Morocco, Spain to mobilize €11.6 Mln for reconstruction of earthquake-affected areas

Morocco and Spain have agreed to mobilize €11.6 million from the Debt Conversion Program to finance reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in the areas hardest hit by the earthquake that struck Al Haouz province on September 8.

The announcement of this amount was made during a meeting between Spain’s First Vice-President and Minister of Economy and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño, and Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, held Saturday on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

As part of the exemplary relations between Spain and Morocco, and in the wake of the earthquake that hit the province of Al Haouz, the two countries confirm their desire to strengthen their cooperation based on sustainable and social development, a joint statement said.

This initiative is part of the Spanish government’s desire to express its solidarity with the population of earthquake-hit areas, the statement said.

Also on Saturday, the Spanish official held talks with Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, on various aspects of partnership between the two countries, as well as issues of common interest, notably the promotion of Spanish investment in Morocco.

During the meeting, the Head of Government emphasized that Morocco and Spain are pursuing a dynamic of renewed cooperation, thanks to the firm determination of both King Mohammed VI and King Felipe VI to consolidate the two countries’ strategic partnership.

The First Vice-President of the Spanish Government, who welcomed the good relations between Madrid and Rabat, praised Morocco’s good management of the earthquake, under the far-sighted leadership of King Mohammed VI.

The two officials also welcomed the joint organization, alongside Portugal, of the 2030 World Cup, which marks a new generation of partnerships between the two Kingdoms and reflects the pooling of efforts and capacities on the African and European continents.

The 2030 World Cup is a “major” event of “great importance” to the citizens of both countries, Nadia Calviño said.

In a statement to the press at the end of the talks, Nadia Calviño said that cooperation between Spain and Morocco “has considerably improved”, particularly in the wake of the joint organization, alongside Portugal, of the 2030 World Cup, considering it a “major” event of “great importance” to the citizens of both countries.