Morocco is an important partner for Central American countries, affirmed the Panamanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, praising the new momentum in the relations between his country and the Kingdom.
"A member with observer status in both the Central American Regional Integration System (SICA) and the Central American Parliament, Morocco is an important partner for the countries of the region," emphasized Vásquez in an interview with MAP on the occasion of his visit to the Kingdom.
He noted that Moroccan diplomacy, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, represents "a model of commitment to the principles and values of dialogue for conflict resolution."
He also stressed that the renewed momentum in bilateral relations will position Panama as a bridge enhancing Morocco’s openness to Central America, and Morocco as a gateway for Panama to the Mediterranean region.
Regarding the national cause, the Panamanian Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that his country’s support for the autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco to resolve the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara stems from the conviction that "the Moroccan initiative is the only solution to this conflict in the near future." He also highlighted the growing support this initiative enjoys from major powers such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and other influential countries.
Moreover, Vásquez emphasized that strengthening political relations between Morocco and Panama is likely to further boost their economic and trade ties, as well as their sectoral cooperation in various fields such as investment, commerce, security, industry, and pharmaceuticals, in addition to security cooperation, where Morocco has gained substantial expertise.
Commending Morocco’s pioneering experience in water resource management, Vásquez said he was "impressed" by the 67-kilometer water highway built by the Kingdom, noting that "this experience could be replicated in Panama."
On this occasion, he pointed out that both countries would benefit from intensifying the exchange of experiences and expertise across various sectors, drawing on the outcomes of Morocco’s major infrastructure projects—particularly in rail transport, port infrastructure, gas pipelines, and other areas of shared interest.
Regarding the Royal Atlantic Initiative launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to facilitate access of Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, the Panamanian Minister noted that the evolution of trade between Morocco and these countries would also benefit Panama, which has a strategic canal capable of serving as a transit and distribution hub for goods.
In this context, he noted that the Royal Initiative would also benefit many exporters using the Panama Canal, stressing that his country, a key player in logistics both in the Caribbean and the Pacific regions, has 180 maritime routes and access to approximately 1,900 ports.
In addition, Vásquez stated that Panama plans to strengthen the canal’s logistics infrastructure through the construction of two new ports—an initiative that will reinforce maritime routes, open new markets, and offer opportunities for new exporters and importers in line with the growing dynamism of relations between Morocco and Panama.
MAP: 18 June 2025
