Morocco, Latin America & Caribbean establish parliamentary economic forum

Morocco’s House of Councillors and several Latin American and Caribbean regional parliaments announced on Wednesday the signing in Panama-city of a joint declaration on establishing the Morocco-Latin America-Caribbean Economic Forum.

This forum aims to strengthen strategic relations between the parties and to set up a formal and permanent institutional framework for inter-regional parliamentary dialogue, with a view to developing cooperation and strengthening joint action on issues of common interest, a press release from the House of Councillors says.

The document was signed at the “King Mohammed VI Library” in Panama’s capital by Speaker of the House of Councillors Mohamed Ould Errachid, President of the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (Parlatino) Rolando Miguel González Patricio, President of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) Carlos Hernandez, President of the Mercosur Parliament (Parlasur) Fabiana Martin, and President of the Andean Parliament Gustavo Pacheco, the press release adds.

As part of the relations of understanding, friendship, and cooperation between Morocco and countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, based on a spirit of consultation and mutual respect, this announcement confirms the importance of the Kingdom’s geostrategic role in its regional environment, as an essential partner on the African continent and a reliable and solid gateway for countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to Africa and the Arab world.

The move also highlights Latin American and Caribbean countries as an influential economic bloc in the South, and as a strategic gateway for Morocco, with its promising infrastructure and logistics, the press release notes.

The objective of this initiative is also to strengthen parliamentary cooperation between the Kingdom and regional parliamentary groupings in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as various joint initiatives undertaken with the House of Councillors, as an advanced partner to these parliaments, and as the institution hosting the secretariat of the Parliamentary Forum of African, Latin American and Caribbean Countries (AFROLAC), with the aim of promoting regional integration, economic development and cultural understanding between countries of the South.

The announcement also highlights Morocco’s Atlantic Initiative and the initiative to facilitate access to the Atlantic Ocean for Sahel countries, which would make the Kingdom’s Atlantic coastline a platform for strengthening logistical connectivity between Morocco, Latin American and Caribbean countries.

In another development, the Panamanian and Moroccan parliaments have recently set up a parliamentary friendship group, meant to strengthen cooperation between the legislative institutions of the two countries.

The establishment of this group reflects a strong desire to deepen ties between the two nations, marks a significant turning point in Morocco-Panama relations, and demonstrates the commitment of both countries to enhancing cooperation, particularly in political, economic, and cultural fields.

This initiative comes at a crucial time, marked by the Panamanian government’s decision to suspend its recognition of the pseudo-Sahrawi republic, a decision strongly supporting the Kingdom’s position on the Moroccan Sahara issue.

These positive developments open new opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation to serve the interests of both Moroccan and Panamanian peoples, as emphasized by HM King Mohammed VI in his message of thanks to Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino Quintero. In the message, the Sovereign highlighted a sincere desire to deepen ties of friendship and cooperation with Panama in all areas for the benefit of both nations.