Morocco Celebrates National Migrant Day, Recognizing Diaspora’s Role in Development

The National Migrant Day offers an opportunity for Moroccans living abroad to discuss their situation abroad and the ties they continue to maintain with their country of origin. Thus, during his intervention, the Secretary General of the CCME welcomed the initiative of King Mohammed VI aimed at facilitating the return to the country of Moroccans of the world at affordable prices. He described it as a historic and unique initiative in the world.

"We were at the CCME among the first institutions to welcome this royal initiative which expresses and embodies the high solicitude with which King Mohammed VI surrounds the members of the Moroccan community abroad." He points out that the words of gratitude and the feeling of pride expressed by Moroccans residing abroad through social networks and the national media are proof that the initiative will remain engraved in the hearts and memories.

Regarding the support provided by the CCME to Moroccans living abroad during the year 2020, especially with the health crisis, Abdellah Boussouf said that the CCME has remained in solidarity and attentive and has been able to develop proposals for solutions according to the difficulties identified. "In this context, social, administrative, economic and religious recommendations have been proposed by the Council," he affirms.

He also explained that through its digital platform Awacer TV, the Council offers a rich and diversified programming and daily debates with the participation of various actors of the Moroccan emigration in all fields. But the health crisis has had a considerable impact on a large part of the Moroccan community, especially those working in the sectors most affected by the effects of the crisis.

However, this did not prevent financial transfers from Moroccans living abroad: nearly 70 billion dirhams in 2020, according to the Office des Changes and more than 44 billion dirhams during the first 6 months of this year.

It is in this sense that the report of the Special Commission on the Development Model has highlighted how many times Moroccans of the world can contribute their know-how in order to participate in the development of the nation. "Moroccans residing abroad are bridges between Morocco and international markets. Their roles in the economic and cultural influence of Morocco are undisputed but underexploited," he said.

For the Secretary General, "the CCME has accumulated over the years considerable experience that allows it to be the link between the skills from the Moroccan immigration and the various institutions interested in their contribution, whether in the public or private sector".