Morocco and Niger are discussing ways of strengthening their bilateral cooperation in the field of transport and logistics, as part of the Atlantic Initiative aimed at facilitating access to the Atlantic Ocean for the Sahelian States.
The Moroccan Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohamed Abdeljalil, and his counterpart from Niger, Colonel Major Salissou Mahaman Salissou, met in Rabat to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the transport and logistics sector.
This meeting is part of King Mohammed VI’s Atlantic Initiative aimed at facilitating access to the Atlantic Ocean for the Sahelian States, thereby consolidating South-South cooperation relations.
The ministers hailed the excellence of Moroccan-Nigerien relations and expressed their determination to further promote this cooperation. They agreed to set up a working committee to develop a general framework for technical cooperation based on the exchange of expertise and the development of skills.
Road safety has been identified as a joint priority. To this end, Morocco will make the expertise of its Road Safety Agency (NARSA) available to Niger, which will also be able to benefit from Moroccan experience in the airport and civil aviation sectors.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the Nigerien minister expressed his desire to explore the opportunities offered by the port of Dakhla, currently under construction, an infrastructure built entirely by Moroccan expertise.
He also thanked Morocco for its continued support as Niger adopts a new dynamic since June 2023, aimed at preserving the dignity of its people.
For his part, Mr. Abdeljalil reaffirmed his department’s commitment to supporting Niger, in accordance with royal directives, notably by sharing Moroccan road, rail and port infrastructures.
He also invited his counterpart to take part in the 4th World Road Safety Conference, scheduled to take place in Marrakech in February 2025.
A few days earlier, the Nigerien minister had taken part in the 7th Morocco Today Forum (MTF).
This meeting marks an important stage in the strengthening of ties between Morocco and Niger, opening up new DD prospects in the field of transport and logistics
MN/te/Sf/fss/GIK/APA