The French Development Agency (AFD) has announced that it will now invest in the Moroccan Sahara, a decision marked by the upcoming visit of its Director General, Rémy Rioux, to the southern provinces of Morocco, particularly Laâyoune and Dakhla. Rioux emphasized the importance of this region as a “bridge between Morocco and its African neighbors” and reaffirmed the common approach between Morocco and the AFD to promote regional cooperation in Africa.
**A strong commitment to cooperation and development**
Rémy Rioux highlighted several strategic areas of cooperation to strengthen Morocco’s role in Africa, such as the blue economy, food security through the Agrifinance platform (a project in partnership with OCP), and museum initiatives with the National Museum Foundation, aimed at encouraging cultural exchanges and expertise within the continent.
As part of the exceptional partnership between Morocco and France, underscored by the recent visit of President Emmanuel Macron, the AFD plans to invest in the sustainable development of Morocco by strengthening bilateral ties for the decades to come. In this regard, the AFD and the Moroccan government have signed six letters of intent for an investment of over 900 million euros over five years, with a co-investment approach.
**Support for regional initiatives and decarbonization with OCP**
The AFD will also intensify its actions in the Casablanca-Settat and Guelmim-Oued-Noun regions to contribute to sustainable and inclusive development. It plans to deepen its partnership with OCP, particularly to support decarbonization and strengthen the economic resilience of Morocco and other regions in Africa.
**Targeted priorities: water, forests, and socio-economic inclusion**
The preservation of natural resources, particularly the management of water stress, remains a priority for the AFD, which will support the national water strategy in Morocco. The group also plans to extend its action to the sustainable management of forests, particularly in the Toubkal massif, while promoting resilient agriculture. The AFD is also committed to the socio-economic inclusion of youth and women, supporting Morocco’s major social reforms.
**Economic recovery and energy transition**
In terms of the economy, the AFD supports recovery through private investment via the Mohammed VI Fund for Investment and the “Morocco-France Investment Accelerator” initiative, aimed at stimulating entrepreneurship and private initiatives. Finally, the energy transition occupies a central place in this partnership, with projects in green hydrogen and sustainable mobility, to build a more resilient and innovative economy.
For over thirty years, the AFD has invested more than 7 billion euros in Morocco, its main partner in the world, to support reforms and innovative projects led by public and private actors.