Morocco offers gateway to Russian investments in Africa – FM

Morocco sent a high-level delegation led by head of the government to the Russia-Africa summit in Sotchi, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to attracting investments to the continent and its potential to act as a gateway for Russian businesses that seek opportunities in Africa, said Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.

Morocco’s participation in the summit is part of a commitment to serve the ends of the African Agenda on peace, development and stability, said Bourita who was part of the Moroccan delegation to the summit.

Morocco, the second largest economic partner of Russia in Africa, is particularly interested in advancing an African open sky accord, the free trade agreement and sub-regional integration programs.

Africa is today a desirable partner thanks to its economic dynamism, its wealth of raw materials and its demographics, Bourita added.

Russia can be an important partnership for Africa, he said, because of its permanent membership to the UN Security Council and its important role in strengthening multilateralism, he said.

“The strong bilateral relationship between Morocco and Russia, which was marked by the Royal visit to Russia in March 2016 and the establishment of the in-depth strategic partnership, reflects the determination of HM the King and the Russian President to make Morocco a pillar of Russian action in Africa”, Bourita said.

The first Russia-Africa Summit opened Thursday in Sochi under the chairmanship of Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, in his capacity as the African Union Chairperson.

The Summit was preceded by a Russia-Africa Business Forum on Wednesday in which Russian and African private sector companies took part.