ADDIS ABABA — Moroccan Ambassador Nuzha Alawi Mohammadi emphasized the critical importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), urging African nations to collaborate closely to realize the potential of the agreement. She highlighted that AfCFTA represents a significant opportunity to enhance economic interactions free from customary, administrative, and bureaucratic hurdles.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, Morocco is committed to working alongside other African nations to facilitate the implementation of the AfCFTA. She reflected on Morocco’s long-standing economic relationships with other African countries, noting its role as a major investor in West Africa and the second largest in Africa overall.

Morocco’s approach to economic policy, as described by Mohammadi, is rooted in South-South cooperation aimed at mutual development. This strategy was significantly advanced following visits by King Mohammed VI to various African countries, which were aimed at promoting sustainable development and the exchange of Moroccan expertise within the continent.

The ambassador elaborated on the transformative potential of the AfCFTA, which she described as a pioneering economic framework within the global market, designed to facilitate easier and more efficient trade relationships across the continent. She stressed that while African countries already engage in trade both amongst themselves and with external partners, the full realization of AfCFTA is essential for strengthening the African economy’s global standing.

Ambassador Mohammadi concluded her remarks by calling for unity and collaborative effort among African nations to bring the vision of a fully operational AfCFTA to fruition, underscoring the benefits of a more integrated and economically liberated Africa.