Dakhla: The French Republic is committed to contributing to the socio-economic development of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, as part of the multifaceted cooperation between France and Morocco, Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier said Tuesday in Dakhla.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Ambassador Lecourtier emphasized France’s concrete willingness to support Morocco in enshrining the economic and social development of the southern provinces. He made these remarks during a visit to the region, leading a large delegation. The visit aims to reflect the cooperation between Morocco and France across economic, cultural, social, and educational fields. This collaboration aligns with support expressed by French President Emmanuel Macron in a letter to HM King Mohammed VI, affirming that the Sahara’s present and future lie within Moroccan sovereignty.

The French diplomat also outlined the visit’s purpose to assess projects within the Regional Development Program (PDR) and to explore French partners’ roles in th
is initiative. He noted that several French companies are already active in the region and expressed France’s interest in pursuing new projects with regional stakeholders in the coming months.

President of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab Regional Council, El Khattat Yanja, stated that the ambassador’s visit and the accompanying delegation underscore France’s determination to practically support Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces. The delegation includes investors interested in exploring the region’s investment opportunities, which hold promising potential across various fields. The region is experiencing significant development, following the launch of the new Development Model for the Southern Provinces by HM King Mohammed VI in 2015.

In addition to the President of the Regional Council, Ambassador Lecourtier engaged in discussions with the Wali of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, Governor of the Oued Eddahab province Ali Khalil, and President of the Dakhla Communal Council Erragheb Hormatallah.

Dur
ing the visit, Lecourtier and the delegation attended a presentation on the PDR, which has a budget allocation of over 4.36 billion dirhams. They also received a briefing from Mounir Houari, Director of the Regional Investment Centre, on the region’s development aspects, including major infrastructure projects, investment opportunities, and facilities available for investors.