For his third visit to Morocco, the French Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, is received with open arms. Two days spent in Rabat under the sign of the “rebirth of relations” between the two countries which end at the Morocco-France business forum.
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With our correspondent in Rabat, Nadia Ben Mahfoudh
A warm welcome which contrasts with the 18 months of diplomatic cold that the two countries have experienced. The Moroccan Minister of the Economy, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, did not fail to recall what unites and brings the two states together.
“ I am particularly honored to be among you today for this Morocco-France business forum during which you will exchange and debate what brings us together as an economic community on both shores of the Mediterranean. I am all the more happy with the presence of so many friendly faces in this room. A testimony if any were needed of the vitality of our economic partnership “, she estimated.
Carbon-free energy transport
Economic cooperation is therefore picking up again. “ The choice that was made is very clear: it is to participate in the financing of a carbon-free energy transport line between Dakhla and Casablanca. I communicated our availability. I think it is time to make cooperation in energy matters the backbone of the relaunch of our Franco-Moroccan relations from an economic point of view. », explains Bruno Le Maire.
The French minister is reaching out to Morocco to cooperate in green hydrogen, wind and solar power, but also in the nuclear sector. Bruno Le Maire said he was willing, if Morocco so wishes, to open a scientific and industrial partnership in this area.
Three announcements were made at the end of this visit. The French Development Agency (AFD) will release a loan of 350 million euros to the Cherifian Phosphate Office (OCP) with the aim of investing massively in green hydrogen in Morocco.
Bpifrance and Innov French, the Institute for Research in Solar Energy and New Energies, Iresen, and Satt Paris-Saclay, are embarking on a joint program aimed at setting up Franco-Moroccan research and innovation projects in the field of carbon-free hydrogen.
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