Morocco has an ambitious continental vision aimed at enhancing maritime development and Mediterranean-African partnership
In a statement made to the Maghreb Arab Press today from Nice, the French presidential envoy for the United Nations Ocean Conference and Ambassador for the Poles and Oceans, Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, emphasized that Morocco embraces a vision that transcends its borders to serve an entire continent, particularly within the context of its Mediterranean relations.
Poivre d’Arvor confirmed that the royal initiatives, which began with strategic projects like the Tangier Med Port and the Nador Port, and soon the Dakhla Port, provide Africa with a clear compass and open up future horizons in maritime development.
During his remarks on the “Africa for the Ocean” summit, which was chaired by Princess Lalla Hasnaa alongside French President Emmanuel Macron during the events of the United Nations Ocean Conference, the French envoy praised this initiative that united African countries around issues of the blue economy, ocean protection, and marine governance.
Poivre d’Arvor described this gathering as an exceptional moment, given the extensive African presence, asserting that the African ocean has yet to be sufficiently harnessed to benefit coastal communities and inland populations. He also lauded the Atlantic royal initiative, considering it a true call to lift the isolation of African countries, especially those in the Sahel, by enabling them to benefit from Moroccan infrastructure and access to the ocean.
He considered Morocco the only country that has addressed the subject of the United Nations conference with such seriousness, affirming its responsibility to represent the aspirations of an entire continent. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of cooperation between France and Morocco to shape a shared vision between Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa, aimed at developing areas of digital, energy, and maritime connectivity.
The French envoy concluded his statement by commending Morocco’s leadership role during this session of the conference, stressing that Morocco is a dynamic country capable of motivating other nations to adopt forward-looking visions extending over the next ten or twenty years, thereby reinforcing its position as a true solidary power on a continental level.
