Rabat – Morocco’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, met with the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, to discuss Morocco’s commitment to promoting free trade in Africa.
Morocco joined the AfCFTA trade bloc on January 1, 2021. The trade agreement is the largest in the world with 54 African members in total.
Similar to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the trade pact aims to eliminate borders for a more fluid flow of commerce between African nations. The partnership has the potential to put billions of dollars into the African economy as many of the member states enjoy an abundance of natural resources such as fossil fuels and precious metals.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa noted this truth in a New Year’s speech on the topic of the AfCFTA, stating that Africa will “realize its great potential of its abundant natural and human resources.”
Bourita began the conversation by underlining the importance of international cooperation in promoting free trade. Additionally, Bourita stated that Morocco’s financial aspirations fall in line with the AfCFTA’s goal for the future, specifically according to the objectives of Agenda 2063.
The goals of Agenda 2063 outline the AfCFTA and declare its “concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance.”
Morocco aims to be a leading member in the trade agreement by investing in the overall future of Africa’s economies.
During the meeting, both officials relished the fact that Morocco continues to offer goods and services to aid in the prosperity of the agreement.
Bourita called on the secretary-general to focus on key issues such as regional disputes and gender equality in order to stay in line with the institutional reform of the African Union.
The meeting ended amicably with officials from both parties agreeing that special importance should be attributed to developing the “private sectors of the Member States in order to promote intra-African trade for a more integrated and prosperous continent.”
Morocco has taken measures outside of the AfCFTA to ensure it remains a leading economy in Africa. Completion of developments in the southern port city of Dakhla will solidify Morocco as the “Gateway to Africa.”
In early May, Bourita met with a representative from Nigeria OCP to further the partnership for fertilizer production. As it stands, Morocco and Nigeria will mutually boost their economies as Morocco supplies the phosphates required for fertilizer production and Nigeria supplies the nitrogen.
