French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that French companies should “invest in Moroccan Sahara,” stating that “the decision by some companies to exit the African continent in recent years was a mistake.”
Speaking at an economic meeting between Moroccan and French businesses at the International University in Rabat, organized by the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises, Macron expressed Paris’s desire, through the state visit that began on Monday, to show gratitude and hope for Moroccan and French companies.
He noted that “the agreements signed yesterday will open a new chapter between the two countries for at least the next 25 years,” highlighting that “the Moroccan Sahara must be an area for investment by French companies.”
Macron pointed out that the recent global experience with the war in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions affected various sectors, such as fertilizers and reliance on Russia for energy. He stated that if a nation wants to achieve true food sovereignty, whether France, Morocco, Europe, or Africa, it must strengthen partnerships in this critical area.
The French president remarked that “the withdrawal of French companies from deep Africa in recent years is a mistake.”
He explained that Morocco has a unique strategy in adaptation, particularly regarding water and irrigation models. Projects like “water highways” and large urban desalination projects are ongoing revolutions aimed at providing farmers and residents with access to drinking and irrigation water, emphasizing that these projects are “at the core of the ambition that Paris and Morocco seek to achieve, as they both have ample expertise in this area.”
Macron continued, addressing Moroccan and French businesses alongside a ministerial delegation from both governments: “We want to be true partners in water and irrigation. I also believe that these projects are an inspiration for the African continent and serve as a source of joint technological development among major economic players. The same applies to energy,” noting that “Morocco has successfully developed a strong traditional strategy in hydropower, enhanced by solar and wind energy. Today, Morocco uniquely possesses the capacity to produce green hydrogen and carbon-free hydrogen, along with a distinctive ability to generate carbon-free electricity.”
In this context, Macron mentioned that “the two countries share a long history of talent exchange, with Rabat ranking second after Lebanon for the largest French educational network outside France. More than half of the students we educate in Morocco are Moroccan.”
He added: “We have exceptional ties between our universities and business schools, such as Sciences Po and others; this university here is a beautiful symbol of this connection between the two shores. What talented individuals who have succeeded abroad want is to return and contribute here.”
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