Washington, DC (NAPSI) - Government officials and business leaders from nearly 50 African countries gathered in Washington, D.C. on August 4-6 for the first-ever U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.

The event not only signaled President Obama’s commitment to building a stronger relationship between the U.S. and Africa; it also demonstrated his belief that “Africa’s growth depends, first and foremost, on continued reforms in Africa by Africans,” as he stated.

A shining example in this regard is Morocco. Throughout the meetings, programs and events, the North African Kingdom demonstrated that it plays a key role in promoting economic development and stability among its neighbors on the continent.

Morocco has signed cooperation agreements with a number of African nations on everything from agriculture to security to telecom to energy. The Kingdom offers scholarships for African students to study in Moroccan universities; provides several African countries with training for religious leaders and teachers—both men and women—to promote moderate Islam; and will be offering security training as well.

The country’s strong presence in Africa was mirrored by the Moroccan delegation at the Summit, with Moroccan delegates attending more than 70 events that resulted in a number of public statements and signed agreements on counterterrorism, business, education and more. Among them, Morocco’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mbarka Bouaida signed a framework of cooperation with the U.S. to identify and support Moroccan security training experts and for the U.S. and Morocco to provide joint training for civilian counterterrorism forces throughout the region.

Another key development was a memorandum of understanding that Morocco signed with Wells Fargo bank and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation to expand lending to small and medium-size enterprises in Morocco through Attijariwafa Bank.

President Obama also announced that the next Global Entrepreneurship Summit will be held in Morocco. Now in its fifth year, the event is an extension of Mr. Obama’s emphasis on entrepreneurship as a pillar of U.S. global engagement and serves as a platform of exchange between global business leaders and entrepreneurs.

The Summit was an opportunity for African countries to showcase their diversity, strength and dynamism. It also demonstrated how Morocco, with its stability and robust economic growth at home and strong, established relationships throughout the continent, can work with the U.S. to build success and increase its engagement in one of the fastest- growing areas of the world.

This information is conveyed by Beckerman on behalf of the Government of Morocco. Further information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice.