Moroccan King leads development initiative in Africa

By African Bulletin on March 19, 2013

Commitment to the principles of solidarity and multi-dimensional cooperation

– Two agreements for cooperation in the sectors of mining, hydrocarbon, electricity and renewable energy signed in Senegal

– Inauguration in Dakar of an ophthalmological center with a capacity of 50,000 patients yearly

– Launching a medicine production plant “West Afric Pharma”

Morocco and Senegal signed Saturday the 17 march two agreements for bilateral cooperation between the two countries on transport, minerals and energy, in the presence of Moroccan King Mohammed VI and his host, Senegalese President Macky Sall.

The first agreement deals with “the international road transportation of people, and goods.

The second agreement, a draft agreement pertaining to cooperation in the sectors of mining, hydrocarbon, electricity and renewable energy.

“Morocco is willing to assist Senegal in the electrification field, especially through the construction of energy infrastructure. In the mining sector, Senegal has huge potentialities, which need improvement in their exploitation; this is the case of the phosphates. The present agreement will serve as a platform for Moroccan companies to grow in Senegal, notably the Moroccan Hydrocarbon Office, which will carry out exploration activities, the Moroccan minister of Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment, M. Fouad Douiri said.

On the humanitarian level, the King Mohammed VI, accompanied by the Senegalese President Macky Sall, inaugurated, on Monday 18^th in Cambérène (suburb of Dakar), the Mohammed VI ophthalmological clinic.

The Moroccan monarch granted the Alaouite Foundation for human and sustainable development, to build and equip this unit over a surface area of 1000 square meters.

The medical, humanitarian facility will contribute to reinforcing Senegal’s health infrastructure and fighting against preventable blindness.

The Mohammed VI clinic includes consultation rooms to diagnose the different ophthalmological diseases and could host up to 50,000 patients yearly. It also comprises equipped operating rooms to perform surgeries for cataract, glaucoma and retinal detachment, in addition to a conference room.

The facility can also host campaigns organized by Moroccan physicians for the benefit of poor local populations. Over 2,500 cataract operations could be performed annually. The clinic could serve as a training platform for West African practitioners.

The two heads of state have also inaugurated a medicine production plant “West Afric Pharma”, a branch of the Moroccan lab SOTHEMA Maroc.

These projects confirm Morocco’s African calling and his steadfast commitment for sound, active and solidarity-based south-south cooperation.

They also illustrate HM the King’s will to contribute to the progress and prosperity of the Senegalese people, establish strategic and multiform strategic partnership between the two countries, and mobilize all potentials to achieve the objectives of reaching sustained development and fighting against social precariousness and exclusion.

Ahead of the King’s visit, president Macky Sall underlined that the Moroccan-Senegalese ties are not only long-standing, but also exceptional.

The Moroccan King also met with a number of Senegalese political leaders in Dakar. The meeting was held in the presence of the King’s special advisors, Zoulikha Nasri and Fouad Ali El Himma.

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