French President Emmanuel Macron praised King Mohammed VI's «strong» and «clear» commitment to developing a blue economy in Africa during the opening of the «Africa for the Ocean» summit in Nice, which he co-chaired with Princess Lalla Hasnaa, representing the Moroccan monarch. Macron thanked Morocco for organizing the summit and for involving France in «this initiative focused on issues that are vital for the African continent — and for all of us». He highlighted Morocco's leadership in Africa, driven by the King, noting that the Kingdom's «ongoing efforts in ocean governance, the fight against plastic pollution, and the promotion of regional cooperation serve as a benchmark on the continent». The French president also praised the content of the message sent by King Mohammed VI to the summit's participants, which was read by Princess Lalla Hasnaa. The King's words, Macron said, were «both strong and clear regarding the strategy to pursue, a vision we fully share». He emphasized «His Majesty's Atlantic Initiative, aimed at giving landlocked African countries access to the ocean», as a reflection of that vision. Macron also recalled that 20 years ago, King Mohammed VI launched the Tangier Med project, «which is now the largest port in the Mediterranean». He added that the construction of the Dakhla port, set to begin next year, «will mark a new chapter for the Atlantic Ocean and the ambition to connect the entire African continent to its potential and openness». The «Africa for the Ocean» summit, organized as part of the lead-up to the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in 2025, provided a platform to discuss how Africa can harness its ocean resources for development while ensuring sustainable governance of marine spaces. Key topics included mobilizing funding for modern and resilient infrastructure, strengthening ocean governance and fisheries management, and improving connectivity between maritime and landlocked countries.
