Morocco celebrates, on August 10, the National Day of Moroccan Expatriates under the theme “Young Moroccans Living Abroad: Expectations and Contributions,” which reflects the central role of this category in Morocco’s development.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates reported that the National Day of Moroccans Living Abroad, celebrated annually since 2003, reflects the high solicitude of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist Him, for Moroccans around the world.
The role of Moroccans residing abroad was clearly emphasized by His Majesty the King in his Speech on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of Throne Day, in which the Sovereign noted that “whenever Moroccan youth have had the means to give the full measure of their seriousness and patriotism, they have fascinated the world with performances of an unprecedented caliber, following the example of the historic achieved by the National Football Team during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”
In a similar context, the Royal Speech of August 20, 2022, was a turning point in the process of managing the affairs of Moroccans resident abroad, calling in particular for the modernization of the institutional framework, the establishment of an ongoing structural relationship with Moroccans living abroad, and the creation of a mechanism dedicated to accompanying and supporting the initiatives of project holders.
To implement the High Royal Directives, the Ministerial Committee for the Affairs of Moroccans Expatriates held two meetings, on August 30, 2022, and June 1, 2023, noting that the Technical Committee, which stems from the Ministerial Committee, held three meetings, the last of which took place on June 9, 2023.
In addition, a series of meetings and thematic committees have been organized to draft an executive program and a set of proposals and recommendations, the implementation of which will give a major boost to the management of the affairs of the Moroccan community abroad, in particular by modernizing the institutional framework, strengthening identity, harnessing skills, encouraging investment, and simplifying administrative procedures.
The Moroccan Ministry also added that the Department of Moroccans Living Abroad is placing young Moroccan Expatriates at the heart of its priorities, as they represent a fundamental lever for building the Morocco of tomorrow and contributing to its development, noting that within this framework, the 14th edition of the Summer University for young Moroccans living abroad, aged 18 to 25, was organized in Rabat between July 22 and August 1, 2023.
Since its launch in 2009, the program, which has welcomed almost 4.000 participants, aims to preserve the national identity of young Moroccans Residents Abroad, reinforce their sense of belonging to their culture of origin, and meet their aspirations and needs of integrating into their host countries.
The event attracted 300 students from approximately 30 host countries around the world and included conferences, thematic workshops, and meetings on investment in Morocco, the New Development Model, and the positive dynamics of defending the Moroccanity of the Sahara, as well as visits to historical sites.
To mark the 24th anniversary of His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s accession to the Throne of His glorious Ancestors, an event showcasing the Moroccan people’s great attachment to the Glorious Alaouite Throne, around one hundred Moroccans living abroad from 66 countries participated in the official festivities, in coordination with the Kingdom’s diplomatic missions abroad.
The Foreign Ministry concluded that on the sidelines of these activities, a meeting under the theme “Moroccans of the World: Key Players in Morocco’s Development” brought together participants to discuss issues relating to the mobilization of skills and support for investment project holders, with the participation of representatives from the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), Tamwilcom, and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM).