French Business Leaders Explore Investment Opportunities in the Moroccan Sahara

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On Tuesday, a French delegation comprising numerous officials and business leaders commenced a visit to the Moroccan Sahara to explore investment opportunities in the region. This move represents one of the first results of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Rabat and his summit with King Mohammed VI, marking a new phase in bilateral relations based on broader and stronger cooperation aimed at boosting development in Morocco, including in its southern provinces, which have become a draw for investment and competition among major international companies in fields such as infrastructure, energy, industry, agriculture, and other vital sectors.

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This step also indicates that France is firmly on the path of strengthening its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara. This visit follows Macron’s trip to Morocco roughly two weeks ago, which concluded with the signing of over 20 economic agreements between the two countries, inaugurating a new era of cooperation and partnership.

The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Morocco announced in a statement that it “is organizing a series of economic days in the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra and Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab regions of the Moroccan Sahara from November 11 to 13.”

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The visit’s agenda includes presentations on regional development plans, working meetings, and visits to strategic sites, giving participants an opportunity to explore potential investment opportunities, particularly in the renewable energy, fishing, water, and infrastructure sectors, according to the statement.

Christophe Lecourtier, French ambassador to Morocco, is leading this delegation to the Sahara. A statement from the embassy noted that “the aim of the visit is to identify concrete paths for contributing to the economic and social development of these areas.”

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The statement added that “Lecourtier is visiting the Moroccan Sahara in accordance with the positions expressed by France and the President of the Republic, including during his recent official visit to the Kingdom.” The ambassador is accompanied by embassy staff responsible for cultural, educational, and economic affairs.

During his visit to Rabat, Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment to investing in the Moroccan Sahara, pledging to announce several initiatives in various fields for the benefit of the region’s residents.

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He stated that “French investors will support the development of lands and the growth of the Moroccan Sahara region through sustainable investments and initiatives for the local population.”

Paris had previously shown a willingness to invest in the Moroccan Sahara before finally dispelling its hesitations regarding the recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the region. Last June, the French public investment bank established a €100 million fund to support French companies wishing to invest or expand their presence in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, including the Moroccan Sahara.

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France also previously expressed its readiness to finance the high-voltage line between Dakhla in the Moroccan Sahara and Casablanca through Proparco, the French Development Agency’s private sector arm.

Several French companies have shown interest in investing in the renewable energy sector, with the Moroccan Sahara offering significant potential in this area.

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During Macron’s visit, Moroccan and French ministers, along with business leaders from both countries, signed 21 agreements in various fields, one of which focuses on developing provinces within the Moroccan Sahara.

According to international economic reports, the Moroccan Sahara region has become an attractive area for foreign investment due to a strategy spearheaded by King Mohammed VI aimed at creating favorable conditions for economic growth in the southern provinces. Morocco is beginning to reap the benefits of this vision through a succession of international recognitions of its sovereignty over the Sahara.

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French investments in the Moroccan Sahara are of considerable importance, as they pave the way for the region’s promotion as a prime investment destination, especially as Morocco boasts a unique investment climate in the area, with incentives and political and security stability.