Morocco in the Spotlight at the 9th Africa Day in Vienna

Vienna – Morocco was the guest of honor at the 9th edition of Africa Day, held until October 22nd in Vienna, under the theme “Africa Means Business.”

This event, attended by, among others, the Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to Vienna, Azzeddine Farhane, brought together approximately 700 participants from government, diplomatic, economic, and academic circles, from Austria and several African countries.

This event provided a valuable platform for discussions on business opportunities, African economic integration, and the development of sustainable partnerships between Austria and the African continent.

This edition, which holds particular significance in the context of strengthening economic relations between Austria and Africa, featured Mia Lahlou-Filali, head of the Moroccan pharmaceutical company Pharma 5, as the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony.

This initiative follows the adoption, in June 2026, by the Austrian Council of Ministers of Austria’s first Africa Strategy, which outlines the main directions of Austrian cooperation with the continent in the areas of economic relations, security, migration, education, and culture.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Meinl-Reisinger reiterated that strengthening relations with Africa is a priority of Austrian foreign policy, as outlined in Austria’s first Africa Strategy, adopted in June 2026. She encouraged Austrian companies to seize the opportunities offered by African markets, prioritizing partnerships based on trust, mutual respect, shared value creation, and sustainability.

For his part, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA called on international partners, including Austria and the European Union, to support this process through investments, technology transfers, and industrial partnerships aligned with African priorities.

In her address, Ms. Lahlou-Filali emphasized industrial sovereignty, which she described as requiring control of value; human capital as a driver of transformation; innovation as an extension of production; and the Kingdom’s position as a platform for Europe-Africa cooperation and co-investment as the foundation of a renewed partnership.

Moroccan participation was further enhanced by a booth set up by the embassy, ​​showcasing Moroccan art and traditions, particularly the tea ceremony, which offered participants a convivial moment and an opportunity to discover the Kingdom’s culinary heritage.

This cultural segment complemented the presentation of Moroccan industrial expertise, associating the image of an innovative Morocco with that of a country committed to its heritage and open to dialogue and exchange.