French public investments in Morocco to continue, including in the Sahara – President Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday in Rabat that France will maintain its public investments in the Kingdom of Morocco, including initiatives in the Sahara.
Speaking at the conclusion of the “Morocco-France Entrepreneurial Meeting” before business leaders and economic operators, President Macron reinforced Morocco’s significance as “the main client” of the French Development Agency (AFD).
He assured attendees that the AFD will continue to fund projects throughout the Kingdom, particularly those led by French companies in the Sahara region.
President Macron emphasized France’s commitment to fostering a fair, mutually beneficial economic partnership with Morocco, highlighting the many complementarities between the two nations’ economies.
He pointed to the existing industrial collaborations across various sectors and urged for greater integration of value chains in light of the current trend of “re-regionalization of tariffs.”
Furthermore, Macron expressed concern over the exodus of European and French financial institutions from Africa, attributing this to stringent regulatory frameworks imposed by European standards.
“I believe this is a serious strategic error. We Europeans must reevaluate the rules and restrictions we have placed on our institutions,” he stated during this meeting, which focused on future strategic sectors.
This event, co-organized by Morocco’s General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and the Movement of French Enterprises (MEDEF) through the France-Morocco Business Leaders Club, is particularly significant as it coincides with President Macron’s state visit to Morocco at the invitation of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.