Morocco's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, who also serves as President of the 22nd session of the General Assembly's High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation, affirmed on Wednesday in Awaza, Turkmenistan, that Morocco continues to provide tangible support to landlocked African countries. Speaking at the ministerial meeting on South-South Cooperation, held as part of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (August 5–8), Hilale explained that this support is reflected in the strengthening of South-South and triangular development projects. These efforts actively contribute to accelerating development, reinforcing African solidarity and regional integration, and boosting investment and shared progress. He highlighted that Morocco's commitment has been embodied in several initiatives, notably the one launched by King Mohammed VI to facilitate access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean. This royal initiative serves as a strategic lever for transforming the economies of the Sahel, offering a new framework for cooperation and development by sharing Morocco's experience and providing access to its road, rail, and port infrastructure. Hilale called for building on the momentum generated by this event to achieve the collective ambition of connecting landlocked countries to coastal regions and addressing the dual challenge they face, being both landlocked and developing. He emphasized that this ministerial meeting comes at an opportune time to reaffirm the vital role of South-South and triangular cooperation in driving sustainable and resilient development, transforming landlocked developing countries, strengthening development financing, and harnessing science, technology, and innovation to accelerate structural economic transformation. The Third Conference serves as a platform for dialogue among high-level delegations, international officials, investors, and organizations, aiming to rethink development pathways for landlocked nations.
