with its important mineral resources, its arable lands, its natural diversity, its economic potential and most importantly its human capital has all the necessary and prerequisite factors to ensure its sustainable development and prosperity.
Zambia is also playing a key role at international and regional levels by hosting the headquarters of the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and also the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union.
Besides, His Excellency the President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Organ for Politics, Defence and Security of Southern African Development Community (SADC), showed a strong commitment to work for peace, security and stability in the region.
Taking into account the tremendous opportunities and economic potentials and resources offered by the two countries, I am confident that Zambian-Moroccan cooperation will meet the expectations of our leaders in the benefit of our two countries and peoples in a spirit of a win-win partnership cementing the South- South cooperation among African countries.
I will conclude by wishing, on this happy occasion, that the everlasting friendship will further grow between the Republic of Zambia and the Kingdom of Morocco and also by extending my heartfelt wishes for peace, prosperity and happiness to the peoples of our two countries.