The mayor of Montpellier, Michaël Delafos, has urged French economic actors to seize investment opportunities in Morocco, emphasizing the importance of keeping pace with the economic dynamics experienced by the kingdom across several promising sectors.
In a speech during an economic day organized in Montpellier, in coordination with the General Consulate of the Kingdom, Delafos stated, “We must engage with the ongoing developmental momentum in Morocco and invest in the potential this emerging country offers.”
The Montpellier mayor, who also presides over the Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole foundation, highlighted the major ongoing projects in various regions of Morocco, particularly in the southern provinces. He pointed out the fields of renewable energy, health, creative industries, decarbonization, and transportation as some of the most promising sectors for French-Moroccan partnership.
He referenced his recent visit to several Moroccan cities and expressed admiration for the significant investment potentials in Dakhla, which have garnered increasing interest from French economic actors, especially from the Montpellier region.
The economic meeting was attended by notable figures, including Olivier Carmes, director of the Port of Sète in southern France, who called for enhanced port cooperation as a crucial driver of tourism and trade exchanges between the two shores.
He affirmed that the Port of Sète has evolved from merely a transit point for over 150,000 passengers annually to a pivotal platform for importing and exporting, particularly in the automotive sector. He emphasized the need to expand commercial shipping activities with Morocco, considering its strategic position in the Mediterranean region.
For his part, Jalil Ben Abdellah, vice president of the Occitanie region responsible for the economy, underscored the importance of territorial diplomacy and decentralized cooperation in strengthening French-Moroccan relations, mentioning the establishment of the “Morocco-Occitanie Club,” aimed at creating a conducive environment for business flows between the two sides.
The economic forum, attended by the Kingdom’s Consul General in Montpellier, Soumaya Bouhamidi, included a roundtable discussion on partnership opportunities between Morocco and the Occitanie region, focusing on strategic areas such as cultural and creative industries, renewable energies and hydrogen, artificial intelligence in the health sector, and decarbonization of air and maritime transport.
This meeting involved several Moroccan and French businesspeople, along with representatives from economic institutions, including the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Exports Development.
This economic event was held in conjunction with the 20th edition of the “Arabesque” cultural festival, which is celebrating Morocco as the guest of honor this year. A significant portion of the program is dedicated to showcasing works by Moroccan artists to promote Moroccan culture and enhance cultural exchange between the two shores.
