The recent visit by a delegation from the Canary Islands to Agadir, Morocco, marked a significant milestone in establishing robust bilateral ties between the two regions. This visit, which took place three months after the signing of over ten collaboration agreements, signals a renewed commitment to transforming previous discussions into tangible outcomes. The official visit commenced this Monday, led by Karim Achengli, President of the Souss Massa Regional Council, and aims to solidify the cooperative framework initiated during the January mission.
During the January mission, which was the largest institutional and business delegation ever organized by the Canary Islands in Morocco, regional President Fernando Clavijo emphasized the importance of capitalizing on Morocco's burgeoning economy. He critiqued what he described as 'absurd isolationism' and advocated for a proactive approach towards economic collaboration. This initiative resulted not only in the signing of ten collaboration agreements across various sectors, including tourism, agriculture, logistics, and naval repair, but also in establishing contacts in key strategic areas for both regions.
The current visit will last for three days until April 29, with over fifty representatives from institutional, business, academic, and sports sectors from Morocco engaging in discussions aimed at building on the groundwork laid in January. The formal agenda kicks off with a bilateral meeting between Clavijo and Achengli, followed by a plenary session designed to evaluate the signed agreements and outline new cooperation initiatives.
This collaboration is part of the Canary Islands Government's strategy to foster a stable and long-term relationship with neighboring territories in Atlantic Africa, emphasizing institutional cooperation, economic development, and shared opportunities. During the previous visit, both the regional government and Canarian entrepreneurs highlighted the necessity of viewing Morocco’s economic growth as an opportunity rather than a threat. Pedro Ortega, President of the Canary Islands Confederation of Entrepreneurs, stressed the importance of engaging with a nearby, expanding market, and the need for direct relationships to uncover real business opportunities.
This perspective will drive the upcoming agenda in the Canary Islands, which will prominently feature B2B meetings designed to identify specific investment projects and create a stable economic cooperation framework across the Atlantic. Additionally, the Moroccan delegation will tour key strategic infrastructures, including the Port of Las Palmas, the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands, and facilities related to water management, innovation, tourism, and academia. The intent behind these visits is to share experiences and advance joint projects in areas such as blue economy, sustainability, digitalization, and education.
Furthermore, public universities in the Canary Islands are set to play a crucial role in this process, aligning with the enhancement of academic and scientific cooperation – a cornerstone of the Canarias-Africa strategy. Shared priorities include research collaboration, talent mobility, and knowledge transfer, alongside common challenges like energy transition and water resource management.
The agenda also includes discussions related to the preparation for the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Morocco, and Portugal. This presents new collaborative opportunities in sports and enhances the international visibility of both territories, potentially attracting investments and talent.
In the tourism sector, one of the main focuses of the January mission was the potential for generating investment projects aimed at revitalizing hotel establishments that remained inactive post-pandemic in Morocco, alongside the development of new complexes in areas with available land. Additionally, the creation of combined tourism products between the Canary Islands and Souss Massa was proposed, a strategy that could diversify the offering and attract new international markets.
In terms of transportation, the discussions initiated have paved the way for projects aimed at enhancing maritime and air connectivity between the Canary Islands and Agadir. The goal is to facilitate commercial exchanges, bolster tourism, and support business activities across both territories.
As reported by laprovincia.es.
