Morocco Pushes Structural Reforms at 4th UN Development Finance Conference
Representing King Mohammed VI at the international gathering, Akhannouch spoke about North African country's commitment to inclusive and sustainable development.
'The reforms undertaken in priority areas such as social protection, mandatory health insurance, housing, education and health reflect the kingdom's strong determination to improve citizens' living conditions,' Akhannouch stated during his intervention on Monday.
The prime minister noted that recent efforts have led to a substantial expansion of the tax base and more effective measures against tax evasion. However, he acknowledged that despite these resources, financing these ambitious structural projects requires additional means.
Akhannouch stressed the importance of 'engaging in constructive dialogue between traditional financial institutions and new generations of economic and social actors' to better respond to citizens' legitimate aspirations.
The Moroccan delegation to the conference includes Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Morocco's Permanent Representative to the UN Omar Hilale, and the country's Ambassador to Spain Karima Benyaich.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the conference with an urgent call to 'restart the global development engine' through accelerated investments. He flagged that two-thirds of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set under the 2030 Agenda are currently behind schedule.
'We are evolving in a world where trust is crumbling, where multilateralism is being severely tested. A world marked by economic slowdown, growing trade tensions, and a dramatic drop in international aid budgets,' Guterres said, describing the current situation as 'not simply a crisis of numbers, but a human crisis.'
Guterres urged states to mobilize more domestic resources and prioritize investments in high-impact areas such as education, health, and renewable energy.
Prior to the conference, Akhannouch attended a dinner hosted by Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia in honor of participating heads of state and government on Sunday.
Running until July 3, FFD4 aims to address the estimated $4 trillion annual deficit facing developing countries in achieving the SDGs. This figure represents $1.5 trillion more than a decade ago.
The event has drawn more than 15,000 attendees, including close to 60 heads of state and government, alongside representatives from international financial institutions and civil society.
The Seville summit culminated in the adoption of the 'Seville Commitment' or 'Compromiso de Seville,' an intergovernmentally negotiated outcome document that lays the foundation for a renewed global framework for financing development.
The declaration advocates for better representation of Southern countries in global financial bodies, a tripling of development banks' lending capacities, and increased cooperation against tax evasion.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez asserted that 'it is time to take a step forward and not only reaffirm our commitment but redouble it. We must improve debt sustainability, ensure fiscal justice, and fulfill our commitments to international cooperation.'
The conference builds on the momentum of the Pact for the Future, adopted by world leaders in September 2024, where countries agreed to boost investment in the SDGs, address growing debt burdens, and accelerate reforms to the global financial architecture.
As a middle-income country, Morocco aims to contribute to defining new financing approaches at the global level that can guarantee equitable and sustainable growth. Tags: Aziz AkhannouchStructural reforms
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