HM the King chairs closing ceremony of Ivorian-Moroccan Economic Forum in Abidjan

Abidjan  -  25 February 2014

His Majesty King Mohammed VI, accompanied by Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, Daniel Kablan Duncan, chaired, Tuesday in Abidjan, the closing ceremony of the Ivorian-Moroccan Economic Forum which reflects the determination of the Sovereign to strengthen relations between the two brotherly countries, by giving new impetus to economic cooperation.

   On this occasion, Foreign Minister Salahedine Mezouar, gave a speech before His Majesty the King in which he stressed that Morocco and Côte d'Ivoire have complementary strategic locations with sub-regional even continental callings which will mutually develop.

   "Morocco and Côte d'Ivoire are emerging countries. Together we will strengthen co-development for the entire West African region, which will enable us to achieve the coveted progress in a more powerful and faster way," Mezouar said, noting that "in a globalized world, networking and strong strategic axes are considered assets."

   He said the two brotherly countries are equipped to illustrate this self-assured and forward-looking Africa, one that serenely writes new promising pages of its history.

   Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d' Ivoire, Daniel Kablan Duncan said the Ivorian government welcomes the ongoing commitment of the Kingdom, which has always shown great interest in sub-Saharan Africa, and particularly the West African region with the Ivory Coast being the a focal point of the Moroccan action.

   Daniel Kablan Duncan also noted that the commitments made at the forum should meet the needs of Moroccan and Ivorian people by working to reduce poverty and create wealth and jobs, especially for youth and women.

   This ceremony was also marked by the signing of 26 investment and public-private partnerships. These agreements are part of the high royal guidelines in the speech of His Majesty the King on the occasion of the opening session of the Ivorian-Moroccan economic forum on strengthening South-South cooperation and boosting the role the private sector.

   These agreements, which pertain to different sectors (education, training, housing, agriculture, marine fisheries, investment, tourism, trade, ICT... etc.) illustrate the enlightened vision of HM the King regarding sustainable human development, and reflect the will of the two brotherly countries to give a strong impetus to the bilateral cooperation.

   Organized by the CGEM (Moroccan employers' body) in partnership with Côte d’Ivoire's center of investment promotion, the trade and industry chamber of Côte d’Ivoire and the Ivorian federation of SMEs, the multi-sectorial forum aimed to contribute to reinforcing the south-south partnership through concluding business partnerships between the public and private sectors of both countries.

   This meeting was also an opportunity to present the Moroccan expertise, business opportunities and partnership possibilities between Moroccan and Ivorian companies and the potential offered by the Ivorian market.

    Participants discussed, during the two-day event, investment opportunities in Côte d'Ivoire, the institutional and regulatory framework for public-private partnerships, the expectations of Moroccan investors in Côte d'Ivoire, and investment opportunities in key sectors (agriculture, industry, mining, energy, infrastructure, construction, transportation, logistics, health, tourism..).

    More than 400 Ivorian operators and a hundred Moroccan companies attended this event which offered them the opportunity to discover some successful experiences by Moroccan investors who gained a foothold in Côte d'Ivoire.