ORU Fogar Recognizes the Leadership of Ecuadorian Provinces in Advancing Regionalism in Latin America

During his visit to Ecuador, the President of the Organization of United Regions (ORU Fogar) encouraged Ecuador's provinces to take on a leading role in promoting regionalism across Latin America. Rachid El Abdi, accompanied by Secretary General Carles Llorens, held a meeting at the headquarters of the Consortium of Provincial Autonomous Governments of Ecuador (CONGOPE) with its Executive Director, María Fernanda Durán, and Councillor Guillermo Salazar. The meeting, held a few days before the Tourism and Regional Economic Development Forum hosted by the Province of Azuay, was described as highly productive by both delegations.

President Rachid El Abdi, who travelled to Ecuador to chair ORU Fogar's Executive Bureau and General Assembly in Cuenca, Azuay, made an explicit call for CONGOPE to assume a leadership role in advancing regionalism throughout Latin America. According to the President, CONGOPE and Ecuador's provinces, which have been members of ORU Fogar since its foundation, not only have a long tradition of international engagement but also possess the capacity and resources to exercise such leadership. This proposal forms part of the roadmap presented by President El Abdi, which seeks to strengthen the Executive Bureau's political dimension by calling for the active and personal commitment of regional leaders in order to establish ORU Fogar as a leading voice on the international stage.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the shared commitment to building a framework for technical and economic cooperation between the regions of Ecuador and Morocco, with the aim of promoting a model of South-South cooperation within ORU Fogar. President El Abdi and the representatives of CONGOPE explored high-impact areas for collaboration, including integrated water resource management and the promotion of key agri-food industries, with particular emphasis on the tuna and shrimp sectors.

As a first step towards formalizing this partnership, the participants proposed establishing a framework agreement between the Association of Regions of Morocco (ARM) and CONGOPE. President Rachid El Abdi expressed his commitment to personally convey this proposal to Ms. Mbarka Bouaida, President of the ARM, with a view to formally launching this institutional partnership and subsequently facilitating concrete cooperation agreements between specific regions of both countries.

The meeting also focused on the next edition of the Salon International de l'Agriculture au Maroc (SIAM), Africa's largest agricultural trade fair, which will take place in April 2027. The participants highlighted the importance of ensuring the participation of a CONGOPE delegation, accompanied by representatives of Ecuador's agricultural industries, with the support and hospitality of the Regional Council of Fez-Meknès.

President Rachid El Abdi's visit to Ecuador reflects ORU Fogar's renewed commitment to strengthening the organization by fostering economic synergies and cooperation among its member regions.