Organized in partnership with the French region of Occitanie under the theme “The Kingdom of Morocco: Land of Opportunities and Diversity,” the forum provided a comprehensive overview of ongoing development in the Moroccan Sahara, particularly in high-potential growth sectors.

Participants emphasized that the strong potential in renewable energy and green hydrogen, along with major projects such as the Dakhla Atlantic Port, new industrial and logistics zones, and seawater desalination plants, reflects His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s commitment to making the southern provinces a model of integrated development and a new continental hub.

In this context, the Consul General of Morocco in Montpellier, Lamia Bennani, stated that “it is essential to highlight the level of development achieved in our southern provinces, which are emerging hubs featuring free zones and major infrastructure projects such as the Dakhla Atlantic Port.”

Highlighting the new momentum driven by His Majesty the King, Ms. Bennani underscored the Royal Initiative aimed at facilitating Sahel countries’ access to the Atlantic Ocean, as well as key projects such as the Tiznit-Dakhla highway and the African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline, which aims to connect 13 African countries.

She added that these projects, with their strong South-South cooperation dimension, position Morocco as a key player in trade and an attractive investment destination, supported by favorable economic policies, recognized stability, and a continuously expanding market.

For her part, Mariam Sidat, representative of the Regional Investment Center for the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, explained that “Regional Investment Centers support economic actors at every stage, from idea to project, and from establishment to growth.”

She also noted that, in addition to major infrastructure projects, the region is firmly oriented toward sustainable tourism, the maritime economy, and renewable energy.

Regarding the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region, Abdeladim Alaoui, Director of the Economic Stimulation and Territorial Development Hub at the Regional Investment Center, stated that the region possesses numerous assets capable of supporting its economic growth.

In this regard, he highlighted internationally standardized logistics and water infrastructure, as well as excellent connectivity and abundant resources in the fisheries and mining sectors.

During the meeting, the significant potential of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Marrakech-Safi regions was also showcased as attractive investment destinations.

In this context, Aziz Hilali, Vice-President of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Regional Council, emphasized the importance of advanced regionalization in Morocco as a driver for reforming territorial governance, strengthening participatory democracy, promoting integrated regional development, and enhancing local economic efficiency.

Mr. Hilali noted that this positive trajectory places regions at the heart of investment strategies and enables the adaptation of national policies to the specific characteristics of each region. He also stressed the important role of Moroccans living abroad as a strategic lever for regional development.

The forum also featured a presentation on the positioning and outlook of the Casablanca Stock Exchange, considered a reflection of the dynamism and maturity of the Moroccan economy.

In this regard, Ahmed Bennani, an official at the Casablanca Stock Exchange School of Finance, stated that this “financial institution serves as a true indicator of the strong attractiveness of the Kingdom’s economy, the health of its business climate, and its significant future potential.”

The forum, attended by Jalil Benabdallah, Vice-President of the Occitanie Region, aimed to promote the Kingdom’s attractiveness to French institutional and economic stakeholders and to strengthen the role of territorial diplomacy in advancing bilateral cooperation.

The event brought together elected officials, senior executives from French institutions, business leaders, and students, reflecting strong interest in enhancing bilateral exchanges at the regional level.

Also participating were Salwa Chaibi, Digitalization Officer at the Regional Investment Center of Marrakech-Safi, and Idriss El Fann, representative of “Region 13” of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises.

News and events on Western Sahara issue/ CORCAS