On this occasion, the Spanish delegation, led by the mayor of La Oliva Fuerteventura, Isai Blanco Marrero, highlighted the broad prospects for cooperation and coordination in areas of mutual interest.

The delegation was also briefed on the dynamism of progress taking place in the Kingdom's southern provinces, especially in the region of Laayoune Saguia el-Hamra, at all economic, social, political, tourism and cultural levels.

“This visit aims to strengthen economic and cultural cooperation between Fuerteventura and the southern provinces of Morocco, given its strategic location, as a gateway to Africa for the Canary Islands,” Blanco Marrero said in a statement to the press following a meeting with Abdessalam Bekrate, governor of the Laayoune-Saguia Al Hamra region.

In this context, he noted that agriculture and fisheries constitute the primary economic activity sector in Fuerteventura along with tourism, noting that the Canary Islands and Morocco's southern provinces are very similar in terms of climate, demographics and natural assets.

He expressed his desire to develop fruitful bilateral cooperation in the preparation and implementation of local and regional development programs in areas of mutual interest.

On the same occasion, the Spanish delegation attended a presentation at the Laayoune community on the community's development program, which includes various development projects included in the framework of the new development model for the southern provinces launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in 2015. The delegation was also briefed on the role of this elected body in managing local affairs.

The delegation members followed a detailed presentation by the Director General of the Regional Investment Center, Mohamed Jafar, who highlighted the main productive sectors in the region, from fisheries to agriculture to renewable energies, especially the huge potential in the field of green hydrogen and its derivatives.

Jafar also reviewed the macroeconomic indicators of the region, the main competitive advantages, the diversity of the real estate base, the multi-sectoral project bank, and the various structural projects in the region, highlighting the new tasks of the Regional Investment Center and its role in the territorial promotion of the region.

The Spanish delegation also made field visits to several social, educational, economic, cultural, economic, cultural and sports projects, where they witnessed first-hand the efforts made to achieve integrated development in the region.

News and events on Western Sahara issue / CORCAS