Morocco-France Economic Forum to Position Southern Provinces as New Investment Frontier

Mohammedia – The Morocco-France Economic Forum is set to open in Dakhla this October 9, with more than 50 French companies, including several CAC 40 groups, expected to attend.

Organizers say the meeting will be a defining moment for the economic partnership between the two countries, focusing on Morocco’s southern provinces as a new frontier for investment.

Chakib Alj, president of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), recently convened senior business leaders with Vice-President General Mehdi Tazi to finalize preparations, according to local reports.

The gathering brought together Mohamed El Kettani and Ross McInnes, co-presidents of the France-Morocco Business Leaders Club, alongside federation heads and executives of leading firms.

Alj emphasized the symbolism of hosting the event in Dakhla in cooperation with MEDEF International. “This forum is a major opportunity to strengthen the strategic partnership that unites Morocco and France, and to continue building and innovating together,” he said.

He added that the Morocco-France partnership is “strong and resilient,” but stressed the need for it to be “win-win and even more innovative.”

The CGEM said the forum in Dakhla is part of the continuity of a strategic and historical ties between Morocco and France, noting that it “will bring together leading Moroccan and French economic and institutional players and aims to explore the investment opportunities offered by Morocco’s southern regions and to promote new partnership dynamics.”

The forum will see various discussions concerning the agro-industry, renewable energy, infrastructure, logistics, tourism, and services.

Economic figures reflect the depth of ties between the two countries. According to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bilateral trade reached €14.1 billion (MAD149.8 billion) in 2023, making Morocco France’s leading trading partner in Africa.

French imports from Morocco rose 112% between 2012 and 2022, driven largely by automotive supply chains. France remains Morocco’s second-largest supplier and second-largest customer.

France is also the leading investor in Morocco, with €8.4 billion ( MAD89.27 billion) in foreign direct investment stock in 2023, equal to 31% of the total.

While most French capital is directed toward services, Moroccan investment in France has expanded sharply, climbing from €372 million (MAD3.95 billion) in 2015 to €1.7 billion (MAD18.07 billion) in 2023.

Roughly 1,300 French subsidiaries currently operate in Morocco, underscoring the mutual stakes in the relationship.

Southern Morocco: a new frontier for investment

The southern regions of Morocco, however, are where much of the future lies. Supported by a royal development plan worth MAD 77 billion (€7.26 billion), these provinces are being positioned as a new hub of bilateral cooperation.

Dakhla alone generates MAD3 billion (€282.6 million) annually in fishing industry value, hosts renewable energy projects exceeding MAD22 billion (€2.07 billion) with a capacity of 1.4 GW, and is home to the Dakhla Atlantic Port, a project Alj described as a “game changer” that will link Europe and Africa more directly.

“The figures illustrate the strength of the Morocco-France economic partnership, but also the immense potential still to be unlocked,” Alj said.

He described the forum as more than a showcase, explaining that it serves as a platform to initiate concrete projects, build lasting partnerships, and develop value chains based on innovation, sustainability, and socio-economic impact.

Organizers say the event will mix plenary sessions, business-to-business meetings, and project showcases. It is expected to attract leaders from economic, institutional, and political spheres, serving as a platform to redefine cooperation.

“I invite all Moroccan and French economic actors to participate in the Morocco-France Economic Forum in Dakhla and contribute to making it the starting point for a new era of innovation, investment, and prosperity in our southern regions,” Alj concluded.

Organizers hope the Dakhla forum will put into practice what French President Emmanuel Macron called a “strengthened exceptional partnership” by advancing renewable energy, connectivity, and the green transition.