Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Nasser Bourita shared his vision and proposed strategies to engage the Mediterranean youth in the job market.
Speaking at the Summit of two Shores, Mediterranean Forum, which kicked off on Monday, June 24, in Marseille, Bourita said that economic initiatives “must have a real social impact if we want to bring youth closer to employment.”
The summit is part of the 5+5 Dialogue, which brings together five States from the southern shore of the Mediterranean: Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.
The event also convenes five States from the northern shore: France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, and Spain.
The Summit aims to emphasize that civil society “must be fully involved in defining a new and positive agenda for the Mediterranean region,” according to a press release from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The European Union and Germany, as well as pan-Mediterranean organizations and international economic organizations present in the region, are involved in this initiative, according to Maghreb Arab press (MAP).
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During the event, Bourita also spoke about Morocco’s involvement in the summit, emphasizing the country’s determination to boost the momentum of cooperation in the Western Mediterranean through the implementation of “concrete projects for human, economic, and sustainable development in the region.”
Bourita also emphasized that the Moroccan government has presented 24 projects to contribute to the development of several areas, including economy, energy, urban planning, culture, and sustainable development.
He said that the projects seek to provide “prospects for the future, fulfillment, and dignity. It also requires the establishment of exchange platforms, by strengthening skills and connections between SEMs [small and medium enterprises].”
Importance of Digitalization
Bourita also highlighted the importance of digitalization, saying “the digital is an effective lever to strengthen competitiveness.”
Digitalization would also help “reduce the threshold of capital required for young entrepreneurs and diversify the funding available,” he said.
The minister explained that digital tools reduce disparities between rural and urban poles.
Bourita also underlined the importance of promoting economic activities in line with the challenge of climate change and integrate “the sustainable dimension, while constituting a reservoir of growth and job creation.”
