Morocco receives agreement in principle to obtain status of sectoral dialogue partner from ASEAN

On Jul 18, 2023

At the 56th meeting of foreign ministers of member nations held on July 11 and 12, 2023, in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Kingdom of Morocco received an agreement in principle to attain the status of Sectoral Dialogue Partner from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Kingdom, the first African nation to benefit from this status, aims to advance its cooperation with ASEAN through this partnership, contributing to regional peace, stability, security, development, and prosperity in both regions, emphasizes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Resident Abroad in a press release.

The ministry claims that this status also represents King Mohammed VI’s goal of diversifying the Kingdom’s alliances, particularly with the Asian continent.

The sectoral dialogue partnership outlines the framework and potential for extensive cooperation between ASEAN and Morocco in the sectors that both organizations have identified.

The press release notes that Morocco had proposed an action plan for cooperation in this regard in February 2018, focusing on areas of cooperation of shared interest that were likely to support ASEAN’s vision for 2025. It also notes that this action plan was updated in February 2023 to account for changes since then, particularly the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through this partnership, there is a chance for meaningful cooperation based on the win-win principle at the core of Morocco’s strategy of South-South cooperation, which is being promoted under the wise leadership of King Mohammed V.

The same source added that in areas where the Kingdom’s reputation is well-known and respected internationally, such as agriculture, food security, fisheries, marine pollution control, trade, investment promotion, tourism, and education, Morocco expressed its willingness to share its experience and expertise with ASEAN member countries.

In September 2016, Morocco ratified the ASEAN Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (TAC). Since then, the Kingdom has increased its representation in various Southeast Asian regional organizations, particularly those that are institutionally or geographically connected to ASEAN. Rabat and the Mekong River Commission (MRC), which consists of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, signed two Memorandums of Understanding in 2017 and 2022.

Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam are the 10 nations that make up ASEAN, which was founded in 1967. It ranks as the third-largest economic force in Asia as a whole. According to the press release, Switzerland, Norway, Turkey, Pakistan, Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates are the other six nations who have “Sectoral Dialogue Partner” status with ASEAN.

ASEAN Ministry of Foreign Affairs