Speaking at a panel in Rabat as part of the 14th international conference “The Atlantic Dialogues” by the Policy Center for the New South, Hilale affirmed that Morocco, due to its position at the crossroads of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, plays a pioneering role in international cooperation, particularly South-South cooperation.
In this regard, he advocated for a paradigm shift in international economic relations, emphasizing the need for the Global South to have access to its own development opportunities, notably through co-financing, participation in projects, technology transfer, and equitable access to markets.
He further called for moving beyond the economic model that relegates the Global South to a mere role of raw material exporter, citing Morocco as an example, which now transforms its phosphate into fertilizers and chemical products and exports its know-how within the framework of South-South cooperation.
This “win-win” cooperation, aimed at achieving development that ensures security and prosperity, is also reflected in the initiative launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to facilitate access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean. He noted that thanks to its port, rail, and highway infrastructure, Morocco has become a hub for the development of Sahel countries and the African Atlantic coast.
The ambassador also highlighted the technological and knowledge-sharing dimension of this cooperation, mentioning the “Hub Morocco Digital for Sustainable Development” (D4SD), launched in line with His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s vision, with the aim of accelerating digital transformation in Africa and the Arab region.
This strategic initiative, he stressed, positions Morocco as a regional and continental catalyst for inclusive and sustainable digital transformation in service of African and Arab countries.
Editorial team/le7tv