HIBAPRESS – Chafiq Anouri
The Moroccan Ambassador to Italy, Youssef Balla, affirmed that the Kingdom seeks to consolidate its role as a regional hub in the Mediterranean Sea through renewable energy, infrastructure, and investment.
The Moroccan ambassador said in his speech during the "Medfest 2025" conference in the city of Olbia that Rabat currently ranks seventh globally in renewable energy production capacity, thanks to the Noor solar plant in Ouarzazate and six green hydrogen projects that could cover up to six percent of global production by 2030. The Moroccan ambassador continued, according to the "Nova" agency, that among the strategic projects, the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, which is more than 6,500 kilometers long, and the submarine cable with Germany stand out, which is expected to cover about five percent of Germany's energy needs. Balla also continued that Morocco also aspires to benefit from the port of Tangier and the Strait of Gibraltar as global centers to enhance trade within the Mediterranean, which is currently declining, highlighting the Morocco-Spain sea tunnel project, which will be the first fixed link between Africa and Europe, and "a symbol of the Mediterranean as a bridge and not a barrier." The Moroccan ambassador added that "the Mediterranean must return to being a bridge that unites, not a barrier that divides," considering that the connection between its two shores constitutes a strategic priority for the future of the Mediterranean region, both at the commercial and humanitarian and cultural levels." He continued: "20 percent of global shipping traffic passes through the Mediterranean, but intra-Mediterranean trade is declining, which is a worrying matter that requires establishing new partnerships between Africa and Europe," stressing that Morocco seeks to position itself as a reliable and innovative partner in the energy transition and the management of migration flows, through projects that enhance regional stability. He concluded by saying: "Our goal is to build a future of common prosperity based on trade, connection, and cooperation between peoples."
