A joint statement issued following talks between Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Stanley Kasongo Kakubo, states that the meeting provided an opportunity to review bilateral relations in various sectors, noting that the two ministers held fruitful talks during which they praised the excellent ties of friendship and solidarity between the two countries.
On this occasion, the statement adds, the two parties expressed their satisfaction with the sustained pace of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, and agreed that there was scope for deepening and broadening cooperation in many areas such as agriculture, renewable energies, education, vocational training, tourism and infrastructure.
In this regard, Bourita reiterated Morocco’s commitment to supporting the strengthening and development of Zambia’s human capacities, through the granting of scholarships and other training programs.
For his part, Kakudo expressed his “deep gratitude” for Morocco’s actions to promote a developed education sector and a well-trained workforce in Zambia in particular, and in Africa in general, according to the same source.
Recognizing the significant economic potential offered by Morocco and Zambia, the two parties agreed to further develop and diversify their mutually beneficial sectoral partnership, the statement said, explaining that the aim is also to increase business opportunities, by ensuring an advantageous environment for Moroccan and Zambian investors.
In this context, they agreed to initiate cooperation in the agricultural field, by launching pilot projects in the fields of soil research, irrigation and fertilizers, and in the industrial sector, by encouraging the exchange of knowledge and expertise, with particular emphasis on the development of joint ventures in the manufacture of electric cars, given the complementary nature of the two countries.
The two ministers also agreed to encourage the sectoral ministers of the two countries to strengthen their cooperation.
The two sides reaffirmed the importance of the joint cooperation Commission (JCC) as a key mechanism for strengthening ongoing collaboration between the two countries, and recognized the need for it to be held on a regular basis, said the document, adding that they agreed that the inaugural session of the JCC will be held on a date to be determined through diplomatic channels.
