Exclusive Interview with the British Prime Minister’s Envoy to Morocco: The “Next Steps” of the Moroccan-British Association [FULL]

Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Anas MACHLOUKH
Published on 2024-04-13 08:46:00

In his first interview with the Moroccan press, Rob Butler shared with “L’Opinion” London’s vision for the future of the partnership between the two countries. A broader partnership is on the agenda. Interview.

“You came to Morocco a month ago with the aim of strengthening the partnership, what assessment do you make of this visit?”

Firstly, I am honored and delighted to have been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Morocco. This is the first time I have visited the Kingdom in this capacity and I am pleased to see the growth of our commercial relations over the past three years since the entry into force of the association agreement, a comprehensive framework that allows our two kingdoms to increase their trade relations, which currently amount to £3.4 billion. This visit is another example of the UK’s great ambition to strengthen trade ties and explore collaboration opportunities in many sectors, including infrastructure, aerospace, healthcare, agriculture, clean growth, and education. We see significant potential in Morocco, given the rapid development of infrastructure in the country, its position as a gateway to Africa and Europe, and the exciting news of Morocco hosting the FIFA World Cup 2030.

“What are the commercial objectives you have set for the next two years?”

Commercial relations between the UK and Morocco are expanding, and I look forward to contributing to further growth as much as possible. During my meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Investment, we discussed ways to raise awareness among British and Moroccan companies about the opportunities offered by bilateral trade. I am committed to working with my Moroccan partners to support this initiative, both here in the UK and during my future visits to Morocco.

“Commercial exchanges have progressed remarkably, but they remain too concentrated in the agricultural sector. Do you have a strategy to expand exchanges to other sectors?”

During my visit to Morocco, I visited Airbus Atlantic and launched a university partnership with the University of Huddersfield, NCUK, and the London Academy. We continue to collaborate closely with Morocco in the aerospace sector, where skills and education are fundamental. The partnership with Huddersfield is an example of the rapid growth of partnerships between the UK and Morocco in the field of education, which will be a driver of progress in other sectors. In my meeting with the Casablanca Regional Investment Center, we discussed investments in the healthcare sector, another area of growth in Morocco, and I also met a number of British companies closely studying infrastructure opportunities for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

“The UK recently launched the UK-Export Finance program in Morocco. Is it working as planned?”

Indeed, UKEF is the UK’s export credit agency, a government department and the world’s first export credit agency with over 100 years of experience. UKEF offers financing solutions, including UK government guarantees and direct loans, for projects with a UK content of at least 20%. The credit agency has a dedicated envelope for Morocco of up to £4.5 billion, intended to finance projects in all sectors, including essential infrastructure projects. UKEF also has a local presence in Morocco with a dedicated market person conducting a series of discussions with public and private stakeholders around promising upcoming projects.

“The British government plans to invest more in renewable energies and green finance in Morocco. What are the planned investments?”

Morocco has a solid experience and huge potential in renewable energies, whether solar, wind, hydroelectric, or tidal energy. We encourage British companies to explore these opportunities and we welcome the recent “hydrogen offer” from the Moroccan government. Furthermore, we are closely collaborating with Morocco on a series of climate-related projects. We co-chair the “Power Breakthrough” project and collaborate with the COP Energy Transition Council. Additionally, we are pleased to collaborate with the Mohammed VI Investment Fund to support the integration of environmental criteria into investments.

“Today, Morocco faces significant water stress that may have repercussions on its agricultural exports to the European and British markets. Last year, there were export suspensions. What solutions can you advocate to ensure the sustainability of exports?”

Under our bilateral association agreement, the UK and Morocco are closely engaged in agricultural trade, and we also have a number of means to discuss current challenges related to water stress and climate risks. For example, I am pleased to see bilateral partnerships supporting sustainable agriculture, such as the Sustainable Agriculture for Africa (SAFA) partnership aimed at revolutionizing agricultural practices across the continent. This is a joint initiative involving Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P-Morocco), Rothamsted Research, and Cranfield University, UK, supported by the OCP Group.

“The ‘Daily Express’ newspaper revealed in December 2023 that the British government is seeking to conclude a major new trade and security agreement with Morocco. What can you tell us about this subject?”

Morocco and the UK continue to closely cooperate in the development of the association agreement. We are excited to hold the third Association Council session this year, following the success of the second Council in February 2023, which saw progress on rules of origin, public procurement, and non-tariff barriers in the agricultural sector. I am convinced that the next Association Council will have a broad agenda that will deepen trade partnerships between our two kingdoms.

“Portrait: Rob Butler: The most British of special envoys”

Rob Butler is the Conservative MP for Aylesbury. He was elected following the general elections on December 12, 2019. Rob Butler’s professional life began as a news presenter and reporter, first at the BBC, then at Channel 5. From 2005 until his election, he worked as a communication consultant, working with large and small companies and organizations worldwide. Between 2020 and 2022, Butler was a member of the Justice Special Committee. He also sat on parliamentary committees reviewing bills covering a wide range of subjects, from terrorism to veterans’ pensions, agricultural machinery theft, and the future of the media. He successfully introduced a private member’s bill to expand drug testing to ex-offenders in approved premises. Rob Butler is a member of the Parliamentary Armed Forces Programme for Strategic Command, having previously participated in the RAF and Royal Navy programmes. In December 2023, he was appointed the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Morocco. It is worth noting that Mr. Butler is decorated with the Order of the British Empire.

Read the original article(French) on L’Opinion