5 February 2014 | Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
His Majesty King Mohammed VI, accompanied by Ivorian Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan, presided, on Monday February 24 2014 in Abidjan, over the opening ceremony of the Moroccan-Ivorian Economic Forum and gave a speech on this occasion.
On this occasion, His Majesty the King delivered a speech in which the Sovereign stressed that “the convening of such a Forum in Côte d’Ivoire, for the first time outside the Kingdom of Morocco, and on African soil, has not come about by chance. First, it attests to the quality of the relations between our two countries. It is also testimony to the important political and economic ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and countries in Central and West Africa.”
His Majesty the King further indicated that “Africa is a great continent per its dynamic forces, its resources or its potential. It therefore has to take its destiny in its own hands. Africa is no longer a colonized continent. This is why Africa should learn to trust Africa. Our continent does not need assistance so much as mutually profitable partnerships. Africa needs human and social development projects much more than it needs humanitarian aid.
The Sovereign also stated that “a vibrant, developed Africa is not merely a dream for tomorrow; it can be a reality today, provided we take action. Therefore, now is the time to act or to make a start. Indeed, it is essential to act because that is what makes political action credible; that is what makes it possible to achieve the desired objectives. Africa should forge further fruitful partnerships with the many developed countries that show a constant interest in and sincere commitment to economic progress and human development in Africa, while being actively involved in them.
In this regard, His Majesty the King affirmed that “Morocco as a pioneer in this cooperation mechanism, it is willing to put its credibility and the trust it enjoys with its partners at the service of sister African nations.”
25 February 2014 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Moroccan Times, 25 February 2014
