The New Times-Rwanda
By The New Times
Since 1999, Morocco has known a remarkable evolution in many fields. Over the years, the Kingdom has strengthened, accelerated, and broadened democratic reforms and has made significant efforts in order to set up a modern basic infrastructure by facilitating the local, regional and international exchanges, and ensuring fluidity, comfort and safety as well as goods mobility.
As result, Morocco enjoyed the fastest per capita growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region over 2000-2017 and had the fourth-largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in Africa in 2017.
One of these big infrastructure projects is the Tangier Med Port, located in strategic position in the Strait of Gibraltar and which is connected to more than 170 ports in 80 countries across the world, providing a processing capacity of 9 million containers, as well as 7 million passengers, 1 million vehicles, and 700,000 trucks. Tanger Med serves as an industrial hub for more than 750 companies from different sectors. In 2018, Tanger-Med 1 handled 3.4 million containers, which enabled it to be located as the largest Mediterranean port capacity and the first port in Africa. In last June, Morocco has inaugurated the Tanger Med 2, which is the third phase of the development of the port complex Tanger Med.
Tanger Med I&II Port
Morocco has also launched two satellites (Mohammed VI A and Mohammed VI B) respectively in 2017 and 2018, which will notably be used for cartographic and cadastral activities, land use planning and monitoring of agricultural activities.
Mohammed VI Satellite
Morocco has one of most ambitious energy targets in the world. The goal is for 42% of its power to come from renewable sources by 2020. The country is well on track to hit its target since that 35% of its energy is already renewable thanks to solar energy sites such as Noor Ouarzazate.
Noor solar power plant in Ouarzazate city
Mohammed VI tower
The Mohammed VI tower (250 meters high), was designed on 55 floors. It will house a luxury hotel, offices, apartments and an observation deck at its summit, all accessible via a total of 40 lifts including.
Over the past 20 years, Morocco has built approximately 1,100 miles of highways and other modern roads, connecting most major cities via toll expressways. Morocco aims to build an additional 2,100 miles of expressway and 1,300 miles of highway by 2030, at an expected cost of $9.6 billion. Morocco’s railway network includes 800 miles of track. The Tanger-Casablanca 225-mile high-speed rail line was inaugurated in 2019.
High-speed train
Morocco and Africa
Morocco has put in place an innovative strategy of cooperation with the rest of the African continent, materialized by the signature of more than 1500 conventions and agreements during 50 Royal visits in more than 30 countries during the last 20 years.
These actions were concluded by investing in Africa around US $ 3 billion during the period 2008-2017, which equates to 80% of Moroccan investments abroad. The Kingdom thus became the 2nd largest African investor on the continent.
Morocco and Rwanda
Relations between Morocco and Rwanda witnessed a turning point after the visits by President Paul Kagame to Morocco in June 2016 and by HM King Mohammed VI to Rwanda in October of the same year. Since these visits, more than 35 agreements covering various fields were signed between the two countries and many official visits were exchanged. Rwanda has announced on July 2019, its decision to open a resident Embassy in Morocco.
HM The King Mohammed VI and H.E President Paul Kagame
Morocco’s Priorities at international level
Morocco has committed to raise many continental challenges, from migration management to the fight against extremism and terrorism, to strengthening food and energy security, environmental preservation, peace-keeping, improving economic competitiveness and accelerating social development. At this level, Morocco shares its experience with many African States and offers also it’s known-how and assistance in different technical area.
HE Youssef Imani, Ambassador of His Majesty to the Republic of Rwanda
The Kingdom of Morocco celebrates, on July 30th, the 20th Anniversary of the accession of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to the Throne, a moment of commemoration of a common history, filled with a strong patriotic charge that reflects the perfect symbiosis between the Throne and the people in their march towards the future.
The event is also an opportunity to remember the pioneering achievements of Morocco under the Reign of H.M the King Mohammed VI, as well as the various initiatives undertaken by the Sovereign to further consolidate the historical, cultural and cooperation relations that exist between the Kingdom and the African countries.
Since the accession of HM King Mohammed VI to the Throne in 1999, Morocco has undergone major visible and qualitative transformations in several areas, thanks to a remarkable process of modernism and openness.
