The Memorandum Of Understanding was signed in the capital of Lower Saxony, by the President of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, Omar Moro, and the local Ministers for the Economy, Olaf Lies, and for Social Affairs, Labour, Health and Equal Opportunities, Andreas Philippi, as part of a Forum organised under the theme: "Imagining the migration of the future".

Through this deal, both parties were able to express their common belief regarding the importance of entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in the social and economic development of their regions. It enabled both parties to express their shared belief regarding the need for entrepreneurship and creating job opportunities to contribute to their region's socio-economic development, identify the challenges and opportunities in creating jobs and encourage entrepreneurship among Moroccans living abroad (MRE).

The aim being to strengthen cooperation between the two countries and encourage innovation through qualified migration flows. The parties have agreed to cooperate on identifying their needs for skilled workers in key economic sectors, promoting job creation and entrepreneurship among Moroccans living abroad, and facilitating the integration of these workers in the Land of Germany.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mr Moro emphasised the investment opportunities available in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, and called on German companies to establish themselves in the region and step up cultural, tourist and linguistic exchanges in order to achieve the objectives of this partnership.

The Minister for Economic Affairs of Lower Saxony urged the human dimension to be at the heart of this partnership, while praising the common determination of both parties to work together closely to exploit the existing potential on both sides within a spirit of mutual win-win.

The meeting was attended by Moro, Lies and Philippi, as well as Moulay Ismail Lamghari Moubarrad, Secretary General of the MRE Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Resident Abroad, and Abdelkader Taleb, Deputy Head of Mission at the Moroccan Embassy in Berlin. Delegates addressed various issues relating to migration, focusing in particular on the need for ‘partnerships to ensure lasting migration’.

The partnership between Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma and Lower Saxony was presented as an example of success at this Forum, which was also attended by representatives of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the German Federal Employment Agency and its Moroccan counterpart ANAPEC, along with leaders of CGEM-Tanger as well as AMDIE and various Moroccan and German associative actors.

Through their partnership, the two regions are laying the foundations for a shared vision of how to organise regular labour migration between Morocco and Lower Saxony in the long term and on an equitable basis.

The Moroccan delegation visited a number of training centres during its visit to Lower Saxony, and exchanged views on experiences in this field, including the Cités des Métiers et des

Compétences model, initiated by His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

With MAP