«France is committed to being a development partner in Morocco's southern provinces, aiming to uplift the local populations who are hopeful for a brighter future under the leadership of King Mohammed VI», declared Christophe Lecourtier, the French ambassador to the kingdom. In an interview with MAP on the eve of the Morocco-France Economic Forum set to take place in Dakhla, Lecourtier emphasized the significant economic potential of these regions. He pointed to their strategic advantages, particularly in renewable energy and their geographical positioning, which primes them to become a pivotal hub in the Sahel and West Africa. The French diplomat also highlighted that Morocco's southern provinces represent a new frontier for France's multifaceted cooperation with the kingdom. He mentioned the establishment of new French educational institutions in these areas, the upcoming launch of a cultural center, a visa application processing center, and the expansion of the French Development Agency's (AFD) activities to include these regions. In this context, Lecourtier viewed the organization of a Morocco-France Economic Forum in Dakhla, spearheaded by the Moroccan Employers' Confederation (CGEM) and MEDEF International through the France-Morocco Business Leaders Club, as a significant gesture. The presence of numerous business leaders from both nations underscores the importance of this event, traditionally held in Rabat or Casablanca, now taking place in Dakhla. He further noted that the trade balance between Morocco and France remains even. On the French side, there is a strong interest in broadening the scope of business collaborations across both shores, focusing on trade, the establishment of enterprises, and the transfer of expertise, all in support of co-localized development. Currently, around 1,000 French companies have subsidiaries in Morocco, he added. French SMEs, which sometimes face challenges in expanding within European markets, could greatly benefit from establishing operations in Morocco, a country experiencing robust development and serving as a gateway to sub-Saharan Africa.
