Rabat: Morocco and France signed two significant agreements in Rabat on Wednesday, committing a total of £150 million to support the Generalization of Compulsory Medical Coverage and the Government Equality Plan 2023-2026. The agreements were inked by Morocco’s Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, Fouzi Lekjaa, the French Ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, and the Country Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Morocco, Quiterie Pincent.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the first agreement, valued at £100 million, is part of AFD’s ongoing support for Morocco’s initiative to expand social protection. This initiative focuses on improving governance reforms to enhance the Compulsory Health Insurance (AMO), ensuring equity and efficiency in AMO operations, addressing gender issues, and strengthening expenditure control.
The second agreement, worth £50 million, aims to reduce gender inequalities through two main objectives: operationalizing and allocating Gender
Responsive Budgeting (GRB), including in regional areas, and boosting women’s economic empowerment. This aligns with measures related to the care economy as part of the Moroccan government’s Equality Plan III (2023-2026).
Lekjaa, speaking at the event, emphasized that these agreements are part of a broader momentum following the recent state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco, underscoring the deep historical ties between the two nations. He noted that these partnerships align with Morocco’s strategic priorities and the global development vision of King Mohammed VI.
Lecourtier highlighted the robust and historic partnership between Morocco and France, characterized by solidarity in addressing common challenges. He described President Macron’s visit as a cornerstone of France-Morocco relations, solidifying longstanding bilateral cooperation.
The signing ceremony, attended by the Director General of the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) Hassan Boubrik, concluded with Lekjaa and Lecourtie
r expressing satisfaction with the cooperation level between Morocco and AFD and their commitment to further strengthening these ties.