Paolo Von Schirach, president of the Global Policy Institute (GPI) and founder and editor of the Schirach Report, highlighted Morocco’s crucial role in leading development on the African continent in a statement to Moroccan news agency MAP on Sunday.
Speaking ahead of this week’s Annual Meetings of the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Marrakech, he emphasized the importance of holding them in Morocco in demonstrating Morocco’s growing influence in Africa.
The president of GPI, a non-partisan research institution based in Washington, D.C. focusing on global affairs, economics, energy, and education, said that Morocco’s innovative policies have set it on a trajectory of increased investment and engagement in Africa noting that the Kingdom’s financial institutions are at the forefront of this investment, providing their expertise to several African nations.
The US analyst praised Morocco for promoting workforce skills acquisition and professional development particularly among students from sub-Saharan Africa. He underlined the growing number of young Africans seeking advanced education at Moroccan universities.
He also expressed confidence in Morocco’s ability to “lead the African continent constructively into the future,” noting that the choice of two principal international institutions to convene their annual meeting in Marrakech for the first time in Africa in 50 years illustrates the Kingdom’s strategic, expanding role on the continent.
The expert lauded the Kingdom as a forward-thinking growing economy, outlining its innovative policies and role as a major fertilizer producer and exporter that offers vital advice to other countries in Africa on optimizing agricultural productivity.
Schirach commended Morocco’s adaptability and ability to capitalize on global economic opportunities through extensive agreements with international groups like the European Union and the United States.
The World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings begin today and run through October 15 in Marrakesh. Around 14,000 people from over 189 member countries, representing governmental and private sector institutions, civil society organizations, youth, media, and academic researchers, are expected to convene to focus on global economic development concerns.