On 20 June 2018, the Royal Thai Embassy in Rabat organized the ceremony to Award the Royal Decoration of Commander of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand by His Majesty the King of Thailand to Mr. Younes Laraqui, the Honorary Consul of Thailand in Casablanca, at the Residence of the Ambassador of Thailand. The ceremony was presided by H.E. Mr. Suphorn Pholmani, Ambassador of Thailand to Morocco; and in attendance to the ceremony were the Ambassador and Chargé d’Affairs of Embassies of ASEAN Countries in Rabat, high-ranking civil servants from the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, President and Executive Members of the Thai Students’ Association in Morocco, Moroccan private sector, members of Mr. Laraqui’s family, and diplomats from the Royal Thai Embassy.

           Mr. Younes Laraqui was born on 27 September 1961 in Rabat, Morocco (currently  56 years old). Mr. Laraqui is married with 2 daughters. Career-wise, Mr. Laraqui has been appointed Honorary Consul of Thailand in Casablanca in 2000 and is currently the CEO of SEPROM Company (building and public works) and a member of Beni-Mellal Provincial Council, and a member of Tadla-Azila Regional Council. Mr. Laraqui also held positions as a senator and mayor of Oulad Zemam, Beni-Melal. The various positions Mr. Laraqui has held has made him a well-known figure among the political and private circles. Mr. Laraqui also received a Royal Decoration of Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant in 2006

           The ceremony began with the Ambassador lighting the candles and incense sticks and bowing to the Thai flag. The Ambassador then bowed to the portrait of H.M. King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun of Thailand and invited Mr. Laraqui to the spot in front the portrait. A citation was  then read, after which Mr. Laraqui inclined his head as salutation to the portrait of H.M. the King and received the Royal Decoration and related documents which had been placed in front the portrait. At the end of the ceremony, the Ambassador congratulated Mr. Laraqui and took a group photo with other attendees. After the ceremony, there was a reception of Thai food (pad thai, fish croquettes, curry puffs, Thai crispy tartlets, fried bread with prawn and chicken, coconut jelly and tapioca pudding).

           The citation read during the ceremony recited the achievements of Mr. Laraqui that help to advance the interests of Thailand in Morocco, which have been carried out with diligence, enthusiasm and commitment. Recent achievements include: the preparation for the visit of HRH Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand to Morocco in April 2015, the preparation for the visit of HE General Surachet Chaiwongse, Deputy Minister of Education of Thailand, to Morocco in August 2017, and the preparation for the visit of the Thai agri-food trade mission to Morocco in July 2016. Mr. Laraqui also works to promote Tourism and Economic relations between Morocco and Thailand, with his chairmanship of the Morocco-Thailand Joint Business Council and the initiative to set up a bureau to promote Thai-Moroccan business relations. He is also highly regarded by many Thai expatriates who have resided in Morocco because of his warm and kind-heartedly assistance given to them.