Morocco, Maldives Eye Stronger Bilateral Ties


Rabat: Morocco and the Maldives held high-level talks aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, with discussions spanning culture, sustainable development, and economic exchanges. Moroccan Ambassador Mohamed Maliki, based in New Delhi, met with senior Maldivian officials, including Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel, Islamic Affairs Minister Mohammed Shaheem Ali Saeed, and Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen during his visit to Mal© on Monday and Tuesday.



According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, talks emphasized deepening ties between the two nations, underpinned by historical and cultural connections dating back to the 12th century. Discussions also explored potential collaboration in key sectors such as tourism, air transport, Islamic affairs, fisheries, and sustainable development. Maldivian ministers voiced interest in leveraging Morocco’s expertise in these areas, calling for concrete projects that could mutually benefit both nations.



Ambassador Maliki reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment to advancing cooperation and underscored the enduring spiritual ties initiated by Al Hafiz Abu Al-Barakat Yousouf Al Barbari, a Moroccan traveler credited with introducing Islam to the Maldives. His tomb, located near Mal©’s presidential palace, remains a symbol of the nations’ shared history.



In related developments, addressing the parliament during a session on tourism policy, Akhannouch emphasized that the government has always believed that the success of any economic sector does not solely depend on infrastructure or strategic plans but primarily hinges on investment in human capital, which remains the driving force of genuine development, particularly in a vital sector like tourism. He specified that the development of human resources is a key pillar of the strategic tourism roadmap, aiming to create a new generation of professionals capable of propelling the sector to new heights.



A landmark initiative in this direction will be launched in July 2024, aimed at certifying the skills of tourism workers. The program targets over 7,500 participants by 2026, aiming to enhance service quality and boost professionalism across the sector. Akhannouch highlighted that the government has placed significant emphasis on training, recognizing its pivotal role in developing skills. He announced innovative programs such as the “Horizons of Excellence” initiative, which aims to upgrade 12 hospitality training institutions to international standards through a model partnership between the public and private sectors.



Additionally, the launch of a program dedicated to training highly qualified professionals targets 9,000 specialized technicians, along with a continuing education program for excellence, which will offer training opportunities to more than 8,000 beneficiaries. Akhannouch noted that the government is particularly focused on promoting investment in the tourism sector through initiatives such as the “GO SIYAHA” program, which aims to boost sector dynamics and enhance the competitiveness of tourism enterprises. A budget of 720 million dirhams has been allocated to this program, targeting 1,700 companies between 2023 and 2026.



On the subject of investment, the Prime Minister highlighted the efforts of the National Investment Commission to support tourism projects. He pointed to the enthusiasm of investors in the tourism sector, including international conglomerates that have chosen the Essaouira Mogador resort as a key investment destination, with a value of 2.3 billion dirhams, alongside other projects across various regions of the Kingdom. Akhannouch stressed that the decision of various international brands to invest in the Moroccan tourism sector is no coincidence but a strategic choice, given the country’s significant advantages, including stability, security, modern infrastructure, the new investment charter, and the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, designed to revitalize the Moroccan economy by attracting private capital and supporting strategic sectors like tourism.



The Moroccan official also addressed the launch of various programs aimed at attracting investments in the tourism sector, featuring a bank of tourism projects with over 200 classifications tailored to the potential of each region in the Kingdom. This initiative enables investors to seize available opportunities and efficiently implement their projects. The government’s focus on the tourism sector has positively reinforced investor confidence in the opportunities available to develop national tourism. As a result, the sector is projected to attract over 8 billion dirhams in investments in 2024, primarily aimed at increasing accommodation capacity and improving tourism services, Akhannouch concluded.



The tourism sector contributed to the creation of 25,000 new jobs in 2023, representing a 25% increase compared to the target set in the roadmap, Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch stated on Monday.