Rabat – As the UK prepares for the upcoming UK-Africa Investment Summit in London, British Minister of State for International Trade Conor Burns traveled to Morocco to meet with Nasser Bourita, the north African country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Meeting in Rabat on Friday, January 10, the two high-level ministers discussed the growing Morocco-UK diplomatic and economic ties.
The latest meeting comes after Rabat and London Britain and Morocco an “Association Agreement” in 2019. The agreement serves to preserve economic relations between Morocco and the UK, as London scrambles to replace and consolidate its international partnerships and bilateral agreement with Brexit looming at the end of January 2020.
Bilateral trade between the UK and Morocco currently stands at MAD 18.3 billion, with Morocco being the 7th destination for UK exports, Bourita revealed in October, following the signing of the agreement.
At a press conference following the January 10 meeting, the British official expressed his country’s appreciation for Morocco’s commitment to “developing and strengthening” Rabat-London ties.
The British minister told the press visit to Morocco reflects “the growing relations” between the two countries and the importance that the British government attaches to its ties with Morocco.
Burns, who is visiting Morocco for the second time in six months, underlined the opportunities to reinforce economic bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of green technology, and renewable energies.
The official visit of the British minister comes only ten days before the UK-Africa Investment Summit. The event is set to start on January 20, in London.
The British official said that the upcoming event will allow Morocco and the UK to further discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and strengthen their economic and political partnership.
“It’s been a pleasure to be here this week, working to build on our already strong and lasting partnership and finding even more ways to work together, including in finance, agriculture, and green energy. I am confident that our relationship will grow even stronger in the months and years to come,” concluded Burns.
The UK-Africa Investment Summit is hosted by the UK Prime Minister, Boris Jhonson, and is set to bring together businesses, governments, and international institutions.
The event aims to showcase and promote investment opportunities in African countries. It also seeks to strengthen the UK’s partnership with African nations as Britain looks beyond Europe for economic and diplomatic partnerships.
