Rabat – The 2021 Moroccan-Italian festival, which aims to strengthen bilateral relations between Morocco and Italy and further reinforce the presence of Moroccan culture in the European country, will be held from November 9 to 13 in Treviso, a city in northeastern Italy.

The event is organized by the festival’s foundation in partnership with the Ribat Al Fath Association, a Moroccan association specializing in integration programs for young people.

“The festival will be an opportunity to highlight the positive developments in Morocco, particularly following the September 8 elections which declared the democratic alternation in the Kingdom,” said the organizers in a press release.

“It will also help shed light on Morocco’s remarkable efforts, which are guided by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, notably with the new model of development and the economic and social growth taking place in the southern regions of Morocco,” they added.

The organizers have planned a conference on the role of the Kingdom of Morocco in the fight against extremism and the promotion of peace and tolerance, as well as a series of presentations and discussions on intercultural dialogue.

“The festival will be held virtually in Morocco, and in-person in Italy, in order to continue with the recommended precautions needed to stop the spread of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Abdallah Khazraji, president of the festival.

The Moroccan-Italian festival will be offering members of the Moroccan community a chance to reunite, particularly in a time of celebration marked by the anniversary of the Green March and the upcoming Moroccan Independence Day.

Following Italy’s decision to include Morocco in its list of “high-risk” COVID-19 destinations, Moroccans have taken matters into their hands by urging the Italian government to reconsider the travel ban.