If the political positions of the Gulf monarchies in favor of the Moroccan character of the Sahara are a constant, economic relations have not yet reached the level of excellence promised by the first Morocco/CCG summit. In spring 2017, ministers from different partner countries are expected to meet in Manama to discuss cooperation in the tourism and transport sectors.
Morocco and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council are determined to strengthen their cooperation. The two parties are expected to meet in March or April 2017 in Bahrain, says the GCC general secretariat. The next meeting will be at ministerial level and devoted mainly to continuing the examination of economic issues, relating to the tourism and transport sectors. Two files addressed in recent months by experts from the two partners, respectively in Manama in March and in Riyadh in April. The media were also on the agenda of another session, organized in May in the Saudi capital, between representatives of Morocco and those of the six Gulf monarchies.
No news on the 2th Morocco/CCG summit
Moreover, the general secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council has not mentioned a date for the organization of the 2th Morocco/CCG summit including the first edition was held in Saudi Arabia last April. This point indeed goes beyond the prerogatives of the SG.
The capital of Bahrain is hosting a meeting of heads of state of the Arab club this Tuesday. The final declaration should reiterate the commitment of the six monarchies to accelerate measures to strengthen cooperation with Rabat. The issue is on the agenda of this 37th summit, like the strategic partnership with Jordan. After Al Sissi’s defection from Egypt, Rabat and Amman are the GCC’s only real allies in the Arab world.
The spring 2017 meeting between Moroccan ministers and their GCC counterparts should give a qualitative leap to the excellent political relations between the two parties to integrate their economies. Rabat is betting on investments from the Gulf States in order to revive its growth and support the realization of its numerous projects both in Morocco and in Africa, even if the Kingdom’s partners are going through a bad patch with the fall in oil prices on the world market.
Source:http://www.yabiladi.com/articles/details/49008/monde-arabe-reunion-ministerielle-printemps.html
