Denver – A US-backed platform for connecting national and international investors to the Laayoune region was launched this Wednesday in a bid to attract more international investors to fund economic development in the southern Moroccan city.
The LaayouneConnect platform is an initiative funded by the US Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), the platform is the latest in the “Promoting the economic opportunities of Dakhla and Laâyoune” program, a joint MEPI-Moroccan initiative.
International Consulting group JE Austin Associates also contributed to the project, with the help of local Regional Investment Centers (CRI) in Laayoune.
With LaayouneConnect, local authorities hope to promote business-to-business (B2B) exchanges between international investors and local entrepreneurs. Morocco has continued to commit resources to develop Dakhla and Laayoune, including infrastructure development dedicated to improving the region’s roads, airports, and port systems.
As part of the new investment platform, Morocco and MEPI hope to attract private investors to the southern region by providing entrepreneurs a centralized platform to communicate business propositions.
During the platform’s unveiling ceremony on Wednesday, MEPI’s regional director, Tyler Joyner, noted LaayouneConnect will “help companies to connect with each other, promote B2B marketing as well as reach international investors.”
Mohammed Jifer, the CRI director of the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, echoed similar sentiments, saying the platform aims to provide a crucial link for the region’s economic development. Jifer also emphasized the region’s “latest generation” infrastructure being developed through Morocco’s development programs.
Wednesday’s unveiling event included a ceremony to honor sixty young male and female entrepreneurs from the region that participated in training related to LaayouneConnect.
The entrepreneurs will use their newly developed skills to promote economic opportunities around Laayoune through improved social networking, e-commerce, and inter-business networking skills.
