Following the 300th anniversary of the first bilateral trade treaty with Morocco, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for South and Central Asia, North Africa, the UN, and the Commonwealth, paid a three-day visit to the country from July 25 to 27.
During his visit, he met with several government officials, including Nasser Bourita, the minister of foreign affairs, Ryad Mezzour, the minister of industry and commerce, Abdellatif Miraoui, the minister of higher education, scientific research, and innovation, Leila Benali, and Rachid Talbi Alami, the speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives.
In-depth discussions on regional and international issues of shared concern, such as the situation in Libya and the global effects of the Russia-Ukraine war on food and energy security, as well as trade, education, environment, clean energy, and green growth, were the main topics of discussion.
To commemorate expanding UK-Morocco cooperation to mobilise private money to support a low carbon transition, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad also hosted important financial regulators, bankers, and investors.
Prior to the first UK-Morocco SubCommittee focused on trade, which will be held on July 29 in London, he met with important UK businesses and representatives of the UK’s Coventry University, which will soon begin offering UK-accredited business studies and engineering courses in Bouskoura, close to Casablanca.
Lord (Tariq) Ahmad also met with Dr. Ahmad Abbadi and researchers from the Rabita Mohammadia of the Ulemas during the recent UK-hosted Ministerial conference on Freedom of Religion and Belief on July 5th and 6th to discuss interfaith initiatives and religious freedoms.
Lord Ahmad also used the occasion to hear from UN Resident Coordinator Sylvia Lopez-Ekra and Heads of Mission and Residence Representatives of UNDP, UNICEF, IOM, UNESCO, UN Women, FAO, and UNIDO on priorities and developments in helping Morocco achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, minister of state for South and Central Asia, North Africa, the UN, and the Commonwealth, said:
I’m thrilled to see the strong alliances Morocco and the UK are forming, particularly in business, green finance, and education.
Our Kingdoms are collaborating to realise a shared vision of innovative, future-focused economies that are equipped to withstand the common problems that the world faces.
We also recognise Morocco’s efforts to support development, stability, and climate change adaptation throughout Africa, as well as the goal for reform outlined in Morocco’s New Development Model.
I’m looking forward to strengthening our economic ties, particularly those between Casablanca and the City of London, our respective financial centres, to the continued return of British tourists to Morocco, and to hosting the first Sub-Committee of the UK-Morocco Association Agreement in London later this month.