Casablanca: Participants at a Moroccan-Spanish meeting held on Wednesday in Sal© highlighted the importance of the social and solidarity economy as a driver of sustainable regional development and a lever for reducing inequalities. Initiated by the Moroccan Network for Social and Solidarity Economy (REMESS), this meeting, which brought together institutional, academic, and civil society actors from Morocco and Spain, is part of the “Territorial dynamics of the social and solidarity economy for inclusive development based on gender equality” project.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Spain’s ambassador to Morocco, Enrique Ojeda Vila, emphasized that the social and solidarity economy is an economic model in its own right, prioritizing people over capital, democratic governance, local roots, and the pursuit of the common good. In the current global context, this economy provides a pragmatic and measurable response by offering a different way of producing, consuming, and redistributing value.
Ojeda Vila highlighted that in Spain, the social and solidarity economy encompasses more than 43,000 companies and accounts for over 10% of employment, demonstrating resilience against economic shocks. He noted that the adoption of the Social Economy Act in 2011 has offered a clear legal definition, institutional recognition, and enhanced coordination between public authorities and stakeholders in the social and solidarity economy.
Carlos Lozano, coordinator of international relations for the Spanish Confederation of Social Economy Enterprises (CEPES), underscored the confederation’s role in representing Spain’s social economy in dealings with the government, European institutions, and economic and social stakeholders. He mentioned that the social economy focuses on people, impacts local areas and social cohesion, and fosters more equitable economies.
Lozano also stressed the need to prioritize the social economy in bilateral cooperation between Spain and Morocco, stating that the two nations share common challenges that the social and solidarity economy could effectively address, offering solutions that resonate with citizens.
The meeting included the presentation of trophies to various organizations, including the Spanish Embassy in Morocco, the ODCO, the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, the Oriental Regional Council, the Directorate for the Promotion of the Social and Solidarity Economy (DPEES), CEPES, and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) in recognition of their commitment to the social and solidarity economy.
Additionally, the event featured the signing of two partnership agreements. The first was between the African Foundation for Lifelong Learning (FAATLV) and REMESS, and the second was between REMESS and the Kiwi Collecte platform. These agreements aim to provide technical support to businesses, promote crowdfunding, and enhance the economic viability of citizen initiatives within the social and solidarity economy.