Pourvoir d'Afrique met with the president of the National Council of Malian Employers (CNPM) on the sidelines of FIAD24, where he participated with a large delegation from his country. Mossadeck Bally is optimistic about the future of Moroccan-Malian relations and Mali's economic prospects.
What is the significance of CNPM's participation in FIAD 2024?
Mossadeck Bally : FIAD is of paramount importance to us. It is in such forums that we can discuss a country's economic potential, like Mali, for example. I am very pleased to see a strong Malian delegation, including representatives from the Malian state, government officials, heads of public services, agency leaders, as well as executives and clients of the International Bank for Mali (BIM). Today, this forum brings together more than 40 countries and attracts over 22,000 participants. It is a unique opportunity for networking, showcasing the economic potential of one's country, creating relationships, and perhaps establishing joint ventures with investors from various continents.
What specific economic opportunities do you hope to explore or see realized through your participation?
Mali is an untapped agricultural power. We have 43 million hectares of arable land, vast underground and surface water resources, abundant sunshine, and a young population. Agricultural development is crucial for our country, and we really want to develop this key sector. Morocco has excellent experience in agricultural development, having successfully become one of the largest exporters of fruits and vegetables to Europe. In Mali, we benefit from Moroccan agronomic expertise and wish to collaborate with Moroccan entrepreneurs to develop this sector.
Additionally, the tourism and hospitality sector is also a priority. Morocco is one of the leaders in Africa in this field, having developed notable expertise with institutions like SMIT. We would like to develop the foundations of hospitality and tourism, as well as the planning of tourist areas. We also have the support of key stakeholders.
What are the prospects for strengthening bilateral economic relations with Morocco?
We have excellent economic cooperation with Morocco, which deserves to be strengthened, especially in the field of education. We hope that Morocco will offer more scholarships to young Malians to study in Morocco. We also hope that Royal Air Maroc will establish two or three flights per day between Casablanca and Bamako and even develop domestic routes within Mali, which would open up even more opportunities. We would also like Morocco to take an interest in our subsoil, as the country has proven expertise in this area. We already collaborate extensively in the fertilizer sector, and there are many areas where Morocco and Mali can enhance their cooperation.
How do you plan to concretize this strengthening of economic relations between Morocco and Mali?
As the president of CNPM, I had a very constructive meeting this morning with the president of CGEM and his team. Discussions will continue in the coming days with the aim of signing a memorandum of understanding between the Moroccan employers' federation and CNPM to strengthen the excellent economic relations between Morocco and Mali. As you know, many large Moroccan companies are already established in Mali, including a Moroccan cement manufacturer. We truly intend to develop joint ventures with other Moroccan companies through this agreement, thereby strengthening the solid partnerships between companies from both countries.
What role do you believe the AfCFTA will play in promoting South-South cooperation?
The AfCFTA is crucial and extremely important. If we manage to implement it successfully, this project will transform Africa, currently made up of 54 distinct countries, into a single market comprising 1.5 billion consumers, and potentially more than 2 billion in the future. The abolition of customs, air, and land borders will greatly facilitate trade between African nations, stimulate economic growth, and significantly strengthen South-South cooperation. It will also diversify national economies by encouraging the specialization and integration of value chains across the continent, thus fostering greater economic resilience to external shocks and increased industrialization of key sectors.
