Twenty-Fifth Meeting of the MRC Council                                                         

SESSION 2: Joint Meeting with the Twenty-Third                                                       

Development Partner Consultative Group

Mekong River Commission                                                                             

28 November 2018

Ha Long City, Viet Nam

Statement of HE Mr. Azzeddine FARHANE,

Ambassador of His Majesty the King of Morocco to Vietnam

 

 

Mr. Chairman,

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen

1- At the outset, let me first thank the government of Vietnam for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to my delegation since its arrival to this beautiful and peaceful city of Ha long bay.

2- The participation of Morocco today stems from the foundations of the Kingdom’s foreign policy, based on fruitful cooperation and win-win partnership.  This integrated approach aims at diversifying partners and accordingly embarking on an outstanding cooperation with MRC member States and its Development Partner Consultative Group (DGC).

3- In the same vein of this policy, Morocco, which has signed the ASEAN treaty of Amity and cooperation with ASEAN in 2016, is keen to enhance its partnership with South East Asia countries, and become ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner (SDP) which is currently under consideration.

 

Mr. Chairman,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen

4- It goes without saying that the 2018 summit MRC member Countries recognized the importance of enhanced joint efforts and partnerships in addressing Mekong challenges and opportunities to contribute to achieving relevant Sustainable Development Goals in the Mekong basin.

5- Within this strategic vision and having been the first African and Arab country joining MRC, as a Partner since 29th June 2017, Morocco is committed, with a cooperative spirit of development, to support MRC state members’ innovative regional integration and collaborative approach to meet key challenges, pertaining to the sustainable management of the Mekong Bassin, as one of the priority areas of action the Siem Reap declaration.

6- Indeed, as part of the implementation of Morocco-MRC MoU, I am pleased to underline that my country organized last year, from 16th to 19th October 2017, a working visit for the MRC delegation, in order to explore, along with Moroccan side, opportunities of cooperation in the fields of water management, renewable energies, human development and agriculture.

7- Following this visit, the Secretariat of the MRC submitted to Morocco, during the 22nd Meeting of MRC Development Partners, held in Pattaya, on November 29th 2017, proposals of joint activities, under an MRC and Morocco Cooperation Action Plan pertaining to sustainable development areas.

8- Within the same dynamic of the implementation of the Action Plan between Morocco and MRC, a group of Moroccan experts in the field of management of hydraulic infrastructure paid a working visit to Vientiane (Lao) from 23 to 27 April 2018, so as to share experience and know-how and explore new opportunities to deepen our collaboration for a mutually beneficial partnership.

Thus, the upcoming visit to Morocco, in 2019, of H.E Mr. Tran Hong Ha, Minister of Naturel Resources and Environment and the chairman of Vietnam National Mekong, at the invitation of his counterpart HE Mme Nezha El Ouafi, Secretary of State to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development, in charge of Sustainable Development, will be another opportunity to explore other ways and means for considering specific requests or undertaking joint action in the field of climate change.

 

 Mr. Chairman,

 Excellencies,

 Ladies and Gentlemen

9- Morocco is convinced that our meeting, as part of dialogue with MRC council and DCG, could contribute to improving coordination and mutual support towards the sustainable Management of the Mekong Basin.

On this occasion, I would like to announce that the Moroccan following Agencies are ready to implement the following actions:

  • The Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion (OFPPT) propose to organize short-term training programs, for the benefit of irrigation practitioners on the banks of the Mekong River, in the headquarter of Bouknadel (CFTA)Training Complex for agricultural techniques. The modalities of organizing this program will be implemented by exchange of letters, within the framework of a specific agreement, to be jointly finalized between the OFPPT and MRC.

  • The Moroccan Agency for Renewable Energy (MASEN) is willing to share the Moroccan experience and know-how in the field of renewable energies, and to set-up a partnership in the field of research, development, as well as provide technical assistance for the development of projects in renewable energies. The objective of this action is to accompany MRC member countries for the accomplishment of their national strategies.

  • The Department of tourism propose to encourage the exchange of information with MRC in the fields of development strategies, marketing and ITC, investment, program training and workshop, tourism legislation and promotion of touristic destinations.

Morocco believes that the implementation of these 3 proposals will be a strong milestone of a future outstanding cooperation, with the joint goal of achieving relevant sustainable development Goals in the Mekong Basin.

10- In conclusion, I remain fully convinced that Morocco and MRC State members share the same commitment to mitigate climate change effects. Morocco, which hosted 2016 United Nations Climate Change Conference “COP22”, is determined to work for a more strengthened cooperation and more sustained global efforts through efficient partnerships, in particular under the Action Framework of Sendai 2015-2030.

Thank you for your attention.