Macron - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Ismail Abdulaziz
Oct, Wed, 2024

Foreign

Macron departs Morocco with landmark €1.5bn investment deals

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By Usman Aliyu

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday departed Morocco after signing several bilateral deals worth over 1.5 billion Euros investments.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Macron arrived in Morocco’s capital city, Rabat on Monday for a 3-day visit, following an invitation by the King of the African Arab country, Muhammed VI.

The French president, during the state visit, reiterated the support of Paris for Morocco sovereignty on Western Sahara, alongside other speeches made to deepen the relations between the two countries.

Under the supervision of the president, France signed 22 new agreements with her erstwhile colony, which cut across critical sectors such as transportation, education, energy, culture, water, security, agriculture and climate action.

One of the agreements was to provide support for the OCP Group’s decarbonisation strategy in Morocco with investments worth 300 million Euros through the development of agricultural and food value chains in Africa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that another deal is in the creation of a Morocco-France investment accelerator worth approximately 3 billion Moroccan dirhams, equivalent to 232 million Euros.

The deal also provided an equal partnership to stimulate investment throughout Morocco including the disputed southern provinces.

It also contained the creation of a 50/50 joint venture dedicated to sustainable infrastructure, with a capital of 300 million Euros.

The signings include an agreement between the CMA CGM Group, the world’s third-largest shipping company, and the Morocco’s TANGER MED, aimed at developing a container terminal in Nador West Med as part of the concession obtained by MARSA MAROC.

The deal provided for a commitment of significant volumes of 1.2 million containers to launch the Nador West Med platform and an investment of approximately 258 million Euros.

Also signed was an MoU between Moroccan Government and the SAFRAN company which is to build a maintenance and repairing site for aircraft engines.

Under this agreement, the company planned to carry out an investment project consisting of the construction and equipping of the maintenance and repair workshop of LEAP aircraft engines, with an investment worth nearly 130 million Euros.

Another declaration was between the French Development Agency (AFD) and Morocco’s National Ports Agency.

Through the declaration, the parties agree to devise a new support programme for the ports agency around four main points with the AFD providing 100 million Euros loan.

There was also an agreement on the National Water Strategy, structured around budgetary support for Morocco, aimed at strengthening the integrated management of water resources.

Under this understanding, the AFD would take the necessary steps to mobilise 100 million Euros for this programme.

Other agreements include the supply of high-speed train sets and their supporting elements as well as a declaration of intent on financial cooperation in the railway sector among several others.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Ismail Abdulaziz
Oct, Tue, 2024

Foreign

Moroccan Princess launches anti-bullying campaigns

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By Usman Aliyu

Moroccan Princess Lalla Meryem and French First Lady Brigitte Macron on Tuesday in Rabat launched a campaign against school bullying and cyberbullying at the Abi Dar Al Ghifari Secondary School.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the launch was part of the activities lined up for the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco.

The campaign is an initiative of the National Observatory for Children’s Rights (ONDE) being presided over by the princess under the banner “Let’s Act Together,”

The initiative is part of Morocco’s efforts to protect children from school bullying, a scourge that is of global concern.

NAN reports that school bullying and cyberbullying are widespread issues affecting children and adolescents globally.

School bullying peaks between ages 10-13, with 27.5 per cent of students affected, while cyberbullying increases with age, affecting 15.6 per cent of 14-17-year-olds.

The global rate studies says one in three students worldwide experience bullying and cyberbullying affects one in five teenagers.

The Moroccan campaign comprises several parallel actions, including the distribution of a school bullying awareness capsule to 3,770 middle and high schools, and the design and development of the “iTyhad” app to combat and prevent bullying in schools.

The campaign also provided for launching of a three-year training programme to combat bullying and cyberbullying, in collaboration with the country’s Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports.

At the occasion, four engineering students, a child and a child psychiatrist made a presentation from the “iTyhad” app.

The app was developed during a Hackathon initiated by the Moroccan princess in March and had brought together 15 universities across the country.

The two personalities also watched an awareness-raising video on bullying in schools, which was simultaneously broadcast in 3,300 multimedia rooms of the French Ministry of Education.

They, similarly, attended a workshop with 14 middle-school students, led by a child psychiatrist and a psychologist from the ONDE programme.

