AFD director general emphasizes investment potential in Morocco’s southern provinces

Tuesday 13 May 2025 - 07:50

By: Dakir Madiha

AFD director general emphasizes investment potential in Morocco’s southern provinces

The general director of the France Development Agency (AFD), Rémy Rioux, has underscored the significance of development projects in Morocco’s southern provinces, particularly in Laayoune and Dakhla. During his recent visit, Rioux affirmed that these regions warrant increased investment from development institutions, including AFD.

“These dynamics highlight the potential for regional cooperation,” he stated, referencing key sectors such as the blue economy, port greening, renewable energy, job creation, and improvements in water and sanitation infrastructure.

Rioux concluded his four-day visit by expressing AFD’s commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive development for the benefit of local inhabitants. This visit marks the first time an AFD director general has engaged directly with Morocco’s southern provinces. AFD’s statement detailed Rioux’s meetings with senior Moroccan officials in Rabat, including the Minister of Economy, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita, and Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit.

In addition to governmental discussions, Rioux engaged with executives from various institutions, such as Omar Lahlou, Governor of the Communal Infrastructure Fund, and leaders from Morocco’s prominent fertilizer company, OCP. He also met with representatives from the African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), which is affiliated with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. This institute focuses on sustainable agriculture, desertification control, and camel sector development.

“Discussions with researchers and local actors underscored the necessity of developing innovative solutions tailored to the region’s fragile ecosystem, particularly in water management and sustainable agriculture,” Rioux noted.

Following meetings with local officials in Dakhla, the French delegation toured significant projects, including the construction site of the Dakhla Atlantic port and the ANP fishing port.

AFD’s final statement on Rioux’s visit coincides with the agency’s recent announcement of a commitment to invest €150 million in Morocco’s southern provinces. “AFD Group will now invest in the southern regions by bringing in investments and financing,” Rioux conveyed to the press, expressing his admiration for the region’s recent infrastructure advancements.

AFD’s renewed focus on these provinces aligns with France’s evolving stance, as Paris has recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern territories.