Morocco committed to supporting African landlocked countries

Morocco has reaffirmed strong commitment to supporting African landlocked countries,especially those of the Sahel.

Morocco has made cooperation with landlocked countries,particularly in Africa,a strategic priority,said Moroccan Minister of Transport & Logistics Abdessamad Kayouh in an address made Tuesday at the 3rd UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries,convening in Awaza,Turkmenistan August 5-8.

In a spirit of solidarity,the Kingdom continues,under the leadership of King Mohammed VI,to provide concrete support to landlocked African countries through South-South and triangular development projects,contributing to improving living conditions in these countries and strengthening their development capacities,said the Moroccan official.

He cited in this regard several initiatives,including the royal initiative offering Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean. This move is expected to transform the economies of these countries,enhance the regional integration and speed up development for shared peace and stability.

Morocco’s Sahel Atlantic initiative is part of the Royal vision for a united and prosperous Africa,added the official,noting that it is also a great opportunity to integrate these countries into global value chains,opening up new prospects for growth and human,social,and economic development for Africa.

Morocco lauds the adoption of the new Awaza Action Plan for 2024-2034 period,which reflects a collective commitment to strengthening landlocked developing countries’ international cooperation in connectivity,energy transition,and economic flexibility.

Participants at this UN conference are discussing several topics focusing on sustainable infrastructure,strengthening connectivity,and promoting unfettered transit systems for landlocked developing countries (LLDCs).

These countries are suffering from limited access to seaports,inadequate road & rail networks and poor digital connectivity. Transport corridors and multimodal transport systems is essential for improving trade and reducing costs.

Digital infrastructure and energy connectivity are also discussed at the conference,with emphasis on addressing the digital divide and ensuring access to affordable and sustainable energy. Regional cooperation and international partnerships are also deemed as crucial to overcoming these infrastructural barriers.