December 31, 2023
Aljiha Post
Morocco’s Tangier has taken important steps in 2023 to strengthen ties with Gibraltar, opening the door to potential cooperation in a variety of sectors.
The visit of Tangier’s Mayor, Mounir Limouri, to Gibraltar in November 2023, is considered a milestone in the process of strengthening this ambitious approach between the two sides, which have strong historical ties.
Limouri’s visit to Gibraltar was marked by the presence of Princess Lalla Malika Alaoui, and during the visit, opportunities for cooperation in areas such as trade, tourism, and infrastructure development were explored, in line with the shared aspirations for a strategic partnership between the two sides.
On the occasion, Gibraltar Mayor, Carmen Gomez, expressed her strong appreciation for the Moroccan officials’ visit, reaffirming the deep historical ties that have united Tangier and Gibraltar for decades as two vital regions on several levels united by history and geography – in reference to their common location on the Mediterranean Sea-.
This step could provide effective support for the desire of the local government in Gibraltar, and local companies, to seek alternatives to foreign trade after the geopolitical changes related to the Brexit agreement.
The Gibraltar government has already announced important steps to boost trade with the Kingdom of Morocco, such as the establishment of the ” Gibraltar Morocco Trade Office” in Tangier and the founding of a business association between the two countries.
Economic analysts point out that this step comes in the context of the success of economic cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Kingdom, and shows the growing desire to raise the level of ties on various levels.
Many expect Tangier to play a key role in boosting economic convergence between Morocco and Gibraltar, especially in light of the strategic trade agreement between London and Rabat, which includes major projects such as the sea-based electricity link.
In addition, this step highlights Tangier’s role as a key driver in accelerating the achievement of economic integration between Morocco and Gibraltar, which comes in the context of the strategic partnership between the two countries, as the agreement refers to cooperation in vital areas such as trade and infrastructure development.
Also, this step reflects the ambition of Tangier to be a vital hub to drive the wheel of trade exchange and bilateral cooperation between Morocco and Great Britain, and that all of this will form a gateway to new economic opportunities and future investments, especially in light of the transformations that the world is currently witnessing, with the need to strengthen bilateral, trilateral, and common cooperation mechanisms in general in facing the various challenges posed.
We hope to see a bright future between the two countries