SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Jan. 11 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Government of the Canary Islands has marked the reopening of the maritime line between the archipelago and Tarfaya as a “priority”.
This was confirmed this Thursday by the Minister of Public Works, Housing and Mobility of the Government of the Canary Islands, Pablo Rodríguez, after the working meeting he held with the secretary general of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics of Morocco, Khalid Cherkaoui.
After the meeting, in which the president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, intervened, the counselor underlined the “interest” of the Canary Islands in supporting this line that has already operated in the past because “it is a vehicle to strengthen cooperation relations with Morocco.”
Rodríguez recognized that this line “is an opportunity for the Canary Islands since it will allow us to strengthen the commercial and economic relationship with Morocco and other countries in the region and respond to a historic demand.”
Likewise, he stressed the interest of the Moroccan authorities in launching this line, which translates into an improvement in port infrastructure.
However, he pointed out that the work being carried out to open this line also depends on the General Administration of the State and the Fuerteventura Cabildo providing the necessary resources to launch this line, which he detailed is not only about infrastructure, but also personnel, customs control, among others, includes a note from the Executive.
“We are talking about a line that will allow the transport of goods and passengers; in short, we are talking about a great connectivity opportunity for the Canary Islands and for Morocco,” he noted.
For his part, the secretary general of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics of Morocco, Khalid Cherkaoui, stressed that this line “will enhance economic, social and cultural relations between Morocco and the Canary Islands and will increase opportunities between both territories.”
Likewise, he confirmed that the Moroccan Government has invested in port logistics infrastructure, as well as roads to consolidate these economic and commercial ties.
The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Government of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, was also attended by the general director of Relations with Africa, Luis Padilla, the president of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, Lola García, and the consul general of the Kingdom of Morocco in the Canary Islands. , Fatiha El Kamouri, as well as a business delegation together with the Fuerteventura Chamber of Commerce, the director of the Moroccan Merchant Marine, El Najib Karkouri, the head of the Maritime Transport division, Anes El Oulalia, the director of regulation of Activities and Operations of the National Ports Agency of Morocco, Mustapha Lhamouz, the commander of the Port of Laâyoune, El-Mostafa Moukka, the maritime captain of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Antonio Conde, the delegate of Proexca in Morocco, Elvira Butler, the president of the Fuerteventura Chamber of Commerce, Juan Jesús Rodríguez, and Blas Trujillo, representing the Consortium led by the Newport Group.
SECOND WORK DAY IN FUERTEVENTURA
The work agenda began early this Thursday with a visit to Puerto de la Luz and Las Palmas where the Moroccan delegation was received by the president of the Port Authority, Beatriz Calzada.
Subsequently, they visited the port area and the facilities of Hamilton y Cia.
The agenda will continue this Friday with a visit to the port facilities of Puerto del Rosario and a working meeting with the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, the Chamber of Commerce and other public and private actors involved in the project.