Utah Moroccans celebrate King Mohammed VI’s 15-year Reign
King Mohammed VI, whose Alaouite family has ruled Morocco since 1666, will celebrate his 15-year reign on July 30, 2014. During King Mohammed VI’s reign, he has sponsored key initiatives that affect Utah, the USA, Morocco and other African nations.
King Mohammed VI and Utah: In 2003, Morocco and the Utah
National Guard established a State Partnership for Peace, with an annual
delegation to Morocco of Guard officers led by Major General Jeff Burton,
followed by a visit to Utah by Moroccan military officers. This program utilizes
the professional skills of Utah Guard members for training, medical support,
humanitarian service, and educational exchanges to address specific needs in
Morocco. I have helped coordinate
student and professor exchanges with Morocco, with great support from the U of
U, BYU, UVU, and USU. LDS Charities does humanitarian work in Morocco. In
addition, the Salt Lake City Rotary Club and Zahra Charity are establishing a Neuro-rehabilitation
care facility in Marrakesh.
King Mohammed VI and The United
States of America: In 2006, Morocco and the USA
increased their partnership when Morocco became the first country in the region
to have a US Free Trade Agreement.
U.S.-Morocco Business Development Conferences and U.S.-Morocco Strategic
Dialogues in Washington D.C and Morocco followed this agreement.
King
Mohammed VI and Morocco’s social stability: The King oversaw the reform of Morocco’s family law,
making it the most liberal family code in the region, opened free national and
local elections, created the Royal Institute of Berber Culture, and ensured that the
Berber language is taught, to increase national culture unity. While the rest of the region was experiencing Arab Spring
turmoil, Moroccans saw peaceful reforms supported by a new Constitution, which
included monitoring human rights, equality for women and freedom of
religion. Morocco’s Ambassador to the
USA Rachad Bouhlal recently noted that Morocco is stable because the King and government officials listen
to the people.
King Mohammed
VI and internal growth: In 2013,
Morocco’s Honorary Consuls in the USA learned more about the King’s plan to
build on Morocco’s strong ties with its neighbors to make Morocco the “Gateway
to Africa” for foreign investors. We also learned about Morocco’s successful
work to expand its technical structures, including
improved highway networks and telecommunications infrastructure, and the
Tanger-Med Port, one of the largest ports on the Mediterranean and in Africa.
King
Mohammed VI and other African Countries:
Morocco has signed
cooperation agreements with many African countries to help with everything from
agriculture to health care. Ambassador
Bouhlal recently noted the King has introduced programs for building apartments
for the poor which are supported by private investors.
I am happy to have served as an
Honorary Consul for Morocco since 2011 and represent Morocco, King Mohammed VI,
and Utah. I enjoy visiting Morocco and working with Moroccan Americans in Utah.
I appreciate the support for the Utah-Morocco special relationship from Gov.
Herbert, Lt. Gov. Cox, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development,
Ambassador Bouhlal, the Consul Corp of Utah, and King Mohammed VI.
Keith W. Martin PhD is Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of Morocco (2011 - Present) and a member of the U of U College of Education Advancement Board (2011 – Present). He is formerly the Director of International Sales for Martin Door Manufacturing, an Adjunct Professor of International Marketing (U of U and SLCC), and a member of the District Export Council. He was International Person of the Year for the World Trade Association (1996).
