Rabat – Morocco and Finland held a panel discussion on Wednesday in Helsinki to share experiences in counterterrorism and discuss further ways to boost security cooperation between the two countries.
Themed “Addressing Morocco and Finland’s experiences in the fight against terrorim,” the panel aimed at exploring the countries’ approaches in tackling security-related challenges in their respective continents.
“Terrorism is a global phenomenon. To combat it effectively, international cooperation is needed, especially with the Kingdom of Morocco,” said Paivi Kairamo, Ambassador for Cooperation against Terrorism at the Finnish Foreign Ministry.
The Finnish official also commended Morocco’s “effective multilateral cooperation” to combat terrorism, commending the country’s commitment “at the level of international organizations where its role is well known and recognized.”
During the panel, Moroccan Ambassador to Finland Mohamed Achgalou highlighted the country’s strategy to fight extremism.
Ambassador Achgalou affirmed that “the national territory across its borders is completely safe, secure, stable, and ready to welcome Finnish investors and tourists at any time.”
Speaking before an audience of Finnish businessmen and experts, the Moroccan diplomat outlined the major pillars of the country’s policy to prevent terrorism, and preserve and secure the economic growth to attract investors and tourists.
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“Morocco’s choices for the implementation of its multidimensional strategy have always been made in compliance with the principles of good governance and the rule of law,” Achgalou noted.
He also conveyed Morocco’s readiness to further boost cooperation with Finland.
As part of Morocco’s commitment to prevent extremism, in 2015 the country founded the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulemas (islamic scholars), seeking to prevent radicalization and fight sectarianism within Islam.
The foundation also focuses on promoting religious values of tolerance while establishing religious, scientific, and cultural cooperation with other African countries.
Morocco and Finland agreed on a Momentum of Understanding (MoU) in February to advance economic and bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.
The MoU aims to promote the integration of Finnish companies into the Moroccan market and explore partnerships in research and development, energy technology and wind and solar energy, among others.
In 2019, the Nordic country established the Team Finland network in Rabat and Business Finland office in Casablanca to assist Finnish companies wishing to enter the Moroccan market and promote the North African country back home.
