King Felipe VI visits Morocco

Upon the invitation of HM King Mohammed VI, HM King Don Felipe and Queen Dona Leitizia of Spain will pay an official visit to Morocco on July 14-15, 2014.

The Spanish Royal couple's first visit outside of Europe is taking place one year after King Juan Carlos of Spain visited Morocco and only few days after King Felipe VI’s enthronement.

King Juan Carlos and HM King Mohammed VI had always been keen on maintaining permanent contacts between governments of the two countries. The same keenness was confirmed by the new Spanish King who followed his father's footsteps and chose to visit Morocco for one of his first travels abroad after the Vatican and Portugal.

The visit has a tremendous importance for the two countries, for the two friend people, and confirms the friendship, cooperation and mutual respect binding Morocco and Spain and the two Royal families.

After focusing on Latin America, Spain which is seeking to contain its financial crisis, has realized that Morocco and its economic ties in Africa represent a significant and buoyant new market.

Morocco has worked hard to develop its economy over the last few years. Morocco’s GDP steadily rose by almost 4.5% every year since 2000 which is a better than most European countries. The country is now open to the international market.

Morocco, through its political stability is a strategic and essential partner for Spain that has become the largest trading partner of Morocco ahead of France and the Kingdom is the second largest market for Spain, outside the European Union (EU) and after the United States. The number of Spanish companies exporting to Morocco is estimated at nearly 20,000.

The two countries have also intensified political, social, cultural and human cooperation and share many interests and face several challenges such as the fight against human trafficking and terrorism.