Morocco becomes first Arab and African country to get SEAMEO associate member status
Morocco was granted the status of an associate member of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) during the 51st council conference, held on Thursday via videoconference.
Morocco's ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, Abdelilah El Housni, took part in the conference.
Morocco is the first Arab and African country to obtain this status, reinforcing its position as a key partner in the region for the countries of Southeast Asia, Morocco's embassy in Bangkok said in a statement.
This status, which confirms the strategic position of Morocco as a crossroads of cultures between the East, Africa and Europe, shows the trust placed in the Moroccan education system, the statement noted.
The embassy said it was an acknowledgement of King Mohammed VI's role in promoting the education sector and a recognition of the actions undertaken by the Kingdom to build a modern Morocco.
The status supports the strategic guidelines of the Morocco's New Development Model, particularly in the section devoted to positioning the country as a regional hub for higher education, research, and innovation.
It gives privileged access to Morocco for the promotion of cooperation with all countries of the Southeast Asian region in the fields of education, scientific research, and culture and paves the way for active participation in the programmes and projects of SEAMEO, the statement said.
