First Deputy Speaker Takes Part in a Seminar of the AIPA on Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems

First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Mohamed Sibari took part on Thursday, November 25, 2021, in a seminar of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), organized via videoconference in cooperation with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), on "Responsible investment in agriculture and food systems."

In his statement, the First Deputy Speaker of the House highlighted the negative impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture and food systems, given the mobility and travel restrictions and the disruption of rural production chains.

Sibari expressed his hope that "Morocco, as an observer member of the AIPA, will play an important role in bridging relations between Asia and Africa and exchanging experiences in all areas that contribute to ensuring a decent life for citizens."

The Deputy Speaker also presented the Kingdom's strategy in the agricultural sector as part of the "Green Generation 2020-2030" plan. The latter is based on "the principle of convergence with other public policies related to agriculture and food systems, such as the National Water Plan, the integrated program to support enterprises and the road map to develop vocational training."

Besides, Sibari elaborated on the pillars of Morocco's 2030 agricultural strategy. The strategy focuses on doubling the agricultural GDP and exports, creating new jobs and improving the living conditions of farmers. The strategy also aims to create a new middle class generation by producing young entrepreneurs in agriculture. Moreover, it aims to set a new arsenal of agricultural regulations and advanced legal, financial and real estate mechanisms for follow-up.

At the level of South-South cooperation, a major focus of Morocco's foreign policy, Sibari noted that "the Kingdom is engaged in major strategic projects with a number of African countries in the agricultural field, such as the "agriculture adaptation in Africa" project. The latter intends strengthening the capacities of the actors in this sector, the involvement of the Office Chérifien des Phosphates in various fertilizer production projects in several African countries, which would enable them to benefit from the renowned Moroccan expertise.

The Deputy Speaker then stressed the role of parliaments as a pressure force to redress government policies and intensify legislative, control, evaluation and sensitization roles in the agricultural field and food production chains, with a view to entrenching the centrality of people in the relations between the various institutions looking to consolidate democratic values.

The Seminar featured presentations on the ASEAN Guidelines on Promoting Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Production (ASEAN 'RAI') and the presentation to parliamentarians of the Guide on Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems. The latter will be adopted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to serve as a road map for parliaments to create an environment suitable for responsible investment in agriculture and foods and to study the means to integrate such principles of investment into public policies and legislation.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an economic and political association established in 1967. It gathers ten countries, including Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Brunei, Laos, and Cambodia. The Association aims to accelerate economic growth, achieve social and cultural development in Southeast Asian countries and create a free-trade zone between its Member States.