A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Thursday in Miami to establish a twinning partnership between Morocco's Casablanca-Settat region and Florida's Miami-Dade County, aimed at strengthening trade, tourism, cultural, and academic exchanges between the two sides. The agreement was signed by Abdellatif Maâzouz, President of the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council, and Mohamed Elfane, President of the Investment Commission at the Casablanca-Settat Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services, on the Moroccan side. Representing Miami-Dade were Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and members of the County Commission, in the presence of Morocco's Consul General in Miami, Chafika El Habti. The MoU also seeks to promote sustainable development, foster educational cooperation, and boost commercial exchanges between the two regions. Speaking at the ceremony, Maâzouz said the agreement would help turn Casablanca-Settat and Miami-Dade into a «true bridge between the Americas and Africa», notably through efforts to strengthen maritime links between Miami and Casablanca for both cruise and freight operations. «This MoU will help Casablanca-Settat enhance its regional brand image by drawing inspiration from Miami's successful experience in business, tourism, and urban innovation», he added. For her part, Mayor Levine Cava affirmed that Miami-Dade County is committed, through this partnership, to sharing best practices and deepening cooperation with Casablanca-Settat in strategic sectors such as trade, business, tourism, and education. She praised the longstanding friendship between Morocco and the United States, stressing that the partnership between the two regions holds «great promise» given their shared economic strengths, particularly in tourism, trade, and industry. Consul General El Habti noted that the agreement, which provides mutual benefits for both sides, will further deepen economic, cultural, and institutional ties across the Atlantic. «This MoU paves the way for new prospects of cooperation in trade, education, culture, and technology», she said, emphasizing that it reflects the strategic partnership and longstanding friendship between Morocco and the United States, built on cooperation and mutual respect.
