Under HM The King’s Leadership, Morocco Reaffirms its Commitment to Strengthening Mechanisms for Sustainable Economic Integration in Africa- Govt. Head

“Thanks to the High Royal Directives, Morocco is consolidating its status as a key player and strategic partner in strengthening multidimensional cooperation between African countries,” Akhannouch noted during the second edition of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Business Forum, held on December 11 and 12 at Ochre City.

Morocco’s vision for Africa remains unchanged: an Africa in control of its own destiny, transforming its resources into added value locally and connecting its regions, from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, from the Sahel to the coastlines.

This vision has been translated into the Atlantic Initiative, launched by HM King Mohammed VI, in favor of African Atlantic states and Sahel countries, he added, noting that the Kingdom has made its port and logistics infrastructure available to 23 Atlantic coastal countries and their landlocked neighbors.

In this context, Akhannouch recalled a series of ambitious projects designed to strengthen Morocco’s economic and commercial complementarity with other African countries, such as the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, which is approximately 6,000 kilometers long and crosses several West African countries, He specified that this project is a strategic structure that will pave the way for shared industrialization in sectors such as fertilizers, petrochemicals, construction materials, and agribusiness, all of which require reliable and competitive energy.

Akhannouch also highlighted the Casablanca Finance City (CFC) financial platform, which is a key driver of economic integration in Africa, in addition to banking groups established in more than 20 African countries and the recent accession of Bank Al-Maghrib to the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System.

All these factors place the Kingdom in a good position to pilot projects involving payments in local currencies in Africa, export credit insurance, and risk coverage for African small and medium-sized enterprises, he noted.

“Morocco, faithful to the vision of HM King Mohammed VI, will fully assume its share of responsibility to ensure that African economic integration becomes a lever for prosperity, stability, and dignity for our peoples,” he emphasized, noting that this second edition of the AfCFTA Business Forum is being held within the framework of a clear dynamic that aims to make the zone not just a free trade agreement, but a genuine economic transformation project for the continent.

Placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the 2nd edition of the AfCFTA Business Forum is part of Morocco’s ongoing efforts to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA, both nationally and regionally.

Organized by the Secretariat of State for Foreign Trade, in partnership with the AfCFTA, the Moroccan Exporters Association (ASMEX), the CGEM, and the Association of Moroccan Regions (ARM), this meeting demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to consolidating mechanisms that promote free trade and sustainable economic integration among African countries.

Editorial team/le7tv