Morocco to Open Embassy in Zambia in September
Morocco is set to boost its footprint at the diplomatic and economic level in English-speaking African countries with the announcement of the opening of an Embassy of the Kingdom in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, next September.
The news was unveiled during an official visit to Zambia by Secretary of State in charge of Foreign Affairs, Mounia Boucetta, who said that the Embassy willl help foster ties with Lusaka.
During her visit, Boucetta held talks with Zambian minister of Foreign Affairs, Harry Kalaba, on means to further strengthen cooperation relations between the two countries.
In a comment on her visit, Boucetta noted that “Zambia, which remains a potential gateway to the Southern African region, shares with Morocco a common vision and willingness for the consolidation of peace, stability and respect for the sovereignty of states as well as for the promotion of democracy in our continent”.
She added that “Morocco is always ready to share with Zambia its experience in different fields to facilitate and develop bilateral exchanges in all areas of common interest.”
In the same vein, Kalaba praised the visit paid last February by King Mohammed VI to Zambia, stressing that the many agreements signed during the royal visit have given a new impetus to relations between Morocco and Zambia.
He also voiced satisfaction with the results of the visit to Zambia by a Moroccan delegation led by Boucetta in order to take stock of the 19 partnership agreements signed during the royal visit to this African country.
During a meeting with the Moroccan delegation, Zambian Minister of Agriculture Dora Siliya called on Moroccan operators to invest in the fertilizer industry. She explained that Zambia, which remains a net importer of fertilizers, has continued to record increased crop production, and that investing in fertilizer manufacturing locally would help reduce the cost of crop production.
Last February, a Royal visit to Lusaka by King Mohammed VI set relations between the two countries on the track of progress and economic cooperation. The visit was marked by the signing of 19 political and economic partnership agreements covering air services, investment promotion and protection, finance and banking, insurance, education, tourism, and agriculture.
Zambia is the final step in an African tour by a Moroccan delegation, led by Boucetta, to Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Madagascar. The visit was meant to ensure the timely, effective and efficient implementation of the partnership agreements signed during the royal visits to these countries.
