Rabat - Following the Rwanda signing of the pact that will establish free trade area, King Mohammed VI expressed his pride in the deal, which is a “defining moment in history.”
Rabat – Following the Rwanda signing of the pact that will establish free trade area, King Mohammed VI expressed his pride in the deal, which is a “defining moment in history.”
In a speech addressed at an AU free trade summit, King Mohammed VI described the signing of the free trade area as a “landmark event” that confirms Africa’s determination to build a continent “for the future.”
Commending the benefit of the free trade area, the King said that this would help fulfill the desire and ambition of the continent’s youth “to build a strong and integrated Africa.”
Africa is on the Move
Africa is the home of all the natural resources required for sustainable development, which makes it a leader “at all levels and in all sectors,” according to the King.
“It abounds in natural resources and its human potential is immense. This is something I noticed clearly during my numerous visits to various parts of our Continent.”
The King also addressed the importance of unity and the ambition for Africa. Subsequently, the monarch recalled to the summit participants Morocco’s historic return to the African Union after 33 years of absence.
He said that Morocco’s return to the AU is a strong sign “not only of my country’s desire for unity, but also of its unwavering commitment to cohesion, concord, territorial integrity, and African solidarity.”
Speaking about the Free Trade Area, the King said that the launching of this pact will “expand and build on the countless measures taken by our respective countries to promote intra-African trade.”
According to the King, the initiative will enhance investment and develop economic growth. It will also help the interconnectivity in the continent.
“This is a pragmatic step towards an integrated, prosperous Africa which is attuned to international realities,” added the sovereign.
King Mohammed VI also underscored the necessity of co-development that form the foundation of “intra-African cooperation, economic complementarity, active solidarity and the pooling of resources and efforts.”
According to the King, the objective of this strategy is to “transform Africa into a dynamic force and to make it a major player on the international scene for the benefit of our populations.”
This achievement also confirms the desire of all the states involved to work together to open up and expand markets, “while making sure the particularities of domestic economies are respected, especially the protection of infant industries and the economic activities involving vulnerable populations.”
Africa Must Embrace Technology
The Moroccan King called on the African leaders to “build on technological development the world has witnessed.”
He added that digital technology is “changing the face of” Africa.
“We owe this digital quantum leap to young startups operating in the fields of finance, telecommunications, industry, and agribusiness, to name but a few. Often, those behind this innovative process are young people from low-income segments of the population. Our young people ought to, therefore, take center stage in our public policies.”
