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ADu ReVIeW

The calm before agreement with the US – one of 55 overall
– Morocco’s geographical location appears
to have driven its “economic destiny”, ac-
cording to Australian High Commissioner to
election storm Morocco, Berenice Owen-Jones.
“Morocco has undergone an incredible
transformation over the last decade to sup-
port its ambitions to be an economic regional
ith four countries on his patch headed all four. For Australian interests out of all of hub between Europe and Africa,” she said.
Wfor the polls over the next 15 months, that, I think that it probably is a good thing for “It’s important to note that in the rather
Andrew Barnes will be one of the busiest dip- continuity and for relationships that we don’t turbulent world of North African politics, the
lomats in West Africa. see significant change politically in the land- Kingdom of Morocco builds itself as a haven
Elections are scheduled to be held in Gha- scape across those countries.” of stability…it’s now one of the most devel-
na, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea Election season is always a challenging oped countries in Africa, with vast liberalising
next year and Barnes – Australia’s High time for foreign companies to undertake and a diversified economy and it now has
Commissioner to Ghana – will be watching business in African countries and many will the fifth largest GDP in Africa.
on with great interest. actually set aside plans until after the results “Morocco has also made the most of its
Barnes – who also has diplomatic accredi- are confirmed. strategic location to create the largest port in
tation in Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Street riots and protests can accompany Africa and the Mediterranean – Tanger Med
Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone – expects elections in different parts of the continent, port – a very large transhipment port with an
the incumbent governments to be returned often leading to the perception that Africa in industrial zone around it. The other thing Mo-
in each of the four countries with upcoming general is unstable and not a place for out- rocco is making the most of is its proximity
elections and believes that will have posi- siders. to 500 million consumers in the EU, which
tive implications for Australians operating in Canberra-based High Commissioner for represents an invaluable boon to investors.”
West Africa. Ghana, Edwin Nii Adjei, said it was impor- Recently appointed Australian High Com-
“I’m fairly positive about the implications tant for all Australian companies operating in missioner to Nigeria, Claire Ireland, barely
for the economic, political and security sta- Africa to actively promote their positive expe- had time to settle into her new role before
bility with those elections, I don’t think there riences on the continent. joining other Australia-Africa diplomats on
is any cause for alarm in any of those coun- “Australian companies who are already stage at Africa Down Under.
tries,” Barnes said. engaged in Africa, we try to encourage them Ireland, who has spent more than a dec-
“There will be some implications, I think to share their positive stories here back ade working in Africa, is keen to play a role
on the economic front perhaps, there will be home with others to also strengthen their re- in what she believes is as an emerging eco-
a loosening of the purse strings by some of solve to want to take that step into coming to nomic partnership between Australia and
the countries, some of the governments, and Africa,” he said. Nigeria.
they will tend to spend a bit more. That will, of “We also continue to promote more peo- “That relationship…it’s very much moved
course, in the short term give a bit of a stimu- ple to be advocates to encouraging tourism and matured from what was once in the past
lus to the economies, but in the longer term it into Africa and so on.” an aid relationship to an economic partner-
might undermine their fiscal stability. Morocco is one country which has ship between the two countries and I think
“On the political front, I think we’re not go- emerged as a gateway for foreign invest- that’s very impressive and exciting to be part
ing to see major changes in those countries, ment into Africa, particularly from Europe. of,” she said.
I think the incumbents will be returned in The only African nation with a free trade “Australia is very committed to
that relationship and to the part-
nership, in particular. We’ve just
purchased a piece of land and
we’re building a new High Com-
mission and that very much dem-
onstrates that we’re there for the
long term. I think it sends a very
positive message that we’re here
to stay, it’s an economic partner-
ship and it’s one that is really
growing.”

– Michael Washbourne

Emphasising the importance
of Australia-Africa relations:
Australian High Commissioner
to Ghana HE Andrew Barnes,
Australian High Commissioner to
Morocco HE Berenice Owen-Jones
and Australian High Commissioner
to Nigeria HE Claire Ireland

Page 76 OCTOBeR 2019 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT