Somali delegation agrees cooperation with Morocco on tourism, renewable energy, mining and agriculture

Rabat (SONNA) - A delegation of the Federal Government of Somalia on an official visit to Morocco has held meetings with several Moroccan ministries and institutions on strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the economy, energy, mining, petroleum, water, agriculture and tourism.

The delegation includes the Director General of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Abdullahi Hayir Duale, the Directors General of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Commerce, and directors, managers and officials from the Somali Chamber of Commerce and the country’s banking associations. The meetings are part of efforts to expand cooperation between Somalia and Morocco and to develop investment opportunities, knowledge exchange and economic growth.

The delegation met the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation, the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), the office responsible for mines and hydrocarbons and the Ministry of Agriculture. The talks focused on how Morocco can support Somalia in developing solar and wind energy, building knowledge and skills in mining and petroleum, and strengthening agricultural production.

MASEN pledged to work with Somalia on the development of solar and wind energy. In mining and petroleum, the two sides agreed on technical cooperation and training for Somali personnel. They also agreed that the agriculture ministries of the two countries would work on a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in agriculture.

On tourism, Somalia and Morocco agreed to work together to promote Somalia as a tourism destination, train Somali tourism experts and exchange expertise, at a meeting between Director General Duale and the Secretary General of Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy.

The Director General presented Somalia’s tourism potential, describing the country’s coastline of more than 3,300 kilometres along the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, the longest in mainland Africa. He also spoke of the Cal Madow mountains in the north, the ancient rock paintings at Laas Geel, and the hospitality and cultural traditions of the Somali people. He noted that many of the hotels and resorts that once lined the Somali coast were destroyed during the years of conflict, and that their sites now await rehabilitation.

He asked for Moroccan support in hospitality training, a vocational institute for tourism and hospitality, the rehabilitation of coastal hotels, the modernisation of heritage sites, the revival of national parks, and the promotion of Somalia to international tourists.

The Moroccan Secretary General welcomed the proposals and said his Ministry would work with Somalia’s Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to promote Somalia, train Somali tourism experts and exchange expertise. He added that Morocco would also support Somalia in developing its coastline and the hotels along it.

Somalia and Morocco are both members of the Arab League, the African Union and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Both sides agreed to keep in contact so the cooperation can move forward. The Moroccan Secretary General said his Ministry would advise and guide Somalia on the methods and approaches needed to fast-track the development of its tourism industry.