Morocco is planning to build multiple water treatment plants, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez rightly sees that investing in its neighbor’s infrastructure will increase its own economic stability, not to mention fostering long-term, overall political goodwill between the two nations. However, some politicians across the Strait of Gibraltar are using–nay, weaponizing–the old adage, “charity begins at home.”
The recent swing toward the right coincides with what many Spaniards view as Sanchez abandoning his constituents in their most dire time of need, as Spain has been experiencing its own water shortages largely due to drought-like conditions since April.
However, the government has defended its decision to grant a repayable loan of up to five million euros to its neighbor to the south for two of these treatment facilities, with the argument that the development will enable Spanish firms to obtain contracts secondarily for projects which would piggyback off of this undertaking.
Spanish news source Europa Press highlights Pablo Cambronero–a representative of the region of drought-stricken Andalusia–as being one to allege the Sanchez government’s “abandonment.” Yet, in times of economic uncertainty, it is hardly surprising when politicians engage in pork-barrel rhetoric to win votes. (Remember, elections are coming up next month).
Sanchez’s government went on to further defend the decision, stating that Morocco is the primary receiving market for Spanish exports to Africa. Additionally, the Kingdom is considered a “priority country” as a strategic partner in trade, and with respect to Horizon Africa strategies.
Notably, the value of exports to Morocco increased almost 25% between 2021 and 2022.
Spain, argues the current administration, has become a “world reference” in the water sector, “…especially in desalination and purification, with large business groups capable of tackling complex projects on all continents.”
The government elaborated that the technology used here–called “turnkey projects”–will be uniquely Spanish in nature, providing an obvious source of national pride.
Zag and Moulay Brahim will be the beneficiaries of the proposed deal, though Safi, Nador, Dakhla, and Casablanca all fall under the same program umbrella in which Spanish firms are currently competing for bids.