The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, highlighted during the opening session in Manila the major strategic initiatives launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in favor of developing countries. Key among these initiatives is the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, alongside the royal initiative aimed at enhancing access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, as well as programs for the production and distribution of fertilizers in Africa and Asia designed to support food security in southern nations.
Morocco officially handed over the presidency of the group of middle-income countries to the Republic of the Philippines during the ministerial conference held in Manila on April 28 and 29, with the attendance of various foreign ministers and diplomats from different nations.
Hilale affirmed that these initiatives embody Morocco’s commitment to enhancing fair and inclusive international cooperation and providing realistic solutions to the needs of middle-income countries, which are often marginalized in global development discussions.
Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo, for his part, appreciated the efforts made by the Kingdom during its presidency of the group, praising the ambitious vision of the Rabat Declaration that emerged from the ministerial meeting held in the Moroccan capital in February 2024, which contributed to shaping new, fairer orientations for this category of countries.
Participating countries at the conference, along with representatives from United Nations agencies, expressed their appreciation for the leadership role Morocco played throughout its two consecutive terms, emphasizing the importance of building on the achievements of the previous phase and adhering to the Rabat Declaration as a fundamental reference to enhance international cooperation.
The Moroccan delegation participating in this conference included Abdullah Ben Malouka, Director General of Economic Diplomacy and Cultural Development, Mohammed Reda Al-Fasi, the Kingdom’s Ambassador in Manila, and Mariam Hamdouni, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Morocco to the United Nations.
