Morocco and Gulf States set joint action plan for 2030 partnership

Morocco and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) convened on Thursday evening in Mecca for the 7th joint commission meeting. The Moroccan delegation was led by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who emphasized the strength of the «strategic partnership» between Morocco and the GCC, describing it as «built on a solid foundation of synergy and solidarity».

Bourita expressed «deep satisfaction with the significant progress» made in the partnership, highlighting its fruitful achievements. «It is this positive assessment of our strategic partnership that has led us to renew the joint action plan for a new period until 2030». said the Moroccan Foreign Minister.

Bourita announced that the next session of the Morocco-Gulf Investment Forum will serve as a platform to reassess and further develop cooperation. «This assessment is also an incentive to seek creative ways to develop this partnership and elevate it to higher levels», he added.

Morocco's new roadmap for 2030 partnership

He also highlighted Morocco’s preparations to host major international sporting events, including the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, positioning the country as a strategic gateway for Gulf states to Africa. «The world of 2030 is full of promising investment opportunities, providing a space for Gulf partnerships to engage in numerous projects», he said.

Bourita further pointed to key initiatives launched under King Mohammed VI’s leadership, such as the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, the Atlantic Africa process, and efforts to facilitate Sahel countries' access to the Atlantic Ocean, all of which present new opportunities for Morocco-GCC cooperation.

To strengthen the institutional framework of this partnership, Bourita proposed institutionalizing the Morocco-GCC summit as a key reference mechanism for cooperation, designating Morocco’s ambassador in Riyadh as the coordinating ambassador for the partnership, establishing a joint council of businessmen between Morocco and GCC countries, and streamlining the current 15 joint working groups into three or four strategic sectors.

The first Morocco-GCC summit took place on April 30, 2016, in Saudi Arabia, during which GCC states reaffirmed their support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain later demonstrated this support by opening consulates in the region. On the same day, GCC Foreign Ministers also held a meeting with Jordan, further reinforcing regional cooperation.