HIBAPRESS – w.m.a. The summit of exchange program graduates, organized by the United States Embassy on Saturday in Salé, as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the country's independence, was an opportunity to highlight the depth and strength of Moroccan-American relations and friendship.
This event, which saw the participation of institutional officials from both countries, in addition to more than 300 Moroccan graduates of exchange programs of the American government, highlighted the main stations of this relationship based on shared values and aspirations. The summit also highlighted the impact of American exchange programs, which exceeded a symbolic ceiling of 10,000 Moroccan beneficiaries. On this occasion, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, in a speech read on his behalf at the opening of this meeting by the Secretary-General of the Youth Sector, Mustapha El Masmoudi, affirmed the depth and specificity of the Moroccan-American friendship. The Minister praised a historical relationship built on shared values and mutual aspirations, transcending time and international circumstances. After mentioning that Morocco was the first country to recognize the independence of the United States, the Minister focused on the forward-looking nature of this exceptional relationship, given its longevity and stability. Bensaid said, “We share our values, as we share our differences with all respect. The Atlantic Ocean, this bridge that connects us, embodies our ambition to build a world of peace and prosperity, based on tolerance, cultural pluralism, innovation and creativity.” For his part, Benjamin Ziff, the Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Morocco, highlighted the positive dynamic and strength of relations between his country and the Kingdom; He noted that the organization of this summit falls within the framework of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence and the Moroccan-American strategic partnership, which he called for further strengthening. Ziff noted that this event is a unique opportunity to celebrate Moroccan competencies, which are a basic pillar of cooperation between the two countries; He confirmed that the presence of these frameworks, who represent different sectors such as technology, finance, business and entrepreneurship, embodies the richness of the Moroccan human capital that actively contributes to the development of ties between the two countries. For her part, Ahlam Karaoui, a graduate of the “Global UGRAD” exchange program, expressed her pride in the extent of the impact that her stay in the United States had on her professional career; Explaining that the skills acquired, especially in communication and public relations, enabled her to get her first job as soon as she returned to Morocco. For her part, Graciela Martin, an American who benefited from the “Language Initiative for National Security for Youth” program, which is dedicated to learning Arabic, emphasized the importance of this initiative, which changed her view of the world and enabled her to overcome language barriers and discover Moroccan and Arab-Islamic culture. The summit was distinguished by the presentation of the “Dominique Benbrahim Alumni Awards” to a number of former graduates in appreciation of their leadership and the excellence of their paths and their commitment to serving Moroccan-American cooperation. Thus, the “Lifetime Achievement Award” was awarded to Ismail Douiri, the CEO of the “Attijariwafa Bank” group, while Lamia Benmakhlouf, the General Manager of “Technopark Morocco”, received the “Emerging Leader” award, while Abdelhakim Zarrouk, from the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, received the “Meritorious Contribution” award. The program of this edition of the summit included discussion sessions, interactive workshops, and an exhibition dedicated to innovation, in addition to communication sessions on climate change, artificial intelligence, combating misinformation, and the social impact of exchange programs.
