Morocco Inaugurates New Consulate Building in Montpellier
Doha – Morocco inaugurated its new consulate building in Montpellier on Monday. The ceremony took place in the presence of Morocco's Ambassador to France Samira Sitail, Montpellier Mayor Michaël Delafosse, and Hérault Prefect François-Xavier Lauch.
The new facility spans 850 square meters across three floors. It includes twenty offices, two meeting rooms, archive spaces, reception areas, and parking facilities accessible to people with reduced mobility. The building was acquired in November 2024 and has since gone through major renovations.
The consulate serves approximately 200,000 Moroccan citizens residing in six southern French departments. These include Hérault, Gard, Ardèche, Aveyron, Pyrénées-Orientales, and Lozère. About 160 people visit the consulate daily.
'This building is a modern proximity tool, designed to welcome our citizens with dignity and strengthen human, cultural, and economic ties with France, in accordance with Royal Guidelines,' said Ambassador Sitail during the ceremony.
The new premises feature Moroccan architectural elements on the façade. The interior decoration reflects Morocco's cultural identity, creating a functional, yet warm environment.
Consul General Soumia Bouhamidi described the building as embodying 'the soul of Morocco.' She called it 'a bridge between shores, a hand extended to all those who carry love for our Morocco in their hearts.'
The inauguration comes just two weeks after Montpellier Mayor Delafosse's official visit to Morocco. During his trip, he met with Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita and Investment Minister Mohamed Zidane. He also led a delegation to Dakhla on April 26 to explore business opportunities in the southern region.
In Dakhla, Delafosse and his team learned about major development projects and discussed a forthcoming cooperation agreement focusing on water sports, cultural exchange, and sustainable energy projects.
The delegation toured the construction site of Dakhla Atlantic Port and the future site of MGH Energie, a company specializing in green hydrogen.
At the inauguration ceremony, the mayor expressed his appreciation for Morocco's remarkable development dynamics and structural projects.
The mayor said that the North African country is positioning itself as a 'key player' in strategic fields like renewable energies and green hydrogen, which are 'sources of inspiration' for Montpellier's public policies.
The consulate's relocation from Figuerolles to Parc 2000 in La Paillade represents a 'qualitative leap' in services. 'The previous conditions were no longer favorable. We are raising the level of reception and services,' Ambassador Sitail noted.
State representative Lauch also celebrated the Franco-Moroccan friendship, which 'lives, renews itself, and is built on constant exchanges and shared trust between our institutions.' He described the new consular building as 'a living bridge between two shores.'
The Moroccan consulate in Montpellier is one of 17 Moroccan consular representations in France. It employs about 30 staff, including diplomats and local employees. The consulate is now located at 265 rue Maurice Béjart in Parc 2000 and is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The ceremony concluded with a reception featuring Moroccan flavors and traditional music. The event attracted over 200 guests, including CCI President André Deljarry, Sète Port President Philippe Malagola, and former Port President Jean-Claude Gayssot.
This inauguration takes place amid improving relations between France and Morocco, particularly after France's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Western Sahara. 'We call each other to develop projects. It's a stimulating relationship, a growing relationship,' added Lauch.
According to local officials, Montpellier hosts approximately 4,000 Moroccan students out of the 28,000 Moroccan citizens in Hérault. Outside Paris, Montpellier is the top destination for Moroccan students in France.
Read also: Western Sahara: France's AFD to Invest €150 Million in Morocco's Southern Provinces Tags: MontpellierMoroccan consulateMorocco France Relations
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