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Doha – The Occitanie Region signed a landmark declaration of intent with Morocco’s Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region on Thursday, making it the first French region to formalize cooperation with a region within Morocco’s southern provinces in Western Sahara.
The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration in key sectors, including economy, industry, higher education, and environment. Among identified priorities are aeronautics, green hydrogen, offshore wind energy, sustainable mobility, university cooperation, research, and tourism.
Carole Delga, President of the Occitanie Regional Council, welcomed a Moroccan delegation led by Yanja El Khattat, President of the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region, at the regional headquarters in Toulouse. Also present was Nadya Talmi, Morocco’s Consul General in Toulouse.
“Occitanie and Morocco share a unique history, woven through deep cultural, human, and economic ties. With the Maison de l’Occitanie established in Casablanca for over 10 years, we are the only French region to boast a lasting presence in Morocco,” said Delga during the signing ceremony.
“Today, we become the first French Region to seal a partnership with the Dakhla Oued Ed-Dahah Region. Promising prospects for our businesses and respective talents will open around future sectors: sustainable mobility, aeronautics, blue economies, green hydrogen, and energy transition,” she added.
El Khattat stressed the significance of the agreement, calling it “the manifestation of two wills to initiate cooperation aimed at developing our two territories.”
He pointed to the importance of transforming this declaration into “concrete projects and programs by adopting specific conventions related to areas of cooperation of common interest.”
The Moroccan delegation continued their visit on Friday with a tour of Port-La Nouvelle to explore wind energy projects and the green hydrogen production plant scheduled to begin operations by year’s end.
The visit offered insights into innovative energy solutions that could benefit both regions, as Dakhla itself finalizes construction of the massive Port Atlantique spanning 2,650 hectares.
Regional diplomacy comes into play
This partnership builds upon existing cooperation between France and Morocco, reinforced by the “enhanced exceptional partnership” agreement concluded in 2024 between French President Emmanuel Macron and King Mohammed VI.
The agreement follows a 2023 economic mission to Dakhla led by Occitanie Vice-President Jalil Benabdillah, which initiated closer ties between the regional development agency Ad’Occ and the African Chamber of Commerce and Services of Dakhla.
“We launched all this in a geopolitical context of rather complicated Franco-Moroccan relations regarding the status of Western Sahara, which has been eased by President Macron. And today it culminates with this letter of intent and its aftermath,” said Benabdillah.
“Now it’s about pooling skills in terms of ecosystems, experiences, engineering, innovations, and industry. Everything is open,” he continued.
“The objective of our visit to Occitanie is to strengthen ties between our two regional councils and beyond between our two territorial communities,” explained El Khattat.
The visit also served as “an opportunity to see up close the experience of the Occitanie region, its development model and its efforts to stimulate its economy.”
The timing aligns with increased regional diplomacy between the two countries. Consul General Talmi noted that the agreement represents “a true opportunity” for both partners and “a lever to further strengthen relations between France and Morocco.”
The agreement with Occitanie is part of a broader movement of territorial diplomacy that has gained traction following high-level political exchanges between the two countries.
Just a day after the Occitanie agreement, Montpellier Mayor Michaël Delafosse visited Dakhla to explore business opportunities and discuss a forthcoming protocol of cooperation between the two cities.
The protocol will focus on promoting water sports, cultural exchanges through festivals, and sustainable economic projects, particularly in renewable energy.
“A protocol of cooperation and friendship will be signed between the two cities,” said Erragheb Hormatallah, President of the Dakhla commune, noting that this arrangement “follows in the wake of French recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara.”
French expert in Euro-African relations Guillaume Chaban Delmas described this territorial diplomacy as “clearly complementary to the major foreign policy conducted by the two states.”
He asserted that regional partnerships are fundamental to building “a powerful Franco-Moroccan axis” through shared expertise and experiences.
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