President Clavijo leads a Canary mission to Morocco this week

Canary Islands and Morocco’s Souss‑Massa region will sign five agreements on business, trade, innovation, universities and sport on Monday.

Mission Overview

The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, will begin a two‑day official visit to Morocco on Monday, heading a large delegation of institutional, business and scientific representatives. The aim is to deepen cooperation with the Souss‑Massa region, advancing a shared agenda built on good neighbourliness, economic development and knowledge exchange.

The trip is part of the Canary Islands‑Africa Strategy and follows months of contact between the Canary Islands government and Moroccan regional authorities, seeking to turn discussions into concrete collaborative projects in strategic fields for both territories.

During the visit, Clavijo will push the signing of:

• A memorandum of understanding between the Canary Islands government and the Souss‑Massa region.
• Four cooperation agreements to tighten economic, commercial, academic and social ties:
  • An accord between the two business confederations.
  • An agreement between the chambers of commerce.
  • A partnership on innovation and universities.
  • A cooperation pact in the field of sport.

“This mission allows us to advance in an orderly way and with concrete results in a strategic relationship for the Canary Islands, based on economic cooperation, knowledge exchange and proximity between neighboring territories,” Octavio Caraballo, vice‑minister of the Presidency, said.

Official Agenda

• Sunday – Preliminary meeting of the president with the entire Canary delegation in Morocco.
• Monday –
  • Official reception by the Wali of Souss‑Massa, Saaïd Amzazi, and the President of the Regional Council, Karim Achengli.
  • Presence of Spanish Ambassador to Morocco, Enrique Ojeda Vila.
  • Presentation of the Moroccan region’s economic opportunities and the Canary Islands’ strengths.
  • Signing of the five cooperation agreements and exchange of institutional gifts.
  • Visit to sports facilities linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup preparations and signing of a sports memorandum of understanding.
• Tuesday –
  • Visit to the Port of Agadir to explore joint maritime and port projects, a sector of mutual interest.

“The agenda designed with the Souss‑Massa region reflects a practical vision of the Canary Islands‑Africa Strategy, focused on real projects in areas such as innovation, university, tourism, sport or the business sector,” highlighted Luis Padilla, Director General of Relations with Africa.

Parallel Sectoral Agendas

Universities, Science & Innovation

• Led by Councillor Migdalia Machín, with participation from the rectors of the two public Canary universities.
• Monday: meeting with officials from University Ibn Zohr (details to be confirmed).
• Tuesday (27 January): visit to the Souss‑Massa Innovation City, accompanied by David Pérez‑Dionis, Director General of Coordination and Strategic Projects, and Guayarmina Peña, CEO of the Canary Islands Technological Institute (ITC), alongside consultants and startup leaders.

Sports

• Apart from the bilateral cooperation agreement, a Monday‑afternoon tour of the 2030 World Cup venues will take place.

Tourism, Maritime & Port, Commerce & Industry

• Additional meetings and site visits will focus on tourism, maritime and port activities, chambers of commerce, and industrial zones in Agadir, including business round‑tables and tours of innovation clusters.

This transversal approach aims to uncover cooperation opportunities, boost the internationalisation of Canary companies, and forge lasting alliances in innovation, training, sustainable tourism, blue economy and industrial development.

Mission Delegation

• Beatriz Calzada – President, Port Authority of Las Palmas
• Pedro Suárez – President, Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Pedro Ortega – President, Canary Confederation of Entrepreneurs (CCE)
• Virgilio Correa – President, Canary Industrial Association (ASINCA)
• Elvira Butler – Proexca delegate in Morocco
• Sergio Batista – President, CD Tenerife Women’s Club (sports)
• Juan José Arencibia – President, Inter‑Islands Football Federation of Las Palmas (sports)
• Alejandro Morales – President, Canary and Tenerife Football Federation (sports)

Conclusion

The institutional mission to Morocco consolidates a line of work grounded in dialogue, collaboration and the building of stable alliances by the government led by Fernando Clavijo with neighbouring territories. In an international context where cooperation and shared development are pivotal, the mission seeks to lay the groundwork for a prosperous future for the Canary Islands.