Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Ambassador of The Gambia to Switzerland, emphasizes the crucial importance of regional integration in revitalizing the Atlantic economy. He highlights the need for the free movement of people, goods, and services, as well as the strategic use of data and technology.
Regional integration is essential to rejuvenating the Atlantic economy and ensuring prosperity, particularly in Africa. According to Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Ambassador of The Gambia to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, WTO, and other international organizations, "It is critical to give tangible meaning to the implementation of protocols and agreements on the free movement of people, goods, and services within our region."
Kah also underscores the importance of strengthening interregional trade: “Interregional trade is not limited to African countries but also involves other member states within the Atlantic, including Latin America. This is critically important. If we want to boost trade and revitalize the economy, we must truly and meaningfully integrate our economies. This is the only recipe for effective collaboration and shared benefits across our region.”
Effective Regional Integration: Key Considerations
The ambassador highlights that regional integration must address issues of identity and consensus on information sharing. He stresses the importance of uniformity and collective agreement in sharing data to foster cooperation. He also considers the strategic use of technology, particularly data, as vital for regional integration:
“Data and emerging technologies are crucial for accelerating, solidifying, and reaping the benefits of regional integration. Today, when we discuss regional integration, the centrality of data, digital infrastructure, and data infrastructure is essential to ensuring that supply and value chains within the regions are efficient, secure, affordable, and accessible to all markets.”
Morocco’s Role in Atlantic Integration
Kah acknowledges Morocco’s pivotal leadership in fostering Atlantic cooperation. “Morocco plays a central leadership role within the framework of the ‘Atlantic Dialogues,’ an intellectual and constructive dialogue platform where all Atlantic voices come together annually to share visions and values, and to strengthen proximity and collaboration. Morocco is crucial in ensuring that the Atlantic remains relevant in global dynamics. We commend the vision and leadership of His Majesty, as well as the central role of the Policy Center in producing intellectual resources and knowledge critical to every country. Morocco is essential to ensuring that the Atlantic remains a driving force in global development.”
Accelerating Regional Collaboration
Morocco and other Atlantic countries must meaningfully and significantly integrate their economies to collaborate effectively. The ambassador emphasizes the importance of digital infrastructure and the centrality of data to ensure the efficiency of supply and value chains in the region. He states, “Regional integration can be strengthened by our ability to truly leverage technology, particularly data. From a regional integration perspective, data and emerging technologies are very important for accelerating, solidifying, and maximizing the benefits of integration.”
