Morocco’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, Nezha Alaoui M’hammdi, affirmed that Morocco and Ethiopia are committed to the unity and prosperity of Africa.
In an interview published on August 5 by the official Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), Alaoui M’Hammdi shed light on the long-standing relations uniting Morocco and Ethiopia, which are reflected in their cooperation in socio-economic and political fields since the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
The Moroccan diplomat affirmed the deep-rooted bilateral relations between Morocco and Ethiopia, with both countries being among the founders of the pan-African organization, underlining that these relations are progressing towards an economic partnership in several investment spheres.
The Moroccan ambassador also noted that cooperation between the two countries has been strengthening since His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s visit to Addis Ababa in 2016, recalling that several agreements were signed between Morocco and Ethiopia during this Royal visit.
The agreements signed relate to air services, trade, investment, agriculture, and renewable energies among other fields.
Alaoui M’hammdi also affirmed that the joint development agreement signed by the Ethiopian government and OCP Group is one of the major framework agreements, adding that Morocco and Ethiopia have been cooperating in agriculture since 2009 and reiterating Morocco’s commitment to strengthening its cooperation with Ethiopia in this field.
In addition to the strong trade partnership between Morocco and Ethiopia, the diplomat underlined that Morocco also supports South-South cooperation through a wide range of initiatives.
In a similar context, the Moroccan diplomat emphasized that “the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is also an opportunity for Morocco and Ethiopia to promote bilateral trade.”
Referring to culture, Alaoui M’hammdi affirmed that the two countries share similar cultural values, stressing that “our cultural exchanges must be strengthened.”
