This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Hibapress
The French Development Agency (AFD) agency group is soon to make major investments of around 150 million euros in the provinces of southern Morocco, announced, on Saturday in Laâyoune, the director general of the agency, Rémy Rioux.
“The AFD group will now invest in the southern regions and provide investments and funding,” said Rioux in a press statement at the end of his meetings with the Wali of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region, governor of the province of Laâyoune, Abdeslam Bekrate, the President of the Regional Council, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid Municipal council, Moulay Hamdi Ould Errachid.
The AFD CEO, which leads a large delegation as part of its working visit to Morocco, has highlighted the size investments made in the southern provinces, noting that AFD can “provide additional expertise and funding”.
Mr. Rioux said he was, moreover, “very impressed” by investments and the quality of infrastructure in the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region, which make it possible to create employment and meet the expectations of youth in the southern regions of the kingdom.
In this context, he welcomed the establishment of private companies and the establishment of industrial zones in Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, noting that AFD’s investment in the South provinces is a sign able to encourage economic players, “by providing funding solutions”.
AFD, continued Mr. Rioux, will further strengthen its action with the OCP group in the field of applied research, particularly in agriculture, recalling the signature in Rabat of significant funding on the decarbonation of the group’s value chain.
On this occasion, the members of the AFD delegation followed presentations on the regional development program and the development program of the municipality. They also read the various development projects included as part of the new development model of the South Provinces, launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in 2015.
The meetings held in Laâyoune also enabled the French delegation to inquire about the dynamics of all -out development that the region knows, as well as the programs and projects carried out with the aim of erecting this region in strategic hub.
During this trip, the members of the French delegation made field visits to several socio-educational and economic projects, where they noted the sustained efforts made in favor of an integrated development of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region.
Thus, they visited the port of Laâyoune where they followed explanations on commercial traffic and landing of fishing products at the level of this infrastructure, as well as on the project to extend this port platform.
At the African Institute for Research in Sustainable Agriculture (ASARI), under Mohammed VI University Polytechnique (UM6P), the French delegation followed a presentation on the missions of this establishment.
This visit of the Director General of AFD is part of the exceptional, strengthened partnership, sealed between His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and in a tangible way the shared desire to strengthen the already rich bilateral cooperation between the two countries, and to support the dynamics of inclusive and sustainable development in all regions of the kingdom.
