Southern provinces seen as Morocco’s new engine of enterprise growth

Friday 10 October 2025 - 15:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Southern provinces seen as Morocco’s new engine of enterprise growth

At the Morocco-France Economic Forum held in Dakhla, the President of the CGEM Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, Amyra Hormatollah, presented a bold vision for Morocco’s southern provinces as a dynamic pillar of national and continental development. She emphasized that the three southern regions, Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, Guelmim-Oued Noun, and Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, form a “strategic arc of complementarity,” positioning Morocco as an emerging player in global commerce and green industry.

Hormatollah highlighted that this transformation stems from the development model launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in 2015, which directed more than 17% of national investment toward the southern regions. The results are visible through major infrastructure achievements including express highways, logistics zones, industrial parks, and renewable energy platforms. The upcoming Atlantic port of Dakhla is expected to further boost regional and international trade by connecting Morocco with Europe, West Africa, and the Americas.

A renewable energy powerhouse

The Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region stands out for its abundant renewable resources, with some of Morocco’s highest solar exposure and strongest wind potential. These conditions support the production of competitively priced green energy and position the region as a hub for green hydrogen projects. A large-scale desalination facility powered by renewable energy is also under development to secure sustainable water supply for both agriculture and industry.

Agribusiness and the blue economy

Agribusiness is a key sector in the southern development plan. Over 5,000 hectares are slated for irrigation, enabling the expansion of modern and resilient agriculture. The region also benefits from its coastline, which holds over 60% of Morocco’s fishing resources. Marine biotechnology, seafood processing, and conditioning units are fostering the rise of a blue economy that combines innovation, job creation, and sustainable growth.

These interlinked sectors, Hormatollah explained, aim to strengthen Morocco’s food and energy security while promoting an environmentally sustainable model of growth.

Franco-Moroccan cooperation and skills development

Addressing economic and institutional partners from both countries, Hormatollah underscored the long-standing trust and ambition that define Morocco-France relations. She proposed concrete initiatives to deepen collaboration, including the establishment of Franco-Moroccan training programs in agro-industry, water management, and green energy. A skills campus in Dakhla will also prepare young Moroccans for emerging professions linked to sustainable development.

A partnership charter between Moroccan and French enterprises is expected to promote shared investment, particularly in the blue economy and agri-food transformation sectors.

A continental model of growth

The forum’s discussions reflected a vision that extends beyond bilateral cooperation. Hormatollah stressed that Morocco’s southern provinces embody “a vision of the future, that of an enterprising and resilient nation open to its continental and international environment.”

With its natural wealth, strategic location, and youthful population, the region is ready to attract high-impact investment and serve as a model of inclusive and decarbonized growth for Africa. Hormatollah concluded by calling for collective action between Morocco and France to “build an economic partnership that serves future generations and inspires sustainable prosperity across the continent.”

The forum reinforced growing confidence in Morocco’s ability to transform its southern provinces into a regional powerhouse driving balanced, green, and globally connected development.