Development cooperation
A group of people posing in front of the photographer.
Visit to the "J'entreprends@Rabat" project implemented by Groupe One and its Moroccan partner, the Perform Up cooperative.

Brussels mission in Morocco

A packed programme with many meetings made it possible to highlight Brussel’s many assets and talents during an economic and political mission to Morocco by the Brussels-Capital Region (BCR) in February, earlier this year.

In particular, the Minister-President and the State Secretary for International Relations had the pleasure of speaking to the President of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Regional Council, Rachid El Abdi, about the projects developed in the frame of the cooperation agreement between our two regions and aimed at responding to the societal and urban challenges we are currently facing. They also had very productive meetings with the Wali of Rabat and the Mayor of Rabat.

Numerous ladies sitting in groups of four at desks.
Visit to Groupe One’s “J’entreprends@Rabat” project, aimed at stimulating and strengthening the careers of Moroccan women entrepreneurs with a view to emancipation, innovation and sustainability.
  
Three ladies sitting at a desk in front of a screen.
Visit to Echos Communication’s “Karamati” Project. Beneficiaries from vulnerable backgrounds are trained to become gardeners and domestic helpers, while learning their rights to decent work.

This mission provided an opportunity to visit the projects supported by the BCR in the frame of the call for projects “South”, such as the Groupe One’s programme to stimulate and encourage women to become sustainable entrepreneurs, or the “Karamati” project of the NGO Echos Communication, which aims to strengthen public policies for the socio-economic inclusion of women and young people.

The Sidi Boughaba Park has been renamed “Sonian Forest”, in collaboration with 11.11.11 and the Moroccan civil society, so as to draw attention to the need for international collaboration to tackle the climate crisis.

A sign in front of a forest welcomes visitors to the Sonian Forest.
The Sidi Boughaba Park, rebaptised “Sonian Forest”.

To boost the intercultural exchanges, Brussels International supported the organisation of a basketball tournament in Rabat, in which around 200 sportsmen and sportswomen took part, featuring fifteen Brussels youngsters.

Lastly, Brussels International and the Minister-President went to meet young people during a visit to the Collectif Autisme Maroc. This is a place where those who wish so can be welcomed, share their thoughts and be listened to in a pleasant, familiar setting, like the future Brussels Autism House aims to be.