Her Highness Princess Lalla Joumala
By Frederick Nnoma-Addison
Miami Dade College, Miami, Florida – Thursday April 4, 2019
Morocco’s ambassador to the United States Her Highness Princess Lalla Joumala reaffirmed her country’s commitment to strengthening business ties with American companies during the fifth U.S.–Morocco Trade & Investment Forum held in Miami, Florida.
“As His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States, I stand ready to fully accompany and support any endeavor that will help grow and deepen our blossoming relationship,” she said.
This year’s forum, jointly organized by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (U.S.–Africa Business Center), and Miami Dade College, highlighted Florida and Morocco as points of transatlantic connectivity linking Africa and the Americas. It was attended by a cross-section of government, business, and civic leaders from Morocco and the United States.
The forum also profiled opportunities in sectors such as tourism, shipping, air transport, energy, industry, and finance for American companies interested in doing business in Morocco. Royal Air Maroc, Miami International Airport, Enterprise Florida, Port Miami, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and Express Travel sponsored this year’s forum. The high-powered Moroccan delegation arrived at the Miami International Airport aboard Royal Air Maroc’s inaugural flight from Casablanca to Miami.
The U.S.–Morocco Trade Forum is an annual conference designed to advance the U.S.–Africa commercial relationship. Past events were held in key markets like Dallas, Atlanta, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. The annual gathering of business leaders, government officials, and stakeholders discusses the development of trade between the United States, Morocco, and the rest of the African continent.
During her keynote address, Her Highness Princess Joumala explained that the strategic positions of Morocco and Florida bring many advantages and challenges.
She said, “we are uniquely placed to understand each other and can gain a lot from wider exchanges from all sectors. This is why we chose Miami for this year’s edition of the U.S.–Morocco Trade and Investment forum to focus on trans-Atlantic connections.”
According to her, the traditions of warmth and hospitality, the values of openness, and the rich cultural diversity are just a few similarities that Morocco and Miami proudly share.
She said that claiming Morocco is the gateway to doing business in Africa is not just a slogan, “but a reality verified on the ground by the success stories of U.S. investors.”
Her Highness Princess Joumala later invited American companies to take advantage of Morocco’s business opportunities.
During the event, Honorable Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, of Miami-Dade County (picture insert) presented Her Highness with a key to the county.
“I am deeply honored and touched by this wonderful gesture which celebrates the growing relationship between Morocco and Miami Dade County. May this key open the door to a successful and far reaching partnership between us,” she responded.
Her keynote address was followed by sector-specific panel discussions led by key U.S. and Moroccan government and private sector officials. Members of the panels also shared about the growth and expansion of Morocco as a major player on the African economic stage where Moroccan companies have invested in all regions and across all sectors on the continent.
Morocco has a unique relationship with the United States dating back to 1787 when the U.S. Congress ratified a Peace and Friendship treaty with the kingdom. Currently, she is the only African country that has a Free Trade Agreement with the United States.
About Her Highness Princess Lalla Joumala
His Majesty King Mohammed VI appointed Her Highness Princess Lalla Joumala as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United States of America in October 2016. She presented her letters of credence to President Donald J. Trump at the White House on April 24, 2017. Prior to her appointment to Washington, she served as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2016.
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