Latest news with #EnhancedExceptionalPartnership
Ya Biladi
11-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
AFD pledges €150 million for development in Morocco's southern provinces
The French Development Agency (AFD) plans to invest around €150 million in Morocco's southern provinces, announced its Director General, Rémy Rioux, on Saturday in Laayoune. This initiative marks a new phase for the AFD, which is now seeking to support the development of a region with significant potential. During his working visit, Rioux met with several local officials, including the Wali of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, Abdeslam Bekrate, as well as the presidents of the regional and municipal councils. He praised the investments already made and the quality of local infrastructure, emphasizing their role in job creation and responding to the aspirations of the youth. Rioux also expressed his admiration for the region's current momentum, particularly the emergence of private enterprises and the development of industrial zones. He noted that upcoming AFD funding will aim to support local economic actors by offering practical and tailored solutions. He also highlighted the strengthened partnership between the AFD and the OCP Group, particularly in applied research and efforts to decarbonize the agricultural value chain. A major financing agreement in this field was recently signed in Rabat. The French delegation attended presentations on regional and local development programs, part of the new development model for the southern provinces launched by King Mohammed VI in 2015. They also visited several social, educational, and economic projects, including the port of Laayoune and the African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), affiliated with UM6P. This visit is part of the Enhanced Exceptional Partnership between Morocco and France and reflects their shared commitment to promoting inclusive and sustainable development across the Kingdom.
Morocco World
09-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
AFD Chief Heads to Moroccan Sahara, Implements France's New Position
Doha – The Director General of the French Development Agency (AFD), Rémy Rioux, announced Friday he will visit Morocco's southern provinces. This trip puts into action France's new stance on Western Sahara. Rioux made the announcement at a press briefing today in Rabat after meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. Rioux framed his visit within the context of the Joint Declaration signed in October 2024 between King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron. 'You'll remember that on this occasion, President Emmanuel Macron expressed France's new position on the southern provinces,' Rioux stated. His current mission, he added, represents the 'rapid operationalization' of this strategic direction. The AFD head confirmed his mandate now extends to the southern provinces. 'I'm going tomorrow to Laâyoune and Sunday and Monday to Dakhla,' he said. This marks a concrete step in fulfilling commitments made by Paris. 'The southern provinces form a strategic link with sub-Saharan Africa along the Atlantic facade,' Rioux noted, describing it as 'a very important framework for action' for the AFD group. The AFD chief praised the solid partnership between Morocco and France. He affirmed that Morocco remains the group's top partner worldwide. 'Morocco represents more than 3 billion euros in ongoing projects, over 30 billion dirhams, 70 projects underway,' he disclosed. Rioux added that 80 AFD staff work on the ground in Morocco, which he called 'obviously very important.' His visit is part of the Enhanced Exceptional Partnership between the two countries. It reflects their shared desire to strengthen already rich bilateral cooperation and support inclusive and sustainable development across all regions of Morocco. His comments build on a November 2024 statement when he first revealed AFD's plans for the region. 'The AFD group will now invest in the Sahara, a link between Morocco and its neighboring countries,' he declared then, according to Challenge magazine. Read also: AFD Report: Rhamna Community Embraces Traditional Skills to Boost Employment After Devastating Al Haouz Quake At that time, Rioux talked about the 'pan-African' approach shared by AFD and Morocco to strengthen ties across the continent. He pointed out that AFD's expansion into the Sahara shows the institution's commitment to supporting Morocco as a regional leader in Africa through economic and environmental initiatives. In fact, France had shown interest in Morocco's southern provinces even before its official July 2024 recognition. In April of that year, French Trade Minister Franck Riester confirmed an AFD subsidiary could help finance a high-voltage line between Dakhla and Casablanca during his two-day visit to Morocco. This development dealt a blow to the Polisario Front and its main backer, Algeria, at the time. Shortly after, the UN clarified that it does not monitor economic investments in the region, undermining separatist claims that such initiatives breach international law. Paris has turned diplomatic statements into concrete actions on multiple fronts. Last month, the Occitanie region became the first French region to partner with Morocco's Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region. The European country also expanded visa services to Laayoune residents and updated its official maps to show Western Sahara as part of Morocco, including a recent naval mission map. During his October visit, Macron told Morocco's parliament the 2007 Autonomy Plan is 'the only basis for a just, lasting, and negotiated political solution' and that 'the present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.' 'Our operators and businesses will support the development of these territories through investments, sustainable initiatives, and solidarity for the benefit of local populations,' he said in his speech. Last month, the Quai d'Orsay reaffirmed France's 'unchangeable' position. Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called the autonomy initiative the 'sole basis' for reaching a political solution, noting growing international consensus for Morocco's plan.
Morocco World
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco's FM Visits France for Key Talks on Strengthening Morocco-France Partnership
Rabat – Nasser Bourita, Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, is visiting France today for a working trip, following an invitation from Jean-Noël Barrot, France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. This visit is a continuation of efforts to strengthen the Enhanced Exceptional Partnership, a bond sealed in a Declaration signed on October 28, 2024, in Rabat by King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron. The trip will be a significant moment to take stock of the progress of this partnership, with the two ministers seeking to advance the common objectives within their agreement. Morocco-France relations have reached new heights over the past few months, particularly after French President Emmanuel Macron's official visit to Morocco in October 2024. During his visit, Macron delivered a powerful speech in Morocco's parliament, where he pointed to the strength of the two countries' bilateral ties and acknowledged Morocco's territorial integrity as the only viable solution to the Western Sahara dispute. This statement, coupled with increased diplomatic and economic collaboration, reflects the growing partnership between Morocco and France and reinforces their shared strategic interests. In a continued effort to strengthen ties, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau arrived in Rabat on Sunday evening for a brief but significant visit aimed at reinforcing security cooperation and migration management between France and Morocco. Retailleau's trip, planned for just a few hours on Monday, comes at a crucial juncture for France. The country is navigating complex diplomatic dynamics in North Africa, with growing ties to Morocco contrasting with deteriorating relations with Algeria. During the visit, Retailleau and his Moroccan counterpart, Abdelouafi Laftit, disclosed the creation of a French-Moroccan working group focused on verifying the nationality of irregular migrants in France, intending to facilitate their readmission to their countries of origin. With Morocco and France's diplomatic ties at an all-time high, marked by high-level visits, productive talks, and even Morocco's honored presence at the Paris Book Festival, there is every reason to believe that this pair will continue to tighten their union.
