Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez Praises Cooperation with Morocco as ‘Excellent’

Rabat – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez lauded the cooperation between Spain and Morocco as “excellent” during his address at the Congress of Deputies on Wednesday.

“We maintain excellent cooperation with Morocco, particularly in the fight against terrorism, illegal immigration, and the mafias involved in human trafficking,” Sanchez said during the plenary session of the Lower House Congress.

Sanchez’s comments come in the wake of his recent visit to Morocco in February, where he expressed optimism about the future of relations between the two nations.

“Our last visit to the Kingdom has given a new dynamic to our bilateral ties,” Sanchez remarked.

Highlighting the various fields of cooperation, Sanchez pointed to advancements in cultural and sports collaboration, citing the development of the Instituto Cervantes network in Morocco and the joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup with Morocco and Portugal.

“The development of our cultural and sports relations exemplifies the depth of our partnership,” Sanchez explained.

In addition to cultural ties, Sanchez stressed the economic significance of the relationship, noting Spain’s status as Morocco’s leading trading partner.

“We are Morocco’s top trading partner, which is an interesting growth platform for Spanish companies,” Sanchez continued.

Spain continues to work towards improving relations with Morocco. During his February visit to the North African country, Sanchez said that Spain is pledging to contribute to the country’s planned investments of €45 billion by 2050.

Morocco-Spain relations entered a new era following the Spanish PM’s April 2022 meeting with King Mohammed VI, which was followed by the adoption of a Joint Declaration.

As of 2020, Spain’s investments in Morocco reached €1.944 billion, with 524 subsidiaries of Spanish companies present in the African countries and 670 Spanish enterprises holding over 10% of the capital in Moroccan companies.

Bilateral trade also took a positive trajectory over the past decade, doubled at an annual growth rate exceeding 10% since 2011, with trade volume reaching approximately €20 billion in 2022.