VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

In celebrating Indonesia and Morocco’s 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Moroccan Embassy in Indonesia held a webinar on Smart-Cities Projects and Digital Partnership in COVID-19 Era, on Thursday.

The video conference webinar was attended by Bagus H.K., director for middle east affairs in the foreign ministry, Indonesia's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco Hasrul Azwar, Morocco's Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia Quadia Benabdellah, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, President of Regional Council of Souss-Massa Brahim Hafidi, Jakarta Deputy Governor Suharti, and President of Urban Council of Casablanca Abdelaziz El Omari, and Vice President of Regional Council of Souss Massa Abdeljebar Qastalani.

"This event is an important momentum also evidence of the strong relationships between Indonesia and Morocco to strengthen ties and cooperation in a very dynamic world situation, including during the pandemic of COVID-19,” Bagus said in his opening remarks.

The webinar is intended as a forum to share perspectives of enhancing digital partnerships and smart city projects. It also celebrates the Indonesia and Morocco relationship that has been going really well and stable for the past 60 years.

"Hopefully, through this webinar, the cooperation between Indonesia and Morocco can increase trade and investment and agriculture to build the Smart City Project. Also in handling the COVID-19 pandemic and acceleration of economic recovery,” he continued.

Ambassador of Morocco Quadia Benabdellah said that the webinar is strengthening the relations between two great and brotherly nations, which is far in location but close by heart.

"COVID-19 stops everything in the world, but it cannot stop our mutual vision, it cannot stop the commitment to work closer together," Benabdellah said.

The webinar focuses on economic, IT, and social issues that are a concern for modern cities today. It also emphasizes the city sisterhood between West Java and Souss-Massa.

West Java has been innovating in smart city projects and gained international attention. West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said that his party will exchange knowledge with Morocco’s Souss-Massa.

“We have created ‘Digital Village’ in rural areas, which enhances the area digitally from infrastructures to productivity. We can share this with Souss Massa and vice versa," Ridwan said.

The major focus areas for digital partnerships offered for Souss Massa include Rural Development, Digital Province, Vocational Education, Disaster Management, and Tourism Province.

Vice-President of Regional Council of Souss Massa Abdeljebar Qastalani said that his party has organized a working visit to West Java to enforce an agreement that creates opportunities for economic cooperation and trade exchange between the two cities.

“I hope that we can capitalize on this topic to optimize the Sister Cities Agreement between Jakarta and Casablanca, and the Sister Provinces between West Java and Souss Massa provinces,” Qastalani said.

Ambassador Benabdellah said that the partnership between West Java and Souss Massa is in line with the aim of the King of Morocco Muhammad VI to link the two cities for the prosperities of people and sustainable development. (VOI)