The London-based Institute for Free Trade (IFT) has commended the Royal Initiative of King Mohammed VI to make the Atlantic Ocean accessible to countries in the Sahel as a means to help them address serious domestic and international socio-economic challenges.
The private, not-for-profit, research foundation submitted a report to the British House of Lords on Monday, highlighting the initiative’s relevance and comprehensive approach, focusing on the plan’s pillars of development, education, and environmental sustainability.
Unveiled on the 48th Anniversary of the Green March in 2023, the Royal Initiative seeks to improve regional integration and connectivity, achieve upward socioeconomic mobility and enhance living conditions by linking Sahel countries to regional transportation and communication networks, principally Moroccan ones.
Entitled “Improving UK-Morocco Relationship – Unlocking Untapped Potential” and drafted by Shanker A. Singham, a former advisor to the UK Secretary of State for International Trade, the report recognizes that the Royal Initiative is meant not only to unlock the region’s potential but also to reinforce Morocco’s central role in Africa’s development and cooperation.
The report identifies Morocco’s Sahel effort as a crucial component of its African engagement strategy, with an emphasis on South-South cooperation, mutually beneficial relationships, long-term investments, structured initiatives, and population empowerment and education.
The plan reflects Morocco’s vision for a powerful and prosperous Africa, serving as a catalyst for regional growth and development while addressing challenges such as terrorism and separatism, according to the author. The initiatives cover humanitarian and sustainable development in the Sahel, including healthcare and educational facilities, large expenditures, and proactive responses to climate change.
The think-tank report also offered a number of suggestions to improve trade between Morocco and the UK, focusing on access to high-value supply chains and current development hubs in Moroccan industries such as construction, aerospace, and automotive. The ideas include lowering technical trade barriers, improving regulatory coherence, establishing a UK-Morocco business group, and eliminating visa requirements for Moroccan business travelers.