Morocco

IIn 1605, the Netherlands sent its first envoy to Morocco. In 1609, negotiations began on a treaty that was signed in 1610. It was an agreement on peace, friendship, and trade. The first Moroccan ambassador came to the

Netherlands in 1613. “It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship”, to paraphrase Humphrey

Bogart in the movie “Casablanca”.

As a mark of strong solidarity, in May 1940,

Moroccans soldiers came to the Netherlands to defend the Dutch people during the second

World War. They came from far away to defend the Netherlands as well as other European countries, against Nazim and Fascism and to defend freedom, democracy and human dignity.

Every year in May the municipality of Kapelle,

Zealand Province, pays tribute to the souls of the Moroccan fighters, some of them buried in the French cemetery in that city.

It has always been a ceremony full of lessons that illustrate our shared history in which we reiterate our unwavering commitment and determination to fight hatred, xenophobia, racism, discrimination, islamophobia, and antisemitism.

Throughout history, cordial relations have existed between the two countries. Dialogue, understanding and positive interaction have been the main characteristics between the two-friendly people. The two sides have been always guided by common endeavours and positive aspirations to enhance the relationships into a win-win partnership based on trust, common interests and friendship. Within the framework of the Netherlands’ strategy to enhance business relations with specific African countries, including Morocco, a virtual seminar on business opportunities in Morocco was held in October 2020. In November 2020, a virtual meeting was organized with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs on economic opportunities in Morocco to strengthen partnership in the fields of trade and investment. In December 2020, a virtual Economic Day on Africa was organized. Within its framework, two seminars were held on the role of water in development in Morocco and hydrogen energy, highlighting investment opportunities and the importance of trilateral cooperation between the Netherlands, Morocco, and Africa in these areas. The Netherlands considers Morocco an important economic partner due to the vitality in different fields, and that the Netherlands wishes to strengthen partnership in the areas of water, renewable energies, logistics, food industry and green hydrogen production from renewable energies in our country, within the framework of Morocco’s strategy related to addressing the effects of climate change. The Netherlands also considers strengthening bilateral relations with Morocco as one of its priorities with the Arab world, given Morocco’s stability, promising opportunities, and important regional leadership.

BY H.E. A. BELLOUKI, AMBASSADOR OF MOROCCO