In his third visit to Morocco, French Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire is greeted with open arms. Spending two days in Rabat, the visit is marked by a “renaissance of relations” between the two countries, culminating in the Morocco-France business forum.
The warm reception sharply contrasts with the 18 months of diplomatic chill that both countries endured. Moroccan Minister of Economy Nadia Fettah Alaoui underscored the common ground and shared interests between the two states.
“I am particularly honored to be among you today for this Morocco-France business forum, during which you will exchange and discuss what unites us as an economic community on both sides of the Mediterranean. I am especially delighted by the presence of so many friendly faces in this room, a testament to the vitality of our economic partnership,” she remarked.
Decarbonized Energy Transport
Economic cooperation is reigniting. “The choice that has been made is very clear: to participate in financing a decarbonized energy transport line between Dakhla and Casablanca. I have expressed our readiness. I believe it is time to make energy cooperation the backbone of the revival of our Franco-Moroccan relations from an economic standpoint,” explained Bruno Le Maire.
The French minister extends a hand to Morocco to collaborate on green hydrogen, wind, and solar energy, as well as in the nuclear sector. Le Maire expressed willingness, if desired by Morocco, to initiate a scientific and industrial partnership in this field.
Three announcements follow this visit. The French Development Agency (AFD) will unlock a €350 million loan to the Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP) to heavily invest in green hydrogen in Morocco.
Bpifrance and Innov X of the OCP group are launching a collaboration program to accelerate industrial decarbonization to produce one million tons of green ammonia by 2030.
Lastly, with €800,000 in French public funding, the Institute for Research in Solar Energy and New Energies (Iresen) and Satt Paris-Saclay are embarking on a joint program to develop Franco-Moroccan research and innovation projects in the field of decarbonized hydrogen.