The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Morocco have agreed to deepen their partnership and accelerate its implementation, with a particular focus on translating existing frameworks into concrete, results-oriented cooperation.
The agreement was reached Monday during a ceremony at the ASEAN headquarters in Jakarta, where Morocco’s new ambassador to the regional grouping, Redouane Houssaini, presented his credentials.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn welcomed the positive momentum in relations with Morocco and praised King Mohammed VI’s commitment to strengthening the Kingdom’s ties with Southeast Asia.
Kao said ASEAN was ready to work with Morocco to deepen their Sectoral Dialogue Partnership and unlock its full potential, while stressing the importance of advancing the ASEAN-Morocco Practical Cooperation Areas for 2024-2028.
He also called for greater Moroccan engagement with ASEAN’s sectoral bodies, stressing that the institutional framework already established between the two sides should now be translated into concrete initiatives delivering tangible benefits.
Houssaini, for his part, reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment, in line with the directives of King Mohammed VI, to giving fresh momentum to relations with ASEAN and developing a more results-oriented partnership.
The Moroccan ambassador identified trade and investment, food security, sustainable agriculture, fertilisers, renewable energy, connectivity, the digital economy, tourism and people-to-people exchanges as areas with significant potential for expanded cooperation.
Houssaini also highlighted Morocco’s potential role as a bridge between Southeast Asia and Africa, pointing to the Kingdom’s strategic location, infrastructure and longstanding ties with the African continent.
He said this position creates opportunities for triangular ASEAN-Morocco-Africa cooperation, particularly in trade, investment and development.
The discussions also highlighted shared principles between the two sides, including dialogue, moderation, respect for state sovereignty and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
The meeting marked another step in the institutional development of Morocco-ASEAN relations. Morocco acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2016 and became a Sectoral Dialogue Partner in September 2023, making it the first North African country to obtain the status.
The two sides subsequently adopted the ASEAN-Morocco Practical Cooperation Areas for 2024-2028, providing a framework for collaboration across multiple sectors.
The focus is now shifting from building the institutional architecture of the partnership to delivering concrete outcomes, with increased trade and investment and stronger links between Southeast Asia, Morocco and Africa emerging as key areas of opportunity.
Founded in 1967, ASEAN now comprises 11 member states, following Timor-Leste’s admission as its 11th member at the 47th ASEAN Summit in October 2025.
The bloc represents a market of more than 680 million people and has become one of the world’s major economic centres.
The deepening partnership comes as Morocco expands its diplomatic and economic engagement across Southeast Asia. Seven ASEAN member states currently maintain diplomatic missions in Morocco, providing an additional platform for stronger political, commercial and people-to-people ties.
