Marruecos y Japón, una nueva cooperación de beneficio mutuo
Japan is making preparations to give the green light to the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8). The Japanese country will host the event in Tunisia in August. The holding of this conference represents the Eastern nation's commitment to supporting sustainable development projects in Africa, and Morocco looks set to become a special ally in the fight against climate change. It is also organised jointly with the United Nations (UN), the World Bank and the African Union.
Japanese-Moroccan cooperation is gathering pace. Japan has long shown interest in Moroccan industries. Morocco's automotive and vehicle, aeronautics and high-tech industries are typically financed by the Japanese nation, as it sees Morocco as a growing market in these sectors and believes it will be relevant in the global economy
"Morocco has become an emerging country with which we should consider a new form of cooperation that would be a mutually beneficial partnership," commented Shinozuka Takashi, Japan's former ambassador extraordinary and diplomatic representative to the Alawi kingdom, some time ago.
The two countries have long enjoyed well-established and strengthened relations. Japan also supports projects in other fields such as construction, infrastructure, fisheries and agriculture, as well as health. Morocco, for its part, receives 3.5 billion dirhams in grants from the region to support ideas and implement them, in addition to 25 billion dirhams in the form of concessional loans.
One of the sectors in which Morocco and Japan work most bilaterally is in the field of aquaculture. This is the activity carried out by some professionals in the primary sector in the breeding of aquatic animal and plant species in another type of environment without having to fish for them. Thanks to the knowledge offered by the Japanese culture in this field, Moroccan fishermen have been able to strengthen their skills in this area of fishing, especially in the breeding of shellfish and aquatic molluscs. One of the greatest exponentials of this good relationship is to be found in the project that is being carried out near Agadir. This is the Tiguert-Imiouadar project, which aims to teach Moroccans the best techniques for shellfish farming out of the sea.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been working with Morocco since 1967. These projects have been implemented mainly in the more rural areas with economies based on fishing and agriculture. There, infrastructure construction has been carried out, including hospitals and health centres, which have been financed through Japanese grants and loans to the Kingdom.
In addition, the Tokyo International Conference on African Development will also take stock of the situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic. To this end, viable solutions will be sought in Africa, where the virus is hitting hardest as resources are scarcer. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organise a press conference to announce the specifics of the forum.
"TICAD 8 will aim to discuss Africa's priorities and aspirations for growth while putting the individual at the centre of all actions," said Tadayuki Miyashita, deputy director for Africa at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Moreover, the fair has attracted global attention, which is beginning to look favourably on the opportunity to invest in Africa. To this end, the continent's mineral, agricultural and demographic riches have been overexposed and can be a good business opportunity to invest in trade and tourism
