The World Bank’s Managing Director for Operations, Anna Bjerde, described Morocco as a regional leader in the implementation of a comprehensive development project for its population.
In a statement to Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP) on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Bjerde stressed that “Morocco has not only increased access to electricity, but also innovated its reforms, including in digital, private sector, competition, and renewable energy.”
According to the World Bank (WB) official, Morocco is renowned for its “bottom-up approach”, where communities and municipalities in rural areas are fully involved in addressing their development and investment priorities.
“The World Bank has been a truly privileged partner in helping Morocco to develop and implement such projects,” noted Bjerde, shedding light on the very long-standing partnership uniting Morocco and the financial institution. “This year marks 65 years of diversified partnership,” emphasized the WB official, adding that the two parties “have worked together in several important fields.”
The WB Managing Director for Operations also emphasized the importance of holding the annual meetings of financial decision-makers in Morocco, at a time when the world and Africa are facing several challenges, notably with the COVID-19 crisis and the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war.
“While the cost of the crisis is really being borne by Africa, this continent encompasses several opportunities,” stressed the official.
Bjerde stated that Africa is capable of achieving an energy transition, where innovation, investment, and sustainable development can take place.
“It’s so symbolic to have these meetings here in so many ways, and we hope that there will be a lot of very good discussions coming out of them that will help ignite a recovery in the global economy,” concluded Bjerde.
