New Moroccan Honorary Consulate opens in Calabria, Italy

The new headquarters of the Honorary Consulate of Morocco in Calabria was inaugurated on Saturday in the city of Gioia Tauro to support the Moroccan community in this southern Italian region and to strengthen economic, commercial, and cultural ties between the Kingdom and Italy.

The inauguration ceremony, presided over by Moroccan Ambassador to Italy Youssef Balla and Gioia Tauro's Mayor, Simona Scarcella, was attended by dignitaries such as Deputy Secretary of State at the Ministry of the Interior Wanda Ferro, as well as representatives from political, religious, and associative communities, alongside members of the Moroccan community in Calabria.

In his address, Ambassador Balla emphasized that Gioia Tauro was chosen for its strategic location as a Mediterranean maritime hub, which offers significant prospects for collaboration with the Tanger Med port. He expressed confidence that this cooperation would boost trade between Morocco and Calabria. The opening of the consulate also aims to support the Moroccan community in Calabria, which he described as a model of successful integration respected by local and regional institutions.

Honorary Consul Domenico Naccari welcomed the establishment of the consulate at the prestigious Palazzo Sant'Ippolito. He noted its role in fostering direct cooperation between Gioia Tauro’s ports and Tanger Med, while also highlighting Morocco’s growth as an attractive investment destination due to its economic reforms and modernization efforts.

Deputy Secretary Wanda Ferro underlined the excellent relations between Italy and Morocco, citing numerous agreements in economic, social, and developmental sectors. She praised the Moroccan community in Italy for its contribution and successful integration. Ferro also highlighted the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in addressing issues such as extremism, irregular migration, human trafficking, and organized crime.