Moroccan Ambassador to South Korea Chafik Ratchadi speaks in an interview with The Korea Times at the Moroccan Embassy in Seoul on January 23.Korea Times Photography: Choi Won-seok
Editor’s note
This article is the second in a series of interviews with African ambassadors to South Korea ahead of the Korea-Africa Summit in June. -Editorial department
Kim Hyun Bin
Chafik Ratchadi, Morocco’s ambassador to South Korea, said the upcoming Korea-Africa Summit holds immense expectations for both South Korea and the African continent. He emphasized the potential for cooperation based on Africa’s rich human and natural resources, paving the way for shared prosperity between the two regions.
The first summit is scheduled for June.
In an interview with The Korea Times at the Moroccan embassy in Seoul, Ratchadi said, “Morocco highly values and appreciates the organizational efforts and efforts of the South Korean authorities regarding this special summit, and this first important meeting is I hope it will be a complete success.” January 23rd.
“The African continent’s vast human and natural resources promise endless possibilities to collaborate with South Korea to achieve shared prosperity. By 2023, 40 percent of the world’s youth will be African; The summit is an opportunity, given that 75 per cent of the region’s population will be African, under the age of 35. ”
The Ambassador highlighted the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) as an opportunity to balance commercial transactions and champion the ‘Made in Africa’ initiative. He expressed the belief that the agreement could open up a market that includes 1.2 billion consumers and facilitate increased intra-African trade.
Morocco’s commitment to Africa has been made clear through a comprehensive approach that includes a variety of development activities. These include efforts in migration, human development, food security, climate change adaptation, and infrastructure development. Morocco’s active engagement not only reflects its geographical and historical ties, but also underlines its commitment to Africa as an area of close human relations.
“Morocco is considered the number one African investor in West Africa and number two on the entire continent,” he said. “South Korea could utilize Morocco’s advantageous geographical location as a strategic transit point to access Africa.”
The Ambassador highlighted Morocco’s recent initiative, the Atlantic Coast Vision, which aims to contribute to regional prosperity and development in the landlocked Sahel and Central African regions. The vision aims to transform the Atlantic region into a center of people-to-people exchanges and economic integration, and highlights Morocco’s commitment to fostering regional and international cooperation.
“The (Atlantic Coast Vision) strives to improve connectivity, establish transportation infrastructure, build logistics platforms, and develop a strong and competitive merchant fleet.Given South Korea’s strengths in this area, “This is an opportunity to actively participate in the development of the Atlantic Coast by advancing the Atlantic Coast Vision and providing funding to further that objective,” the ambassador said.
Mr. Ratchadi highlighted Morocco’s strong capabilities in diverse sectors such as automobiles, aviation, renewable energy, trade, tourism, agriculture, film production, and phosphate production. Morocco’s notable achievements, including being Africa’s largest producer in the automotive sector and a key player in the aerospace sector, underline its dedication to innovation and sustainability.
The Ambassador expressed Morocco’s commitment to the cutting-edge technology sector and its aim to attract investment through investor-friendly policies, especially from South Korea.
“Fifty years ago, South Korea shared some similarities with many African countries. Today, South Korea exists as a success story and an inspiration to many African countries, including of course Morocco. We believe that through the cooperation between our two countries we have already gained valuable experience in the automotive sector, “Morocco and KOICA aim to train Moroccans in this industry,” Ratchadi said.
In the automotive sector, breakthroughs in electric and hydrogen vehicles highlight Morocco’s excellence as Africa’s leading producer, reinforcing the “Made in Morocco” label and demonstrating its commitment to sustainability. Ta.
A photo of Chefchaouen, a city in northern Morocco known as the “Blue Pearl.” Provided by the Moroccan Embassy in Seoul.
diplomatic relations
Sixty years have passed since diplomatic relations began in 1962, and the two countries have made continued progress in political, economic, cultural, educational, and technical cooperation. Ratchadi emphasized the special ties forged during the Korean War. There, Moroccan soldiers volunteered to defend the Republic of Korea, solidifying their ties as blood brothers fighting for the common ideals of democracy.
He said, “Diplomatic relations between South Korea and Morocco began in 1962, and South Korea opened its first embassy in Africa in Morocco on July 6, 1962.”
The interview explored ongoing cooperative activities between Korea and Morocco, covering various fields such as politics, economy, culture, education, health, research, and technology transfer. The Ambassador emphasized that these pillars of current action play a vital role in fostering inclusive and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries.
The Ambassador concluded by highlighting Morocco’s rich cultural heritage and encouraging Korean tourists to explore the lively streets, diverse landscapes, and unique flavors of Moroccan cuisine. Mr. Ratchadi stressed that the cooperation efforts between Morocco and South Korea reflect a mutual desire to strengthen relations in the future and pave the way for expanded opportunities in all fields. He envisioned the future of Korea-Morocco relations and emphasized the necessity of strengthening the partnership for mutual cooperation and collaboration.
Morocco is located in North Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The capital is Rabat. Official languages include Arabic and Amazigh (Berber), and French is widely used in government and commerce. King Mohammed VI has ruled the country since 1999. As of 2021, the country has an estimated population of approximately 37 million people and a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $120 billion.