French President Emmanuel Macron announced in Rabat that France will continue its public investments in Morocco, including projects in the Sahara region.

Speaking at the close of the “Morocco-France Entrepreneurial Meeting,” Macron highlighted that Morocco is the primary client of the French Development Agency (AFD).

He affirmed AFD’s ongoing commitment to financing projects in the Kingdom, including initiatives led by French companies in the Sahara.

Macron emphasised the importance of an equitable, mutually beneficial economic partnership between France and Morocco, given the extensive synergies in their economies.

He also stressed the need for deeper industrial partnerships across multiple sectors, advocating for enhanced integration of value chains, especially in light of “re-regionalisation of tariffs.”

Reflecting on European financial dynamics, Macron expressed regret over European and French financial groups being forced out of Africa due to self-imposed regulatory restrictions, calling this move a “terrible strategic error.”

He urged European leaders to reconsider these regulations to better support economic partnerships on the continent.

The “Morocco-France Entrepreneurial Meeting,” organized by the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), took place as part of Macron’s State visit to Morocco at the invitation of King Mohammed VI.