When the global pandemic made its surfaced last year, Morocco made swift strides to curtail its impact within its borders. Thanks, in large part, to wise decisions and strong leadership, the outbreak -while it did cause problems for Morocco, as it has for nearly every country in the world- is sure to inflict minimal economic harm.
Contrary to what was predicted, economic growth in the kingdom has slowed down. Yet, despite this downside, the country has developed effective sustainability and environmental programs that will help it sustain and potentially bolster its resources as vaccines are administered around the world and the virus becomes relegated to the past.
Steps Ahead in Renewable Energy
Back in 2009, King Mohammed VI focused on shifting the nation from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Even though much of the world has long chanted that a change needs to take place to protect the environment, due to the relatively low cost of fossil fuels (at the time) and other fiscal reasons, only a small number of countries have taken firm steps to do something about it. Morocco being one of them.
The original goal was to shift enough of the kingdom’s energy usage so that at least half of its consumption was through renewables by 2030. Indeed, the country may be well on their way to achieving that goal.
As King Mohammed VI stated, “Within the framework of unrestricted cooperation, we can, together, build the future.” Part of the kingdom’s focus in these measures has been to work alongside its fellow African nations, referred to as the South-South Cooperation. This unified effort would bring support for developing technical assistance programs and create effective renewable energy projects for the region.
Several international organizations have come on board to support this initiative as well, including the African Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank. The UN also recently announced an international coalition based on the South-South Cooperation that will be spearheaded by Morocco. The focus of the UN effort will be to hasten the move from traditional to renewable energy solutions, especially in less developed and currently developing countries.
The European Union has also recognized the value in supporting these efforts and is turning its attention to the Moroccan example on how to achieve a greener economy, which has shown resilience to some of the longer term impacts the coronavirus is having on other economies around the world.
Morocco Committed to a New Future
King Mohammed VI has also recently placed a greater emphasis on strategic planning for decision-making processes in the hope of strengthening the country’s post-pandemic economy. While some proposals on how to move forward economically already regard the coronavirus as ‘passing,’ secretary general of Al Istiqlal (Independence) Party, Nizar Baraka has been critical of such language. He stated that the nation needed an economic model that would be rooted in other types of policies.
Baraka’s intention appears to be concerned about how the proposals are focused on models that were in place prior to the global pandemic but need to instead figure out ways to boost the national economy, regardless of global challenges and crises.
To do that, the kingdom is expanding its renewable energy program, economics that involve health and well-being, and embracing more innovative technological solutions. By continuing to let its sustainability initiatives thrive, it will surely bolster the local Moroccan economy, thus elevating individual purchasing power, reducing social inequalities.
For Morocco, there is a healthier focus now on everyday citizens within its public policies. Leaders are seeking to determine how the decisions they make as a nation will affect and, ultimately, lift the people they lead through these initiatives, regardless of a pandemic or other issue that may infiltrate its landscape in the future.
In short, the steps Morocco has taken, especially under the guidance and leadership of King Mohammed VI, has positioned the nation to make a fast and strong recovery when the coronavirus truly is beyond us all. The kingdom’s renewable energy and innovative technology plays a powerful role in re-building and strengthening its economy.
Prior to the pandemic, Morocco was already developing new methods and looking into the future so that it could absorb an international disaster, and its profound efforts to build a stronger economic base may very well become a beacon to many other countries around the world.
