Marrakech: Morocco’s Water Minister, Nizar Baraka, recently held a series of high-level meetings with key officials from the Arab and African water sectors in Marrakech. These discussions aimed at fostering cooperation and sharing expertise in water management and development.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Baraka’s meeting with Sudan’s Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Ismat Qureshi Abdullah, focused on enhancing collaboration between Morocco and Sudan. The discussions highlighted areas such as rainwater harvesting, technical and logistical support, and digital transformation. Abdullah emphasized the historical ties between the two nations and revealed that a cooperation agreement is in the works, which aims to leverage Moroccan experience to bolster Sudan’s water sector.

In another significant engagement, Baraka conversed with Humoud bin Wasiud Alkarshami, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water Resources Development in Saudi Arabia. The talks centered on Morocco’s role in the upcoming World
Water Forum in Saudi Arabia and the potential financing of water projects by the Saudi Fund for Development. Alkarshami commended Morocco’s water management accomplishments and noted the success of the 19th World Water Congress.

Baraka’s discussions extended to meetings with Aisha Al Ateeqi, Executive Director of the Mohamed Bin Zayed Water Initiative from the UAE, and Hannah Sao-Kpato Max-Kyne, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Water Resources. These dialogues facilitated an exchange of knowledge in renewable energy, desalination, and other critical areas, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in addressing water challenges.