First visit by the French ambassador to the southern provinces of Morocco
Meetings between French and Moroccan diplomats are continuing after the visit of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, to the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, in Rabat on 28 October last. Since then, the priority of the two governments has been the socio-economic and commercial promotion of the southern provinces.
In this regard, and on the occasion of the inauguration of the Morocco-France Economic Days organised by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Morocco (CFCIM) in the regions of Laayoune-Sakia El-Hamra and Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, the French Ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, made a historic visit to Laayoune, along with a delegation of businessmen and diplomats. The aim of the visit was to meet with business leaders from the region, with whom they plan to establish new avenues for economic development.
Some of the leaders who took part in the ambassador's visit were the President of the CFCIM, Claudia Gaudiau-Francisco; the President of the Laayoune-Sakia Laayoune Regional Council, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid; the Mayor of Laayoune, Moulay Hamdi Ould Errachid; and the Director General of the Investment Centre of the Laayoune-Sakia Laayoune region, Mohamed Jaafar.
A historic visit
The three-day tour, which began on Monday, 11 November, allowed the French investors to present their regional development plans and report on the many capabilities and investment opportunities. Among the objectives were the identification of concrete actions to contribute to the economic and social development of Western Sahara until 2027.
‘The Sahara opens up a new horizon for France's strategic actions,’ said the ambassador. Lecourtier pointed out that the tour will promote relations between French and Moroccan businessmen in areas that the French government considers ‘of a strategic nature’.
The French administration and business community have full confidence in the great possibilities offered by the region in terms of energy, agriculture, fishing and commercial development with the progress of the construction of the port of Dakhla. Despite the fact that the High Court of Justice of the European Union annulled the fishing agreements with Morocco, many countries considered that this decision would be detrimental to their economic interests.
Business ventures
France's economic interest, the ambassador pointed out, revolves around the development of the region, where, in Lecourtier's words, ‘the French Republic wants to be present’. Economic partnerships will take place especially in the cities of Dakhla and Laayoune.
‘Our objective is to implement these emerging projects as quickly as possible,’ said the ambassador. Furthermore, Christophe Lecourtier clarified that many French projects will be transferred to the Sahara because of the ‘exceptional conditions and opportunities’. He concluded that several French organisations will move to open educational and cultural institutions in the towns of Dakhla and Laayoune.
Claudia Gaudiau-Francisco, the president of the CFCIM, made it clear that French companies will be the ones to strengthen European investment in Africa and that the Chamber will always be at the disposal of Moroccan companies to approach and help them to achieve their objectives.
Regional development
Several French businessmen pointed out that ‘the infrastructures that Laayoune has are really admirable, especially the industrial zones’, adding: ‘One of the results of the Franco-Moroccan economic days is the appreciation of the cooperation between Paris and Rabat to optimise the economic partnership to advanced levels in the future’. This development is the result of reforms carried out by the Moroccan government and the Royal Court between 2015 and 2021.
In this context, the Chamber offered advisory services, market studies, publications, networking, professional meetings, business missions in Morocco and other countries, as well as the organisation of exhibitions and trade events, in order to provide investors and members with the best solutions.
