Speaking at the opening of the 30th Extraordinary Session of the Forum of the Chairpersons of the Legislative Assemblies of Central America, Caribbean and Mexico (FOPREL), held for two days at the headquarters of the Moroccan Parliament, Talbi Alami highlighted that Africa and Latin America together hold over 70% of the world’s arable land, most of which remains untapped, with only a small portion currently in use. He also mentioned the major challenges posed by global food security, both in light of current and future crises.
“It’s also a question of the human resources we have at our disposal, as the majority of African and Latin American population is made up of youth who need education, training and integration to be at the core of integral development, the driving force behind the economy and services, both in terms of production and consumption”, he pointed out.
The countries of both continents also have marine resources and potential for the production of green energy, the energy of the future, which represents a global challenge in the face of climate change, he added.
Given this potential, he maintained, the countries of this geographical region face major challenges that must be turned into opportunities for development and rebirth. “These countries bear the burdens and consequences of climate change more acutely than others, which exacerbates vulnerability and weighs on public spending, as their contribution to the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming does not exceed 12%”, he explained.
The Lower House Speaker cited migration as one of the common challenges facing Latin America and Africa, noting that “although overall trends show that migration primarily occurs within the same geographical, continental, or regional areas, our migrant citizens often face stigmatization in many contexts, despite migration being recognized as a source of mutual enrichment.”
The countries of Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico and Morocco can play a key role in meeting these challenges given their geographical location, potential, and cultural wealth, he said. These countries draw on a rich shared linguistic and cultural depth, as well as significant development dynamics, alongside a strong commitment to democracy-building and institution-building on a voluntary basis, according to their national institutional traditions, he argued.
He also stressed that Morocco, like these countries, offers opportunities for cooperation, trade and investment, due to its location on the Atlantic, its proximity to Europe and its deep roots in Africa and the Mediterranean.
In this respect, he stated that Morocco has, and will have even more infrastructure that serve as levers for trade and cooperation, such as its ports on the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, in addition to those of Casablanca, Tanger Med, Nador, West Med and the port of Dakhla located in the southern provinces of Morocco, and which will become an international platform for trade between Africa, Europe and other world countries.
He went on to say that the major projects that Morocco is carrying out mainly in its southern provinces constitute valuable opportunities to give new impetus to cooperation and exchange with the brotherly African countries.
Talbi Alami referred to the Strategic Atlantic Initiative launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to enable the landlocked countries of Africa’s Sahel to access to the Atlantic Ocean, will give an important dynamic in the construction of essential infrastructure, such as roads, railroads and ports, as well as in the exchange of goods, the movement of people and the development of superstructure, including digital technology.
“While this initiative would bring strategic benefits, its core lies in solidarity and the will to transform Africa into a prosperous continent that exploits its resources and human potential, by making the Atlantic Ocean a space for exchanges and shared prosperity,” he noted.
He also highlighted that Morocco has gained extensive experience in producing energy from renewable sources, as evidenced by the huge projects it is undertaking in solar and wind power, and soon, green hydrogen. The Moroccan official noted that Morocco’s expertise in agriculture and maritime fishing are globally recognized.
Taking into account geographical, cultural and linguistic factors, as well as strategic vision, Morocco remains the closest country to the countries of Latin America, he asserted. “Our country will be your platform, placing at your disposal its network of relations in Africa, Europe, the Euro-Mediterranean region, the Middle East and Asia, where it is linked by free-trade agreements as well as advanced and exceptional relations with numerous economic powers and friendly countries”.
Talbi Alami called for common values and a commitment to openness to strengthen economic cooperation and consolidate mutual support between these countries, within the framework of the respect and consideration that have always characterized common relations, as well as within the framework of respect for international law, the essential core of which is respect for the territorial integrity of States, which is the cornerstone of this law and the fundamental pillar of stability.