Meryem and Macron also viewed a video on the achievements of the Children’s Parliament, created in 1999 by King Mohammed VI.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Ismail Abdulaziz
Oct, Tue, 2024

Foreign

Macron unveils plans for triangular partnership in Africa

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By Usman Aliyu

French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled plans for a triangular partnership between France, Morocco and Africa to foster cooperation in key sectors for growth, stability and development.

Macron announced this on Tuesday in Rabat while addressing a joint session of the two Houses of the Moroccan parliament.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the address formed part of the activities of the French president’s 3-day visit to the Northern African country.

He said the France, Morocco and Africa partnership would be premise in the areas of education, agriculture, ecological projects, digital technology and energy.

Macron stressed the importance of the Moroccan-French partnership in Africa, underlining the vision of the Moroccan King, Mohammed VI for the continent.

“Morocco, by virtue of its geography, its history, its culture and the vision of its Sovereigns, has long affirmed its vocation as a platform, a channel, a singular path,” Macron said.

This, he said, underlined that the Kingdom’s stability, openness and development “are unrivaled assets which we recognise at their true value and which can inspire many joint initiatives.”

Speaking on the Moroccan-Western Sahara issue, Macron reiterated the support of Paris for Morocco sovereignty over the contentious region.

“For France, the present and future of this territory lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty. The Autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue must be resolved.

“The 2007 autonomy plan constitutes the only basis for achieving a just, lasting and negotiated political solution in line with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council,” he said.

He said that the Paris position was rooted in history, respectful of realities and promising for the future, and the one that France would implement to support Morocco at international forums.

Turning to the situation in the Middle East, Macron paid tribute to the action of King Mohammed VI for providing urgent humanitarian aid to the Palestinian and Lebanese populations.

“I salute his mobilisation and that of all Morocco in favour of de-escalation, resumption of dialogue and the relaunch of a credible political process.

“In the current cacophony, in which extremes on all sides are indulging, Morocco has a strong and singular voice,” he said

Macron said Morocco and France were now destined to lay the foundations for a reinforced exceptional partnership, and to offer the generations of the next 25 years a new vision.

“At a time when His Majesty King Mohammed VI and I decided to write a new book together, I want to share with you that I am certain that these ties will continue to grow ever stronger,” he said.

He lauded the values of diversity, dialogue and tolerance, adding that it remains at the heart of the Morocco’s people, its institutions and Constitution.

“The tolerant Islam promoted by His Majesty the King, Commander of the Faithful, challenges all forms of extremism,” he said.

Macron added that Morocco’s wealth “is even more precious and worthy of respect at a time when our world is torn apart by intolerance and war.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Ismail Abdulaziz
Oct, Tue, 2024

Foreign

Morocco, France sign historic partnership deal

225 total views today

By Usman Aliyu

The Kingdom of Morocco and the French Republic on Monday signed a landmark “Reinforced Exceptional Partnership” declaration to significantly bolster bilateral relations.

The two countries signed the agreement during a 3-day official visit to Morocco by the French President Emmanuel Macron.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that while Macron signed for France, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI signed on behalf of his country.

The partnership, according to the Moroccan government, will strengthen long-standing historical, cultural and economic ties between the two nations.

The government said the bilateral deal reaffirmed the mutual cooperation and strategic autonomy.

Key provisions include fostering exceptional relations, establishing a comprehensive strategic framework and adhering to principles of state-to-state relations, sovereign equality and non-interference.

“The profound relations between the two countries are rooted in history and exceptionally rich human and cultural ties which have underpinned the friendship and cooperation for several decades.

“The leaders also reaffirmed that their countries’ joint action, both bilaterally and internationally, would continue to rest on the principles of state-to-state relation, sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs and foreign policy decisions, among others.

“Both nations emphasised their commitment to directing the ‘reinforced exceptional partnership’ toward three major goals that include consolidating political and strategic convergence.

“Others included deepening and modernising partnerships to promote economic development, social cohesion and strategic autonomy.

“Another goal is the strengthening of privileged cooperation in human ties, human capital and culture rooted in a Francophonie of values and openness,” the government said.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that the two heads of state welcomed the ambitious cooperation that they had established and strengthened in migration, and called for the building of a comprehensive agenda in that regard.

They also agreed to directly oversee the “reinforced exceptional partnership” between them. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin