DR ‹ › The Government of the Canary Islands has signed ten cooperation agreements with Morocco's Souss-Massa region, along with a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation and establishing what has been described as an «Atlantic axis». The agreements span a wide range of fields, including the economy, trade, innovation, higher education, tourism, and sports. The agreements were signed during an official visit by Fernando Clavijo, President of the Canary Islands Government, to Agadir. Clavijo said the initiative reflects the Canary Islands' commitment to building a strategic and stable partnership with Morocco. The visit also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Canary Islands Government and the Souss-Massa region, designed to consolidate cooperation in place since 2008 and to establish a permanent framework for developing joint projects and exchanging expertise. Priority areas include the blue economy, investment promotion, port cooperation, tourism, renewable energy, and academic collaboration. In this context, Clavijo highlighted the archipelago's strategic position as an Atlantic platform linking Europe and Africa, underlining the importance of port infrastructure as well as air and maritime connectivity in supporting joint development, particularly in light of preparations linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The signed agreements also provide for expanded cooperation in higher education and scientific research, through six agreements concluded between universities in the Canary Islands and academic institutions in the Souss-Massa region. These partnerships aim to strengthen joint research, promote student and researcher mobility, and support knowledge transfer in strategic sectors such as water management, energy, and applied innovation.
