Assahafa.com
The Embassy of Morocco in Switzerland took part in the Africa Day celebration held this week in Bern, an event highlighting the diversity and unity of the African continent while showcasing the richness of Morocco’s cultural heritage.
Organized at a luxury hotel in the Swiss capital in collaboration with African embassies accredited to the Swiss Confederation, the event provided an opportunity to pay tribute to the Kingdom’s African identity and promote continental unity.
The gathering brought together representatives of the Swiss federal authorities, including Ambassador Philipp Stalder, Head of the Sub-Saharan Africa and Francophonie Division at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), along with African ambassadors accredited in Bern, among them Morocco’s ambassador, Lahcen Azoulay.
The celebration also provided an opportunity to highlight the initiatives launched by Morocco, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, in support of African countries.
The event also served as a platform to showcase the richness of Moroccan culture through two stands set up by the Kingdom’s embassy, featuring handicraft products illustrating the Moroccan art of living.
Moroccan cuisine stole the spotlight during the event, with iconic dishes from the country’s gastronomy, along with the traditional tea ceremony.
The Moroccan stands were also enlivened by Moroccan music and promotional videos highlighting Morocco as a tourist destination.
Speaking on the occasion, Stadler called for a renewed perspective on Africa, stressing that the continent should not be viewed solely through the lens of crises but also as a land of opportunity, dynamism, and ambition.
He underscored the energy, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that characterize many African nations, as well as the continent’s growing influence in global political, economic, and demographic transformations.
For his part, Cameroon’s ambassador to Switzerland, Léonard Henri Bindzi, dean of the African diplomatic corps accredited in Bern, described Africa as “the continent of the future,” citing its market of 1.2 billion people, abundant natural resources, and dynamic youth population.
He called on African countries and their partners to translate these assets into tangible achievements through the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aimed at boosting intra-African trade and generating substantial economic benefits.
Bindzi also encouraged Swiss investors to seize the economic opportunities offered by Africa and advocated for stronger bilateral and academic exchanges, while emphasizing the role of the African diaspora in Switzerland as a bridge between the two regions.
Source: map
