Assistant UN SG Hails Morocco’s Contribution for Integration of Landlocked Countries

The UN High-Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Ms. Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu has praised Morocco’s contribution for the integration of landlocked African countries into regional trade.

Speaking in Marrakech at the mid-term review meeting of the African Region of the Vienna Program of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014-2024 (VpoA), Ms.
Fekitamoeloa said “an analysis of trade relations between Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa, where the African landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) are located, shows an increase in the volume of trade, reflecting the continued boost of intra-African trade”.

The goal of the Marrakech meeting is to share innovative practices and experiences to speed up the implementation of the VPoA and the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the region, underlined the UN official.

The aim is to work out appropriate policy measures and pragmatic recommendations to address in a sustainable way the problems faced by LLDCs in 32 countries around the world, 16 of which are in Africa, she explained.

The findings of this regional mid-term review meeting on Africa and its recommendations will be submitted to the 52nd Session of the Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development gathering in Marrakech March 20 to 26.