Address of Speaker of House of Representatives Habib EL Malki on the Opening of the Joint Statutory Meeting of Standing Committees under the Pan-African Parliament

Deputy Speaker of the House of Councilors,

Minister of Industry, Trade, Green and Digital Economy,

Minister Delegate in Charge of African Cooperation,

Deputy Speaker of African Parliament,

Delegate of African Committee on Trade and Industry,

Chairperson of Standing Committee on Trade, Customs, and Immigration Matters,

Chairperson of Regions Council in South Africa,

Members of the two committees contributing to this joint meeting,

Dear guests of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Morocco,

Dear Attendees,

            Despite its precise organizational, technical and thematic nature, this African meeting in Rabat surely calls for several impacts and thoughts that would genuinely affect us, especially in the North African region, and specifically in Morocco, whose capital Rabat is getting ready to be the capital of African culture for one year. Morocco was one of the few countries that founded the Organization of African Unity (today called African Union), lives now, and since its return to its African home, on Africa’s civilizational, cultural, intellectual, political, diplomatic, and economic rhythm.

         The truth is that Africa is not just a mute geographical spot, but a continent that was always a reference for the Moroccan civilization in Moroccans’ history and memory, as individuals and communities, in our cultural and linguistic culture, in our identity and personality, in our educational and school curricula, in our musical, choreographic, painting and cinematographic expressions, etc. A read of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Morocco allows us to find the African dimension manifestly present in its preamble and spirit, and to see its strong attachment to Africa. Thus, the relation between Morocco and Africa was, still is, and will forever be an existential relation. Although the Kingdom of Morocco stepped away for a temporary period from its official African home, it has never cut its ties with many friendly and brotherly African countries, nor with the essential issues and concerns of Africa. On the contrary, Morocco has enhanced, during the said period, its engagement in African official and public life, and the visits of HM King Mohammed VI, may God protect him, have largely increased, thus facilitating Morocco’s smooth return to the African Union, as we all recall.

Dear Guests,

         Allow me, first and foremost, to welcome you to your second homeland Morocco. I should also laud the vital role of our brothers and friends within the Pan-African Parliament, following the general directives set by this African institution to itself and its members, as well as its philosophy in being a real voice of African peoples. This is also an occasion for me to commend specifically the efforts of the current chairperson Mr. Roger Nkodo, as well as the efforts of the General-Secretariat, executive committee, and the standing committees within the Pan-African Parliament, who are of distinguished performance and active presence in the Pan-African Parliament.

         The Moroccan Parliament is pleased with hosting this meeting on vital issues that concern the present and future of Africa. The meeting comes in a phase marked with several qualitative changes that aim at further consolidating democratic practices, respect of human rights, and fortifying the State’s national organs, which are pillars that ensure the stability, security, and development for our African peoples. These pillars also assist in immunizing Africa from instability, violence, illegal armament, organized crime, human smuggling, and illegal migration.

         Our meeting also comes in alarming circumstances, considering the concern of many world countries, and the World Health Organization, on fighting the Corona Virus threatening human life, and considering all the accelerating signs and developments that affirm the existence of a real crisis, and that this universal epidemic is evolving from a health crisis to an economic, commercial and financial one. We are worried that this crisis would impact on our continent in times when it has achieved very positive changes in its economies and exchanges with the world on all levels.

         Africa has become a destination to modern international aspirations and has grown at the heart of the highest interests of countries and world financial and economic institutions, considering its population of 1,3 Billion peoples, and its vast surface, the diversity of its natural resources, and its material and immaterial resources that have not yet been appropriately utilized.

       Also, we are all aware of everyone’s interest in this additional value, primarily manifesting itself through the high-level meetings that are convened between the United States and Africa, Russia and Africa, Japan and Africa, and China and Africa. This proves why we say that Africa is the future continent. However, the real question that should be raised here is how to make this significant universal interest an attractive fruitful, creative, and motivating element for the African peoples.

       In my opinion, this goal can only be achieved through the strategy of South-South Cooperation that should define our African style in development, choice, vision, and in putting priorities regarding plans, programs, and policies. In this respect, Morocco has launched South-South cooperation as a model that proved today its efficiency and referential value.

       As we are about to discuss a strategic topic, i.e., Inter-African Trade within the African Continental Free-Trade Zone (ZLECAF), I am keen on this address to stress the importance of speeding up the process of regional economic integration within the eight sub regional bodies (Regional Economic Communities) structuring the local development of Africa. This is the reasonable framework that would make of the African Continental Free-Trade Zone a tangible reality that serves our peoples.  

         This drives me to a conclusion I consider essential in our current context, as in light of the health crisis and its economic and social impacts on many countries, and considering the growing concern in its regard, a review of globalization rules is becoming an imperative based on evaluation for new regulation of North-South Free Trade, with which the sovereignty of many countries has been breached through damages, mistakes, negligence, or rush.

       Unfortunately, observing the current situation clarifies the truth about the real paradox, as although Africa encloses rich and diverse resources and products, its position and performance are low compared to the ones recorded by other Free-Trade Zones and economies. Our continent has not yet exceeded the 2% threshold in world trade. Between 2015 and 2017, African exchanges have only earned 760 billion Dollars, compared to European exchanges, which made around 4,110 billion Dollars, and the US, who won 5,140 billion dollars, and 6,800 billion Dollars for Asia. These examples are enough to prove the shortfall in imports and exports, especially regarding staple foods, equipment, manufactured goods, in addition to Africa’s growing need for other mineral and non-mineral raw materials.

       However, the picture is not as dark as it seems. For instance, the inter-African commercial exchange has reached, since the start of the 2000s, a significant pace of 12,5%. If the strategy of the African free-trade zone had been achieved as planned for, according to a study lead by the UN Conference on Trade and Development, our continent would have reached 33% in commercial exchanges between its countries. It is a realistic percentage that we should aspire to achieve through building this zone in accordance with the conditions and visions that would serve the continent and its peoples. This goal is doable with a strong political will, long-term vision, and a national spirit directed at the future and believing in history and the assets and brilliance of African peoples.  

         This also means that Africa needs new economic and political elites that live in this era, speed up time, race against biological clocks, change the prevailing mindsets, promote education, schooling, training, universities, and scientific research. They should also work hard to compensate for the deficit that our continent suffers from regarding infrastructures like seaports, airports, paved roads, highways, railways, renewable energies, new communication technologies. Besides, it should also work hard to review and renew the customs and administrative procedures and legislations that are still costly compared to those of other trade zones.

       To conclude, I truthfully believe that we have a clear shared vision concerning the requirements of economic and commercial take-off, and regarding rebuilding African development, as well as concerning South-South cooperation and solidarity, and the importance of a creating a (new Africa) as HM King Mohammed VI, Sovereign of Morocco, called it in a Sovereign message addressed to the Ninth African Development Forum held in Marrakech in October 2014, as He said that “A new Africa that is proud of its identity and following up with its era. A new Africa that is free of ideological chains, of the remnants of the past. A new Africa that is brave and proactive.” This is not impossible for Africa and African peoples, both females, males, and youths.

Thank you