Morocco has been elected to the presidency of the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) for the period 2021-2024, announced the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Administrative Reform and the Group of World Bank.
“As part of the governance reform of the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) now providing for a rotating presidency among the member countries of the Center, the Kingdom of Morocco has since July 1, 2021 assumed the presidency of this strategic center for collaboration between the countries of the Mediterranean rim. The mandate of this presidency will cover the period from 2021 to 2024 “, indicate the ministry and the World Bank in a joint press release.
The Kingdom thus becomes the first country to chair this regional center, taking over from the World Bank Group which has so far piloted the activities of the CMI, the same source said.
“Since its creation in 2009, the CMI has been a real engine of knowledge sharing, north-south and south-south exchanges and thematic collaboration between the two shores of the Mediterranean”said Ferid Belhaj, World Bank Vice President for the Middle East North Africa region, quoted in the statement.
“We are delighted with the designation of the Kingdom of Morocco as president of this center, thus allowing a reinforced appropriation of the Center by its members, in particular the countries of the south of the Mediterranean”, said Ferid Belhaj.
The CMI is a space for exchange on good practices, public policies and solutions to meet the development challenges of the Mediterranean region. The Center also facilitates the implementation of regional projects responding to the new challenges of inclusive, green and resilient development in the region.
The Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) is a platform bringing together development agencies, States, local authorities and civil society from all around the Mediterranean with the aim of exchanging knowledge, discussing public policies and identify solutions to the challenges facing the region.
The members of the CMI are the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, the European External Action Service (role observer), the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, the City of Marseille, the European Investment Bank and the World Bank.
From July 2021, CMI officially joined the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) under a hosting agreement for operational and service support, and will host UN Habitat among his members.
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