Ambassador Lecourtier Sees Morocco’s Southern Provinces as ‘New Horizon’ for France’s Strategies

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Morocco’s southern provinces represent a “new horizon” for France’s initiatives and strategies, French Ambassador to Morocco Christophe Lecourtier said Tuesday in Laayoune. Speaking to the press during his visit to the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, Lecourtier underlined that this trip aims to transform French-Moroccan cooperation into tangible projects across cultural, economic, social, educational, and university sectors. “We are looking forward to accelerating the implementation of emerging projects,” the ambassador underlined, emphasizing the readiness to launch new initiatives, especially in the economic field, to seize diverse opportunities in Morocco’s southern provinces. Lecourtier pointed to the visit of a substantial economic delegation to Laayoune and Dakhla, which intends to explore investment prospects in a range of industries. This visit, he pointed out, aligns with the support expressed by French President Emmanuel Macron in the letter addressed to HM King Mohammed VI, stressing that the present and future of the Sahara lie within Moroccan sovereignty. While in Laayoune, the ambassador held discussions with key regional leaders, including the President of the Regional Council, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid, and the President of the Communal Council, Moulay Hamdi Ould Errachid, focusing on the dynamic development efforts underway in the region. The delegation also met with Abdeslam Bekrate, Wali of the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region and governor of Laayoune province, and attended an economic roadshow organized by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Morocco. This event brought together around 50 French business leaders and economic decision-makers with the goal of identifying partnership and investment opportunities in the region, establishing collaborative links with Moroccan stakeholders, and exploring concrete projects for investment. In addition, Lecourtier visited the Paul Pascon French School, part of the International Office for School and University Education (OSUI), along with several local projects, witnessing firsthand the extensive efforts to foster sustainable and integrated development in Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra.